Dental assistant as a job frowned upon?

[QuantumMan]

My CC can allow me to complete a dental assisting certificate in one and a half semesters (given that I took pre-reqs I took in undergrad). The reason this is attractive to me is I'd like first hand experience in dentistry and there are many job openings in my area for this. It makes sense to me and it is a paid job.

I know that for pre-med, it is frowned upon to be a physician assistant or nurse before medical school. Does this hold the same for dentistry?

So I pretty much have 2 options. CNA or Dental assisting. They are both doable and affordable, and I'd like to get a job there than continue my min wage job as a gas station cashier.

The question is: Will CNA or Dental assisting hurt or help my application?

Obviously, Dental assisting is more relevant, but would choosing CNA (due to more job availability) hurt my application or raise any eyebrows?

Also, will the GPA at the dental assisting classes affect my the GPA I would be reporting to the schools (undergrad GPA)?

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[aznriptide859]

Take from this what you will, but from what I've heard from several advisors, nursing is more akin to being a dental hygenist rather than an assistant.

 

[okiedokeartichoke]

I never thought of being a dental assistant to be something that's negative to one's application at all. I actually think it's a really positive thing as you're exposed to the dental office from a different, more hands-on perspective. Seems like a level up from just shadowing to me, and plus you get paid for the experience.

+1 with aznriptide859's comment. I find nursing to be similar to being a hygienist

 

[aznriptide859]

I'm not sure why any of these jobs would hurt a dental school applicant. Seems to me this is just nonsense.

Purely from my advisor's words: in the health field, pursuing a degree in PA or nursing tells people that's what you want to be, not a doctor. By pursuing that track you're basically putting a sort of "ceiling" on yourself. If you decide to change career tracks down the line, it's a bit harder to move into an actual MD/DO program versus someone straight out of college that has a background aiming for a career as a doctor from the beginning. Same applies to dental - hygenist seems like an "end track", whereas assistant work might be viewed as a temporary or stop-gap profession.

Again, not my words, but the theory makes sense.

 

[FCMike11]

Purely from my advisor's words: in the health field, pursuing a degree in PA or nursing tells people that's what you want to be, not a doctor. By pursuing that track you're basically putting a sort of "ceiling" on yourself. If you decide to change career tracks down the line, it's a bit harder to move into an actual MD/DO program versus someone straight out of college that has a background aiming for a career as a doctor from the beginning. Same applies to dental - hygenist seems like an "end track", whereas assistant work might be viewed as a temporary or stop-gap profession.

Again, not my words, but the theory makes sense.

.....how does this make sense? By this " theory" someone who pursued a career in accounting first, or (insert any other profession) is at a disadvantage because they didn't choose to be a doctor first......good grief, the crap that advisors spew.

 

[oralcare123]

.....how does this make sense? By this " theory" someone who pursued a career in accounting first, or (insert any other profession) is at a disadvantage because they didn't choose to be a doctor first......good grief, the crap that advisors spew.

Totally agree
Working as a dental assistant would make a person familiar with a majority of dental procedures, help to be comfortable with lab work and teach how the office works. Dentists usually pay for attending the Dental Conferences, so you can get some CE credits as well

 

[H0kies]

I worked as an oms assistant for 2 and a half years after graduating from undergrad because I didn't know what to do between applying for med school or dental school. Ended up applying to dental schools, got a couple interviews and they all asked me about my job as an assistant. Both interviewers (nyu and western) said it was a good opportunity to get exposed to the dental field. The nyu interviewer grilled me a bit about surgical procedures, but I knew what to say since I had been assisting for a while. He was quite impressed. Now I am a D1 at nyu. Hope that helps and good luck! Many of the professors here so far basically said getting experience in a dental clinic before starting school as a D1 is super helpful.

 

[aznriptide859]

.....how does this make sense? By this " theory" someone who pursued a career in accounting first, or (insert any other profession) is at a disadvantage because they didn't choose to be a doctor first......good grief, the crap that advisors spew.

Considering my advisor is a 20+ year faculty at a dental school, I beg to differ.

But of course, everyone is valid to their own opinions - I simply gave mine.

 

[oralcare123]

Considering my advisor is a 20+ year faculty at a dental school, I beg to differ.

But of course, everyone is valid to their own opinions - I simply gave mine.

Considering that majority of people need to support themselves, working in the field is better then not in the field. Never heard of being in the field of interest and working towards a goal profession was bad

 

[uhds]

From other posts about dental assisting before dental school, being a dental assistant will only help you.

 

[doc toothache]

You can't seem to be able to decide what career choice you to make and now you want to muddy the waters by pursuing a DA course, where you will be competing with applicants that may or may not have a high school diploma?

 

[FCMike11]

That was probably worth mentioning with your original post, but it still doesn't change my standpoint. As you stated, everyone has their own opinions.

I still feel all qualified applicants have a shot at dentistry, regardless of where they come from.

I dunno. That rational "if you didn't choose me first" not only doesn't make sense, but can't be substantiated (the adcoms & many other posters here have illustrated that MD & dental school are open to nontraditional students - often career changes). People are dynamic and often do change.