Dental Assistant info needed

[drbacardi]

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Hi!

I need advice on this.

I am a dentist and have not recertified my degree in the U.S.

I would like to know in order to be a dental assistant to a dentist, do i have to do a course or can i just apply with my resume.

pls help.

i would also like to know which college or course is good in MA to do the dental assistant course and how many months is it.

pls help.

 

[Comet208]

drbacardi,

you do not need ANY certification to work as a dental assistant. There is a crisis of dental assistants in MA that every dentist would love to have you as an assistant. Be prepared to have responsibilities more than just an assistat though. Having a certificate in X-ray is helpful and you can get that at BU dental school.

What part of MA are you in??

Comet

 

[StarGirl]

you don't need one in Ca either 🙂
you can actually get one by using the hours your work (i don't know the process...i was thinking about doing that while I was assisting...but I was too lazy to go thru w/ it) 🙂

 

[drbacardi]

hi,

i am in Boston and was still confused,cozwhen i checked up the DA questions on this site, some say it is necessary to do a course and some say just the Xray course is needed, so I am a little confused and needed some answer.

 

[Comet208]

drbacardi,

there are 2 different types of dental assistants: certified and non-certified.

Certified DA's have enrolled in a certain program which range from 4-9 months.

non certified DA's have learned things just by observing and practicing.

its obvious that pay and responsibilities might differ between these two groups, but not just by much. It is pretty much up to the hiring Dentist to hire you or not and what kind of resposibilities to give you. It doesnt hurt to ask... call up the ads in the newspapers.

Comet

 

[drbacardi]

I needed to know what is the difference between dental assistant schools recognised by the ADA and not by.

What are the job wise criteria like-- do they check if you are recognised by the ADA or not.

 

[Comet208]

drbacardi,

Just like the DDS degree that it doesnt matter where you got it from, the DA certificates from different inistitutions should be equally valid and recognized by ADA.

Comet

 

[drbacardi]

Comet, the answer is No. The schools recognised by the ADA starts in September and vocational institutions like Brymans starts every alternate months.

I was just wondering if I do Brymans will that be vaid allover the U.S. or not and how are the job opportunities.

I checked up with some dentists, they say that you should be certified as a dental assistant to work as one and they prefer some experience in the U.S.

So i am confused, should i do this course or not.

 

[Comet208]

Drbacardi,

In order to help you, i am going to tell you a real story.

My sister went through a 4 month intensive DA program which lead to a certificate. it was not from any schools or anything, it was initiated by a dentist who does this all the time. My sister graduated in Aug ( 2 months ago) and is already working for a pedodontist. she has offers from an endodontist as well.

Is her certificate equally valid all over the U.S.? maybe, maybe not. but the important thing is that she is already working and gaining experience.

Comet.

 

[drbacardi]

hey comet, if you dont mind,would like to email your sister and ask her questions about this or maybe you could from my side.

i want to know about brymans college and is that degree valid?

by the way from where did she do her course,it would be helpful to me. when i called up a few dentists they said preferably from a recognized school they would appoint a DA.

i know i must be bothering you with a lot of questions, comet but confused here ad there and there is no one to help me out here, coz i dont know anyone.

 

[Comet208]

i just sent you a Pm...