Dental Assistant Position

[beautiful1]

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Is a Dental Assistant Position a good job to do during the gap year before dental school? Should I obtain a Dental Assistant Position full time during my gap year? Will this help me with my chances and/or my experience during dental school? Or am I better off doing something else?

 

[pinhi]

Is a Dental Assistant Position a good job to do during the gap year before dental school? Should I obtain a Dental Assistant Position full time during my gap year? Will this help me with my chances and/or my experience during dental school? Or am I better off doing something else?

Its a great idea and its what im trying to do as well......the experience is invaluable to dentistry and will look good on your app.

 

[beautiful1]

Will the dental office not like it if you tell them that you will only be committing to one year... since you would be going to dental school the following year...

 

[youknowthedrill]

Are you talking about working full time or part-time while you continue with school? Do whatever you can to improve your stats and become a great applicant. Dental experience is great but its not the only thing you need to become accepted. Do you have a high GPA, stellar DAT, EC's, research? Take a close look at your credentials and make sure you don't need to polish other areas of your application first. I also strongly suggest you continue taking classes (even part-time at night) to keep up your study skills.
Good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

Is a Dental Assistant Position a good job to do during the gap year before dental school? Should I obtain a Dental Assistant Position full time during my gap year? Will this help me with my chances and/or my experience during dental school? Or am I better off doing something else?

You could try to get a job in the field you have your degree in. As has been discussed in previous posts, a position as a da is going to impress few, if any, adcoms.

 

[SeattleRDH]

You could try to get a job in the field you have your degree in. As has been discussed in previous posts, a position as a da is going to impress few, if any, adcoms.

+1

Don't do it just to improve your app and impress the adcoms. Do it because you want to work in dentistry. If you don't really care to be a dental assistant then spend your last year doing something you enjoy (like traveling).

There's a big difference between:
1) someone who worked as a dental assistant for YEARS and then went back to school to get their degree and apply to dental school.
and
2) someone who only intends to be a dentist and just wants to put dental assisting on their resume.

In other words, being an assistant should motivate you to be a dentist, not the other way around.

 

[FreeFallin]

+1

don't do it just to improve your app and impress the adcoms. Do it because you want to work in dentistry. If you don't really care to be a dental assistant then spend your last year doing something you enjoy (like traveling).

There's a big difference between:
1) someone who worked as a dental assistant for years and then went back to school to get their degree and apply to dental school.
And
2) someone who only intends to be a dentist and just wants to put dental assisting on their resume.

In other words, being an assistant should motivate you to be a dentist, not the other way around.

++1

 

[beautiful1]

Will the head dentist / dental office not like it if you tell them that you will only be committing to one year... since you would be going to dental school the following year...

 

[Freeskier02]

I just got a job as a Dental Assistant and am loving it so far. The dentist I work for was in need of a DA because his only DA was quitting, so I was a perfect fit since I knew his procedures from shadowing for a few months. He is definitely ok with me going to dental school in a year because I show a lot of enthusiasm at his work and am able to converse with him about dentistry throughout the day. I think it's a great situation, and would recommend it. I'm not trying to get a job within my "degree" because its nearly impossible to find someone that would hire me for a year. It's a lot easier to get a job as a dental assistant since the turnover rate is much higher than a job within your major. Most dentists don't expect to hang on to the same assistant for years, and besides, this is within my "career" field. Go for it!

 

[SeattleRDH]

Will the head dentist / dental office not like it if you tell them that you will only be committing to one year... since you would be going to dental school the following year...

Well, don't lie about it. There are plenty of jobs out there that have a high turnover but you might want to look into why that is. High turnover = low pay, no breaks, too many double books, or having instruments thrown at you (it happens people!).

If I were you, I would look on craigslist or talk to a temp agency about covering for assistants on maternity leave. One thing though: do you have experience? If you can place a rubber dam and make a temporary crown then you will have a much easier time finding a short-term position.

 

[doc toothache]

Will the head dentist / dental office not like it if you tell them that you will only be committing to one year... since you would be going to dental school the following year...

If only one was just able to waltz into ds.

I just got a job as a Dental Assistant and am loving it so far. The dentist I work for was in need of a DA because his only DA was quitting, so I was a perfect fit since I knew his procedures from shadowing for a few months. He is definitely ok with me going to dental school in a year because I show a lot of enthusiasm at his work and am able to converse with him about dentistry throughout the day. I think it's a great situation, and would recommend it. I'm not trying to get a job within my "degree" because its nearly impossible to find someone that would hire me for a year. It's a lot easier to get a job as a dental assistant since the turnover rate is much higher than a job within your major. Most dentists don't expect to hang on to the same assistant for years, and besides, this is within my "career" field. Go for it!

It is hard to believe that"most dentists" delight re training a new assistant, but you must be talking about other than the garden variety da since you capitalized yours.

 

[yappy]

seattle RDH and doc are both in the dental profession yet deter others from entering at lower levels... am I the only who finds that odd?

EVERY school i've called have said that ACTUAL experience is a positive thing. The majority of students shadow a few hours - it would seem those that work in the dentistry would be at an advantage.

 

[doc toothache]

seattle RDH and doc are both in the dental profession yet deter others from entering at lower levels... am I the only who finds that odd?
EVERY school i've called have said that ACTUAL experience is a positive thing. The majority of students shadow a few hours - it would seem those that work in the dentistry would be at an advantage.

You mean you find it odd because it disagrees with your entrenched opinion?

 

[beautiful1]

would it be better to work in a dental lab?

 

[Maygyver]

I think just getting a job would be fine...You can always volunteer at a clinic to be in the field during your year off.

 

[beautiful1]

I interviewed for two dental assistant positions so far, and I am having trouble debating which one to choose
for one of them, I would work in a small private office, as a full time dental assistant... i would pretty much be the only dental assistant in the office, except for one other DA who is part time.... it would be a paid position.... and the dentist is a general dentist and he is also an anesthesiologist... he is also big on the political side of dentistry... working directly with the ADA and such.... so i guess he has a lot of pull/connections... during the interview, he seemed strict, arrogant, and meticulous.... he is happy to train me and it seemed as though that me working as a da for him would be more of a favor for him than for me, because he really seemed eager to have me and he kept saying: wow this is a great opportunity for me... also, the office is located about 25 min from my house (kind of far)
the second opportunity is with a periodontist... he works in a large office... with several other dentists (gp and specialties) within the office... he wants to start me off without paying me for a few months I think until I get the hang of things and then he would start paying me later... the periodontist seemed REALLY eager to help me... he told me how is goal is to have me really prepared for dental school, by sending me to his friends who are dentists and to dental labs to really understand the full aspects of dentistry... he had a plan set out for me and he it showed that he truly wanted to help me... he also liked me because I have a close friend who used to work for him (he kept bringing it up)... the location of his office is about 10 minutes from my house... what i didnt like about this situation was that the dentist seemed disorganized... the papers on his desk were very cluttered and he kept running... around his office even during my interview... and i waited in the waiting room for an hour before he finally saw me.... he only works 3 days a week though
so if you were me, which dentist would u work for? any advice is appreciated.... feedback please? thanks

 

[yappy]

What I found odd was that your advice is the opposite i've found from education staff that work at dental schools. That was how I formed my opinion.

 

[kevin biggs]

I currently dont have any dental insurance. where can i get some at an affordable price?



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KEVIN

dental quotes

 

[LoveUltimate]

Is a Dental Assistant Position a good job to do during the gap year before dental school? Should I obtain a Dental Assistant Position full time during my gap year? Will this help me with my chances and/or my experience during dental school? Or am I better off doing something else?

I don't get how it's so easy to just become a dental assistant for a gap year. Isn't there months of school and training involved?! By the time you become an assistant, it's almost time for D school...

 

[promolion]

I interviewed for two dental assistant positions so far, and I am having trouble debating which one to choose
for one of them, I would work in a small private office, as a full time dental assistant... i would pretty much be the only dental assistant in the office, except for one other DA who is part time.... it would be a paid position.... and the dentist is a general dentist and he is also an anesthesiologist... he is also big on the political side of dentistry... working directly with the ADA and such.... so i guess he has a lot of pull/connections... during the interview, he seemed strict, arrogant, and meticulous.... he is happy to train me and it seemed as though that me working as a da for him would be more of a favor for him than for me, because he really seemed eager to have me and he kept saying: wow this is a great opportunity for me... also, the office is located about 25 min from my house (kind of far)
the second opportunity is with a periodontist... he works in a large office... with several other dentists (gp and specialties) within the office... he wants to start me off without paying me for a few months I think until I get the hang of things and then he would start paying me later... the periodontist seemed REALLY eager to help me... he told me how is goal is to have me really prepared for dental school, by sending me to his friends who are dentists and to dental labs to really understand the full aspects of dentistry... he had a plan set out for me and he it showed that he truly wanted to help me... he also liked me because I have a close friend who used to work for him (he kept bringing it up)... the location of his office is about 10 minutes from my house... what i didnt like about this situation was that the dentist seemed disorganized... the papers on his desk were very cluttered and he kept running... around his office even during my interview... and i waited in the waiting room for an hour before he finally saw me.... he only works 3 days a week though
so if you were me, which dentist would u work for? any advice is appreciated.... feedback please? thanks

I wouldn't work for the guy that pretends to be caring so he can get free hours from u.

 

[crooked castle]

I don't get how it's so easy to just become a dental assistant for a gap year. Isn't there months of school and training involved?! By the time you become an assistant, it's almost time for D school...

probably cus the dentist doesnt want to pay a competitive salary for a RDA when he can train a student and pay them cheaper (not sure if there are regulations about this though). Dentist wins b/c he saves $$$, Student wins b/c he gets field experience.

To the OP, i say if you are a strong applicant, do the assisting. if not, improve on the stats cus that's the most important. everything else is secondary.

 

[WAgirl]

I interviewed for a similar "deal," where the dentist was "helping" me by having me work for free for a few months. I got a bad vibe from it and didn't take the job...

 

[doc toothache]

What I found odd was that your advice is the opposite i've found from education staff that work at dental schools. That was how I formed my opinion.

"Education staff that work at dental schools" do not make admission decisions.

 

[SeattleRDH]

I interviewed for two dental assistant positions so far, and I am having trouble debating which one to choose
for one of them, I would work in a small private office, as a full time dental assistant... i would pretty much be the only dental assistant in the office, except for one other DA who is part time.... it would be a paid position.... and the dentist is a general dentist and he is also an anesthesiologist... he is also big on the political side of dentistry... working directly with the ADA and such.... so i guess he has a lot of pull/connections... during the interview, he seemed strict, arrogant, and meticulous.... he is happy to train me and it seemed as though that me working as a da for him would be more of a favor for him than for me, because he really seemed eager to have me and he kept saying: wow this is a great opportunity for me... also, the office is located about 25 min from my house (kind of far)
the second opportunity is with a periodontist... he works in a large office... with several other dentists (gp and specialties) within the office... he wants to start me off without paying me for a few months I think until I get the hang of things and then he would start paying me later... the periodontist seemed REALLY eager to help me... he told me how is goal is to have me really prepared for dental school, by sending me to his friends who are dentists and to dental labs to really understand the full aspects of dentistry... he had a plan set out for me and he it showed that he truly wanted to help me... he also liked me because I have a close friend who used to work for him (he kept bringing it up)... the location of his office is about 10 minutes from my house... what i didnt like about this situation was that the dentist seemed disorganized... the papers on his desk were very cluttered and he kept running... around his office even during my interview... and i waited in the waiting room for an hour before he finally saw me.... he only works 3 days a week though
so if you were me, which dentist would u work for? any advice is appreciated.... feedback please? thanks

There's no clear winner here.

Since this will be only a temporary position, I would take the job that pays from day one. If he's a grumpy and arrogant dentist then you may have to work harder to impress him and he may expect you to catch on to things more quickly. Either position that you choose will give you the opportunity for patient contact which is going to be the most helpful to you in dental school. Everything else (temporaries, impressions, etc.) you are going to learn in dental school anyway.

 

[youknowthedrill]

I interviewed for two dental assistant positions so far, and I am having trouble debating which one to choose
for one of them, I would work in a small private office, as a full time dental assistant... i would pretty much be the only dental assistant in the office, except for one other DA who is part time.... it would be a paid position.... and the dentist is a general dentist and he is also an anesthesiologist... he is also big on the political side of dentistry... working directly with the ADA and such.... so i guess he has a lot of pull/connections... during the interview, he seemed strict, arrogant, and meticulous.... he is happy to train me and it seemed as though that me working as a da for him would be more of a favor for him than for me, because he really seemed eager to have me and he kept saying: wow this is a great opportunity for me... also, the office is located about 25 min from my house (kind of far)
the second opportunity is with a periodontist... he works in a large office... with several other dentists (gp and specialties) within the office... he wants to start me off without paying me for a few months I think until I get the hang of things and then he would start paying me later... the periodontist seemed REALLY eager to help me... he told me how is goal is to have me really prepared for dental school, by sending me to his friends who are dentists and to dental labs to really understand the full aspects of dentistry... he had a plan set out for me and he it showed that he truly wanted to help me... he also liked me because I have a close friend who used to work for him (he kept bringing it up)... the location of his office is about 10 minutes from my house... what i didnt like about this situation was that the dentist seemed disorganized... the papers on his desk were very cluttered and he kept running... around his office even during my interview... and i waited in the waiting room for an hour before he finally saw me.... he only works 3 days a week though
so if you were me, which dentist would u work for? any advice is appreciated.... feedback please? thanks

Go with your gut feeling. You mentioned that the general dentist is strict, arrogant and meticulous. Personally I could handle the strict and meticulous, but the arrogant would drive me nuts. The periodontist is disorganized, but also seems very eager to be helpful. How did your friend like working with the periodontist? I think you're in a win-win situation either way!

 

[SeattleRDH]

seattle RDH and doc are both in the dental profession yet deter others from entering at lower levels... am I the only who finds that odd?

EVERY school i've called have said that ACTUAL experience is a positive thing. The majority of students shadow a few hours - it would seem those that work in the dentistry would be at an advantage.

I am not deterring those who want to enter dentistry at a lower level. The people on this forum don't want to enter at a lower level, THEY WANT TO GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL.

I say, if you want to be an assistant, be an assistant, but don't expect it to significantly improve your application to dental school.

 

[beautiful1]

my main concern is to learn... to prepare for dental school... not to improve my application...
also, i need money.... im struggling with finances...

 

[Maygyver]

my main concern is to learn... to prepare for dental school... not to improve my application...
also, i need money.... im struggling with finances...

I would do the one where you can get paid the most money then since it seems that you will be able to learn in both jobs.