dental assistant program

[Mstoothlady2012]

Hi everyone!

My thread was moved under DAT discussion so I am opening a new one. Has anyone done this program www.dats.net? I really need some feedback on it.....i am really surprise that the program is only 9 weeks long. Thanks!

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[TerpFan]

Hi everyone!

My thread was moved under DAT discussion so I am opening a new one. Has anyone done this program www.dats.net? I really need some feedback on it.....i am really surprise that the program is only 9 weeks long. Thanks!

It was very thorough for just 9 weeks. I had class for 3 hrs/twice a week. and we learned "dentistry lingo", charting, taking impressions, sterilization, OSHA guidelines, taking and developing xrays, 4-handed dentistry, CPR, prep for certain special procedures, types of cavities and a LOT more, i can't think of things off the top of my head right now. It was a class of 10 people, we had one instructor who was a dentist, and 3 dental assistants who would help out. The class was held at a dental office in the evenings. We had 3 exams and you had to get above 90% on all three exams to pass the course. The exams weren't too hard, if you paid attention in class and read over th chapters in the book it was relatively easy.

After completing the class, you can take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)'s exam to become x-ray certified. And the course does a great job of preparing you for the national exam.

If you have the time and the $$, I'd def recommend you take this course. I was shadowing dentists and got to tired of just standing around, i "wanted to get in there" so to speak. So took the class and got x-ray certified and have been working as a part-time DA since then. You'll make good money being xray certified ($14-18/hr). I'm so glad i took the class.

(haha i sound like a commercial for the classes, but im not, i just had a great experience there. The instructor actually kept in touch with everyone for a year to make sure we were all able to find jobs and help place the ppl who didn't have jobs into some of his dental offices.)

PM if you wanted to know anything else.🙂

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

Yes. I did the program in summer 2005 in Columbia, MD. It was very thorough for just 9 weeks. I had class for 3 hrs/twice a week. and we learned "dentistry lingo", charting, taking impressions, sterilization, OSHA guidelines, taking and developing xrays, 4-handed dentistry, CPR, prep for certain special procedures, types of cavities and a LOT more, i can't think of things off the top of my head right now. It was a class of 10 people, we had one instructor who was a dentist (he used to teach at UMD Dental) and 3 dental assistants who would help out. The class was held at a dental office in the evenings. We had 3 exams and you had to get above 90% on all three exams to pass the course. The exams weren't too hard, if you paid attention in class and read over th chapters in the book it was relatively easy.

After completing the class, you can take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)'s exam to become x-ray certified. And the course does a great job of preparing you for the national exam.

If you have the time and the $$, I'd def recommend you take this course. I was shadowing dentists and got to tired of just standing around, i "wanted to get in there" so to speak. So took the class and got x-ray certified and have been working as a part-time DA since then. You'll make good money being xray certified ($14-18/hr). I'm so glad i took the class.

(haha i sound like a commercial for the classes, but im not, i just had a great experience there. The instructor actually kept in touch with everyone for a year to make sure we were all able to find jobs and help place the ppl who didn't have jobs into some of his dental offices.)

PM if you wanted to know anything else.🙂

thanks! glad to know that the program is good.

 

[Frederico Albin]

Wow. thanks for the info. I am thinking about signing up for this program also.

 

[TerpFan]

thanks! glad to know that the program is good.

No prob. IMO, if you know that dentistry is really what you want to do, there is no point in just standing around and shadowing dentist after dentist. I'd rather be helping people, having a great time and paying back some of my loans.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

No prob. IMO, if you know that dentistry is really what you want to do, there is no point in just standing around and shadowing dentist after dentist. I'd rather be helping people, having a great time and paying back some of my loans.

i went around to about 10-15 dental clinics around my house to ask for job in dec 06 ...but every1 asked for the same thing experience or degree....finally i gave up and just shadowed for 1 yr from dec 06-dec 07. I applied for fall 08 and have been rejected from most of the schools. I called my first choice school to ask them what I should do in order to improve my application. I was expecting her to say DAT, instead the first thing she said was GPA and hands on experience. She didnt even talk about DAT at all ...until the end of the phone call i asked her how do you feel about my DAT score. She is like yeaaa u should retake that as well. But it felt like she didnt really put much emphasis on it. Just before couple of days i went to another 7 clinics asking for job...left my resume and a nice letter explaining why i need this job for the doctor. Hopefully someone will offer me a job if not then i am thinking of doing this dats program in july or oct. That's my story.....

 

[dsony2284]

Hey...i couldnt help but respond to your posting. I am in exactly the same position as you are. I just finished being a liaison with a dental lab and have pretty much similar stats as you ( Your GPA is a bit higher) after my fall semester of grades. I need a dental related job badly but got the same responses as you have.

First, I decided to enroll in a self made post-bacc program at the Harvard Extension School. I have taken biochem, physiology I, Developmental Bio, retook Bio II and now enrolling in Histology for the summer session I. Each course is 4 credits and i have not gotten below a B+. I think you should really take some upper level courses at any 4-year school around your area. I called my number one also, where i am still under review, and they said that keep taking classes and really do well in them. So I Will probably add Immunology I and Anatomy over the summer as well. Because of all of these Bio classes, my Bio practice DAT score went up to a 25-26!! It has been the best review of sorts as well as boosting my application. I think the chemistry sections of the DAT are easier to improve in as they are more practice based. In addition i am getting a LOR from the head of bio there.

Id say take science classes (will boost science knowledge and DAT prep if needed), get new rec letters from these classes and as for a job the program you talked about in an earlier post seems like the way to go as a stepping stone. I wish there was something simiilar around here for me.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

Hey...i couldnt help but respond to your posting. I am in exactly the same position as you are. I just finished being a liaison with a dental lab and have pretty much similar stats as you ( Your GPA is a bit higher) after my fall semester of grades. I need a dental related job badly but got the same responses as you have.

First, I decided to enroll in a self made post-bacc program at the Harvard Extension School. I have taken biochem, physiology I, Developmental Bio, retook Bio II and now enrolling in Histology for the summer session I. Each course is 4 credits and i have not gotten below a B+. I think you should really take some upper level courses at any 4-year school around your area. I called my number one also, where i am still under review, and they said that keep taking classes and really do well in them. So I Will probably add Immunology I and Anatomy over the summer as well. Because of all of these Bio classes, my Bio practice DAT score went up to a 25-26!! It has been the best review of sorts as well as boosting my application. I think the chemistry sections of the DAT are easier to improve in as they are more practice based. In addition i am getting a LOR from the head of bio there.

Id say take science classes (will boost science knowledge and DAT prep if needed), get new rec letters from these classes and as for a job the program you talked about in an earlier post seems like the way to go as a stepping stone. I wish there was something simiilar around here for me.

i have taken all those upper level classes that you mentioned except developmental bio. But i took those upper level classes after I took DAT in summer 07. I took 5 upper level classes in fall 07 - molec bio I, endocrinology, quantitative biological methods, epidemiology, & intro to pharmacology. Got 1 C in one of those classes. Right now I am taking 5 more upper level classes - histology, biochem, microbial metabolism, molec immuno, & embryology. I am doing fine in all of those classes and it looks like i wont be getting any C this semester hopefully. In summer i am taking 2 more classes molec bio II & immuno lab...and then i graduate. Hopefully these classes will help me get a higher score in DAT when i take it in july this year. If i do good on DAT then i will be applying for 09...if not then i dont know what I will be doing...may be masters.

 

[dsony2284]

nice, well then you and I both HAVE to do well in our courses. If you keep studying DAT and do well in those classes, it will not go to waste.
Studying never does.

This will be my 3rd time taking the DAT, if i have to over the summer, and after feeling so down on myself I have come back with a killer instinct to knock the DAT out. My bio scores have gone way up and now my chems have to as well. I might even sign up for orgo 2 again just to review for the DAT or chem 2. I dont mind as long as i learn and improve. Learning never goes to waste.

 

[dsony2284]

good luck with your classes and prep, hopefully we both hear something by the end of the cycle. I think the C you got is fine as long as you do well in the rest and the upcoming ones. I may even add some online courses over the summer as a GPA boost along with these science courses. As for a masters program, there is one at BU i was recommended to for oral health which is about 1.5 years long. But a great DAT is the fastest way to get in. Just say to yourself you will kill the DAT and you will.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

aww thnx...goodluck to you as well right now i just need to focus on my classes....will start preparing for DAT from May 1st as soon as my spring classes ends...and study 2-3 months hardcore and take it sometime in July...i dont know i still dont have that confidence to say i will kill it...but hoping to gain that confidence while preparing for DAT. Anyways thanks for your help and comments. I appreciate it 🙂 good luck again ...hope you get in soon!

 

[joey2007]

anyone here know what's the cost of this program? i can't seem to find the cost. I tried calling the number, but it transferred to a voicemail. Thanks

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

anyone here know what's the cost of this program? i can't seem to find the cost. I tried calling the number, but it transferred to a voicemail. Thanks

$2275 - Yea it transfers to voicemail, but leave a voicemail and Carol will call you back within 24 hrs. they start the program 4 times a year. Next one starts on april 8th. The other ones are on July 22 and sometime in Oct. If you are interested to start the one in april you better get the enrollment paper as soon as possible. Because they ask to pay the full amount 2 weeks prior to the first class. Also they ask $200 deposit along with the enrollment papers as soon as you can turn those in. The classes are 9 weeks long, TR - 6-10 pm in the dental clinic in your area.

 

[Bizznet]

I'm also thinking about doing this program.

I currently live in florida, but I plan on moving to New Jersey. So, if I take this course and get a diploma, can I go take the DANB boards in new jersey?

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

I'm also thinking about doing this program.

I currently live in florida, but I plan on moving to New Jersey. So, if I take this course and get a diploma, can I go take the DANB boards in new jersey?

i am not sure about that...either call them or email them the question. here is the website again www.dats.net

 

[TerpFan]

I'm also thinking about doing this program.

I currently live in florida, but I plan on moving to New Jersey. So, if I take this course and get a diploma, can I go take the DANB boards in new jersey?

Yup. It's a national exam, all states accept it. Some states may have you take another exam in addition to it, or have you just fill out a form and that will make you certified in that state. You would have to check with the Dept of Public and Mental Health of that state to find out the specific rules.

 

[Bizznet]

I talked to a dentist who works in the same plaza with the dentists who teach these dental assistants.

His personal opinion is that the class is a waste of time and money. But on the bright side, he offered to take me in and train me himself. I hope its paid 😉

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

I talked to a dentist who works in the same plaza with the dentists who teach these dental assistants.

His personal opinion is that the class is a waste of time and money. But on the bright side, he offered to take me in and train me himself. I hope its paid 😉

damn...thats good...I shoud have done that as well

 

[toothy2112]

I completed an online dental assistant program: passed xray license and coronal polishing separately and just recently passed the requirements for RDA in the last 1.5 years. The online program helped me learn the basics and the work experience has got me this far! Look into something like that as well as state requirements. Best of luck!