Dental assisting first?

[prsuser]

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I hope to get accepted to dental school this cycle. With this in mind, I'm considering a dental assistant program to further immerse myself in the field. I have completed roughly 60 hours of shadowing, but I would love to get my hands dirty. If I do not get in this cycle, I was thinking that working as a D.A. would be good experience. Can anyone please give me some input on this. Thank you!! 😀

 

[tinman831]

Moving to predental.

 

[206127]

do it... you'll learn sooo much and you'll make some cash...

 

[Rubber Dam Man]

I hope to get accepted to dental school this cycle. With this in mind, I'm considering a dental assistant program to further immerse myself in the field. I have completed roughly 60 hours of shadowing, but I would love to get my hands dirty. If I do not get in this cycle, I was thinking that working as a D.A. would be good experience. Can anyone please give me some input on this. Thank you!! 😀

Dental Assisting in your year off is an EXCELLENT idea - that is what I did after being waitlisted last year. Over the past year, I have developed really good bonds with several dentists at the office... in addition to learning SO MUCH. I was fortunate because the dentist that I was hired to work with was so energetic and enjoyed teaching me EVERY aspect of what he did. I assisted with practically everything - you name it, I was involved in it.

Yes I got paid very well, but the money in no way compared to the dental experience I received over the past year and a half.

 

[doc toothache]

Ok in the absence of other marketable skills.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527523

 

[alanan84]

Dental Assisting in your year off is an EXCELLENT idea - that is what I did after being waitlisted last year. Over the past year, I have developed really good bonds with several dentists at the office... in addition to learning SO MUCH. I was fortunate because the dentist that I was hired to work with was so energetic and enjoyed teaching me EVERY aspect of what he did. I assisted with practically everything - you name it, I was involved in it.

Yes I got paid very well, but the money in no way compared to the dental experience I received over the past year and a half.

Did you take any classes over the past year or did you just work?

 

[Kabocha1]

If I were you, I would try applying for some assisting jobs without paying for an assisting program first. I was lucky and got hired with no experience or training and got PAID training at the clinic instead of spending tons of money on a community college. I will say it is not exactly lucrative, even with a certification.

 

[stlouisboi2002]

im a certified dental assitant and I graduated from ACT it is a good thing to have on your resume if you plan on becoming a dentist... I spoke to faculty at MCG and Meharry and they said they being a dental assitant really opens the door for admission because of the knowledge I gained from working in the dental office and taking all those courses on the instruments and set ups...You do not have to be one but if you are it will help you in the long run of dentistry and show how serious you are about it....