does dental assistant = a more competitive candidate?

[iamsolo24]

Hello Everyone,

I am curious to know if schools like the idea of a candidate who has worked as a dental assistant than a student who has only shadowed a dentist?

I know it will probably strengthen your portfolio but I wasn't sure to what extent and how do schools respond to such a credential.

Let me know if anybody can give me some feedback.

Thank You

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[dental wahoo]

Hello Everyone,

I am curious to know if schools like the idea of a candidate who has worked as a dental assistant than a student who has only shadowed a dentist?

I know it will probably strengthen your portfolio but I wasn't sure to what extent and how do schools respond to such a credential.

Let me know if anybody can give me some feedback.

Thank You

it says that on this ADEA document that "primary purpose of predental clinical experience is observation, not hands on treatment." so i doubt dental assistant helps that much; it shows you may be fully dedicated and that you have manual dexterity, but this document seems to indicate that the experiences are equivalent.

http://www.adea.org/dental_educatio...redental Experiences 2010 Approved by BoD.pdf

 

[onlyahobo]

I have to disagree, dental wahoo. The document you cite is referring to predental students working on patients abroad, as opposed to predental students undergoing necessary training to gain legal assistant competency. If you are able to dedicate time and training to become an assistant, I would hope this would be weighted much more than simply standing there watching a dentist.

 

[ovi8]

it says that on this ADEA document that "primary purpose of predental clinical experience is observation, not hands on treatment." so i doubt dental assistant helps that much; it shows you may be fully dedicated and that you have manual dexterity, but this document seems to indicate that the experiences are equivalent.

http://www.adea.org/dental_educatio...redental Experiences 2010 Approved by BoD.pdf

Lets remember that its not the ADEA who make the final decisions on whether you get into dental school. I would disagree that the experiences are equivalent. As an assistant, you become familiar with almost all dental procedures, you become familiar with the names of all the tools, you gain valuable insight into running a dental practice. Just shadowing a dentist for 100 hours does not compare to the hundreds of hours you gain from working along side a dentist. I would have to imagine that an ADCOM would be able to appreciate the difference. Of course, just being a dental assistant does not make you a better applicant over someone who isn't but it certainly would expose you to dentistry in a way that, IMO shadowing does not. OBTW, I'm not a dental assistant, but I am strongly considering it (so I may be biased 🙂 )

 

[dentaldawg32]

Lets remember that its not the ADEA who make the final decisions on whether you get into dental school. I would disagree that the experiences are equivalent. As an assistant, you become familiar with almost all dental procedures, you become familiar with the names of all the tools, you gain valuable insight into running a dental practice. Just shadowing a dentist for 100 hours does not compare to the hundreds of hours you gain from working along side a dentist. I would have to imagine that an ADCOM would be able to appreciate the difference. Of course, just being a dental assistant does not make you a better applicant over someone who isn't but it certainly would expose you to dentistry in a way that, IMO shadowing does not. OBTW, I'm not a dental assistant, but I am strongly considering it (so I may be biased 🙂 )

Or you could just get good grades and do well on the DAT and you won't need to do any assisting.

Good grades + good DAT + ample shadowing = multiple interviews

People are always looking for ways to set themselves apart from the rest of the applicant pool, when in actuality all they need to do is get good grades and do well on the DAT. Thousands of hours of dental assisting is not going to make up for poor grades or a ****ty DAT.

 

[IdahoDoc]

From my experience, if you were a dental assistant it would play a very very very little role in making you a better application however that being said it would help you be a very good dental student. Once you're in school those skills will put you leaps in bounds ahead of other students. So better applicant no, better student yes. You choose which would be better for you.

 

[dental wahoo]

i understand your points. however, the dentists whom i shadowed stressed gaining exposure to as much of the dental field from the doctor's point of view as possible. He felt the observation, rather than mastery of chairside responsibilities, was more relevant for my predental education. he noted that dental school is the time when you learn the technicalities and procedures.

that said, coupling both that document along with my observations, it seems that the point of observation is to get the big picture of the dental field (can you see yourself as the doctor in this office? would you enjoy being a dentist? etc.) rather than being able to discern the difference between a ligature cutter and a distal end cutter. you can get the big picture of the dental field from both observation AND being a dental assistant imo (i have done both). given what i understand to be the purpose behind the "professional experience" section, it still isn't clear to me that being a dental assistant would give you a a distinct advantage in your application to someone who had just observed dentists.

if i am completely off, others please let me know so i can rethink my position.

 

[ElMeroGuero]

As that none of us have ever been on a admissions committee, the responses are probably going to one of these two:
Student A (never been a dental assistant): being a dental assistant isn't going to help at all!!!!!
Student B (been a dental assistant): It is the most important thing you could ever do.

So as a person who has been a dental assistant-I think that a 2.5 and a 17 as a dental assistant is better than a 3.9 and a 23 with just shadowing hours.

 

[ovi8]

Or you could just get good grades and do well on the DAT and you won't need to do any assisting.

Good grades + good DAT + ample shadowing = multiple interviews

People are always looking for ways to set themselves apart from the rest of the applicant pool, when in actuality all they need to do is get good grades and do well on the DAT. Thousands of hours of dental assisting is not going to make up for poor grades or a ****ty DAT.

Could not agree with you more. but having said that, there is something to be said for the lengths that someone is willing to go to try to get into dental school. Of course grades and DAT are the most important but sometimes ADCOM's are looking for people who really, really want to be dentists. that is why you will occasionally see people with 3.0 and average DAT scores getting accepted. Its because they did something above and beyond what is typically required. I would say above all else, get good grades and score well on the DAT, because if you can't handle those subjects you probably can't handle dental school. But if you've graduated already and want to be in the dental field and you want to make money, why the hell not become a dental assistant.

 

[KenKim]

ummm why are people arguing about this simplest question?

OF COURSE being a dental assistant makes a better applicant than somebody who just shadowed

This is logic. come on people. end of discussion

 

[iamsolo24]

So as a person who has been a dental assistant-I think that a 2.5 and a 17 as a dental assistant is better than a 3.9 and a 23 with just shadowing hours.

I agree. And not because I been a dental assistant but more because I personally believe that shadowing does not give you the best insight of a day in the life of a dentist. I shadowed before I did the assisting and its two different worlds. Working side by side with the dentist allows to experience what a dentist goes through in dealing with patients, good and bad. But like I said, that is just my personal opinion.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[allover]

I agree. And not because I been a dental assistant but more because I personally believe that shadowing does not give you the best insight of a day in the life of a dentist. I shadowed before I did the assisting and its two different worlds. Working side by side with the dentist allows to experience what a dentist goes through in dealing with patients, good and bad. But like I said, that is just my personal opinion.

Thanks for the responses.

how does shadowing not allow you to "experience what a dentist goes through in dealing with patients, good and bad." are the patients hidden from you while shadowing? Is the dentist not willing to talk to you if you are just shadowing as opposed to working? What assumptions are behind your statement Id like to know.

 

[aelian]

Of course being an assistant is better than shadowing but not anywhere near as important as grades or DAT. I asked this question at an interview: should I work for a year as a dental assistant or continue with classes? The interviewer looked at me like I was an idiot and said to go with the classes. So yeah, being a dental assistant is nice but not significantly greater than shadowing. But if you can accumulate hundreds of hours getting paid 10 bucks, go for it.

Edit: I'd give a DA with a 2.5 and 17 about as much of a chance of getting accepted over a 3.9/23 as I would Urkle over Mike Tyson.

 

[ovi8]

I agree. And not because I been a dental assistant but more because I personally believe that shadowing does not give you the best insight of a day in the life of a dentist. I shadowed before I did the assisting and its two different worlds. Working side by side with the dentist allows to experience what a dentist goes through in dealing with patients, good and bad. But like I said, that is just my personal opinion.

Thanks for the responses.

Not only that, but the letter of recommendation will be a lot stronger coming from a dentist that knows you personally and can vouch for your work ethic (provided you have good work ethic😀) at the end of the day, it certainly can't hurt your chances of getting in

 

[redchesus]

So as a person who has been a dental assistant-I think that a 2.5 and a 17 as a dental assistant is better than a 3.9 and a 23 with just shadowing hours.

I wouldn't. You can be trained to a dental assistant in a timespan of months.

Student B (3.9 GPA/ 23 DAT) would most likely be able to catch up in D-school, in terms of familiarity with dental procedures, but Student A (2.5 GPA/17 DAT) might not be able to handle the academic rigor (as shown by the low GPA and DAT scores).

If the scores were a bit closer say (3.9 GPA / 23 DAT) vs (3.5 GPA / 20 DAT) it might make more of a difference, but (2.5 GPA/ 17 DAT) is way too low.

 

[SeattleRDH]

As that none of us have ever been on a admissions committee, the responses are probably going to one of these two:
Student A (never been a dental assistant): being a dental assistant isn't going to help at all!!!!!
Student B (been a dental assistant): It is the most important thing you could ever do.

So as a person who has been a dental assistant-I think that a 2.5 and a 17 as a dental assistant is better than a 3.9 and a 23 with just shadowing hours.

This is not true. A 2.5 GPA with a 17 DAT will not even get an interview at most schools. Even if they were a hygienist! You have to get at least a 3.0 GPA to be competitive no matter who you are.

I know plenty of assistants who would really, really like to be dentists but they aren't going to get into dental school because they can't (or don't want to) get the science grades.

 

[yappy]

All things being equal it seems assisting can only be positive. You might shine more in the interviews and you have demonstrated that you're dedicated to the field.
Also... why would you ever sink 200k+ into an education if you didnt know you enjoyed the day to day?

 

[dentaldawg32]

All things being equal it seems assisting can only be positive. You might shine more in the interviews and you have demonstrated that you're dedicated to the field.
Also... why would you ever sink 200k+ into an education if you didnt know you enjoyed the day to day?

Ummm...ever heard of shadowing?

 

[ElMeroGuero]

This is not true. A 2.5 GPA with a 17 DAT will not even get an interview at most schools. Even if they were a hygienist! You have to get at least a 3.0 GPA to be competitive no matter who you are.

I know plenty of assistants who would really, really like to be dentists but they aren't going to get into dental school because they can't (or don't want to) get the science grades.

I was being VERY sarcastic, sorry that was lost.

 

[iamsolo24]

how does shadowing not allow you to "experience what a dentist goes through in dealing with patients, good and bad." are the patients hidden from you while shadowing? Is the dentist not willing to talk to you if you are just shadowing as opposed to working? What assumptions are behind your statement Id like to know.

All I have to say is that observing with your eyes and taking action with your hands and really getting in there is completely two different things. You can look at almost any profession from the outside and say hey I like that and I think I want to be that but when you work side by side with that individual and really experience what he has to deal with it, you might change your mind or maybe become even more motivated to become that profession. PREACH! haha just kidding

 

[mustardseed5]

'

 

[ajusf16]

5 years as a dental assistant, prior to committing to dental school I feel is def going to help push me over the top

 

[stlouisboi2002]

5 years as a dental assistant, prior to committing to dental school I feel is def going to help push me over the top

I feel ya👍👍👍

Dental Assistant school, 2 yrs as an assistant then decided to go back!!!

Dental assistants have an edge, dont worry about those people with 50-100 shadowing hours, we got em beat baby lol!!! On a serious note though, some schools, way previous dental experience pretty high though. If you check the ADEA guides from previous years it shows which schools do and dont...

 

[highhopee]

I feel ya👍👍👍

Dental Assistant school, 2 yrs as an assistant then decided to go back!!!

Dental assistants have an edge, dont worry about those people with 50-100 shadowing hours, we got em beat baby lol!!! On a serious note though, some schools, way previous dental experience pretty high though. If you check the ADEA guides from previous years it shows which schools do and dont...

I don't necessarily think being a dental assistant gives a student an edge with oGPA 2.7 and sGPA 2.8 as yourself. Dental schools rather see you not being involved as a dental assistant and having higher gpa. But your ethnicity definately gives you an edge.

 

[aelian]

I don't necessarily think being a dental assistant gives a student an edge with oGPA 2.7 and sGPA 2.8 as yourself. Dental schools rather see you not being involved as a dental assistant and having higher gpa. But your ethnicity definately gives you an edge.

Yeah, it kinda reminds me about that thread of the pre-dent president getting rejected. Grades>>>>>>experience.

 

[stlouisboi2002]

Yeah, it kinda reminds me about that thread of the pre-dent president getting rejected. Grades>>>>>>experience.

We'll see...

 

[doc toothache]

Dental Assistant school, 2 yrs as an assistant then decided to go back!!!

Dental assistants have an edge, dont worry about those people with 50-100 shadowing hours, we got em beat baby lol!!! On a serious note though, some schools, way previous dental experience pretty high though. If you check the ADEA guides from previous years it shows which schools do and dont...

What year and where would that be?

 

[iamsolo24]

I don't necessarily think being a dental assistant gives a student an edge with oGPA 2.7 and sGPA 2.8 as yourself. Dental schools rather see you not being involved as a dental assistant and having higher gpa. But your ethnicity definately gives you an edge.

I cant really agree that a Dental school would NOT want you to work in a field that you are aspiring to get into one day - doesn't make much sense there!

 

[aelian]

I cant really agree that a Dental school would NOT want you to work in a field that you are aspiring to get into one day - doesn't make much sense there!

Okay, I'll relate this to basketball. In basketball, you have points (I'll make this your GPA), rebounds (I'll make this your DAT), the quality of your team (I'll make this the school you go to), assists (I dunno, assists are pretty darn important), steals (I guess EC's), and I guess blocks (this can be your shadowing or dental hours).

From the git go, many of us have not been saying blocks are not important. They are. Very important. But if you average 5 blocks a game (as opposed to the league average of 1) but only 5 points a game (leage average would be somewhere around 12), you will not be drafter over Mr. 20 ppg, 5 assists, 5 rebs, and .6 blocks.

Blocks are good. But NOT the most important.

/somewhere, in a cold, lonely place, the ghost of Manute Bol weeps.

 

[stlouisboi2002]

What year and where would that be?

http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/survey_ed_vol2.pdf

Page 67, it says "Importance of Other Factors Used as
Admissions Criteria by Dental Schools in the United States and Canada, 2008-09"

It doesnt say exactly "We want you to be an assistant or we need to you have dental work experience" but it does have some schools that value shadowing, work experience etc....

 

[321931]

Okay, I'll relate this to basketball. In basketball, you have points (I'll make this your GPA), rebounds (I'll make this your DAT), the quality of your team (I'll make this the school you go to), assists (I dunno, assists are pretty darn important), steals (I guess EC's), and I guess blocks (this can be your shadowing or dental hours).

From the git go, many of us have not been saying blocks are not important. They are. Very important. But if you average 5 blocks a game (as opposed to the league average of 1) but only 5 points a game (leage average would be somewhere around 12), you will not be drafter over Mr. 20 ppg, 5 assists, 5 rebs, and .6 blocks.

Blocks are good. But NOT the most important.

/somewhere, in a cold, lonely place, the ghost of Manute Bol weeps.

That was an interesting way of putting it. I like this comparison 👍

 

[doc toothache]

http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/survey_ed_vol2.pdf

Page 67, it says "Importance of Other Factors Used as
Admissions Criteria by Dental Schools in the United States and Canada, 2008-09"

It doesnt say exactly "We want you to be an assistant or we need to you have dental work experience" but it does have some schools that value shadowing, work experience etc....

Now that's a surprise. It is so important but ds choose to beat around the bush. All schools value shadowing and that is why they make it a point to include the number of hours recommended/required. In the table you are referring to there are a total of 18 factors that are included in the list and 9 schools that rate it VI. Professional experiences, no doubt, play an important role but they take a back seat to other criteria such as science gpa, non science gpa, overall gpa, interview, lors and community service (p35) dat and ps. Incidentally, work experience does not refer exclusively to dental experience.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=657139

 

[ajusf16]

well 5 years dental assistant
decent DAT but low QR
female hispanic
3.93ish gpa waiting on exact conversion
So hopefully the 5 years will help push me with the QR being low😕

 

[ovi8]

the only case where I can see dental assistant being advantageous to people with lower GPA/DAT is for in-state schools because chances are, large private or out-of-state schools may only look at your GPA/DAT as a weening out process since they get a high volume of applicants. For in-state schools, I think (although I do not know for sure) that they may look at more than GPA/DAT since there would be a smaller volume of applicants and so they would have time to evaluate more thoroughly. they know that being a good dentist is more than just grades, its about who you are and what your experiences have been.

 

[lmaozedong1]

well 5 years dental assistant
decent DAT but low QR
female hispanic
3.93ish gpa waiting on exact conversion
So hopefully the 5 years will help push me with the QR being low😕

You're good to go.

 

[erk005]

From my experience, if you were a dental assistant it would play a very very very little role in making you a better application however that being said it would help you be a very good dental student. Once you're in school those skills will put you leaps in bounds ahead of other students. So better applicant no, better student yes. You choose which would be better for you.

👍👍👍

Listen to this

Also I think assisting gives me something to talk about at an interview

 

[Jennlynn10]

i'm seeing both positive and negative sides to the dental assisting....... Do you all think it would be the same for being a hygienist? I have 1 year left in hygiene school (will graduate w/ a BS) and plan to take the remaining pre-req classes and work part time until i apply. it def shows i like the field of dentistry and have a little insight as to what it involves.

 

[alanan84]

Okay, I'll relate this to basketball. In basketball, you have points (I'll make this your GPA), rebounds (I'll make this your DAT), the quality of your team (I'll make this the school you go to), assists (I dunno, assists are pretty darn important), steals (I guess EC's), and I guess blocks (this can be your shadowing or dental hours).

From the git go, many of us have not been saying blocks are not important. They are. Very important. But if you average 5 blocks a game (as opposed to the league average of 1) but only 5 points a game (leage average would be somewhere around 12), you will not be drafter over Mr. 20 ppg, 5 assists, 5 rebs, and .6 blocks.

Blocks are good. But NOT the most important.

/somewhere, in a cold, lonely place, the ghost of Manute Bol weeps.

I love sports analogies! Great job! Especially the Manute Bol reference! 👍

 

[doc toothache]

Also I think assisting gives me something to talk about at an interview

You can always talk about the weather.😀

 

[SeattleRDH]

Jennlyyn10,

Being a RDH is totally different. You will have already taken years of classes that introduce you to dentistry as well as passing multiple board exams. If you are licensed in anesthetic and restorative that's even better.

But... you still have to have a competitive GPA and DAT or your app won't even get looked at.

 

[Blue Panther]

Dental assisting is a huge asset to an applicant who is seeking admission into a more clinical based dental school. Where as published craniofacial research is favorably looked upon by heavy research dental schools even if the applicant presents mediocre numbers.
​

 

[Blue Panther]

Now that's what you call a nerdy joke.

 

[doc toothache]

Now that's what you call a nerdy joke.

Referring to http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9954477&postcount=41 ?

 

[dentstd]

A highschooler can become a dental assistant. It really doesn't take much training to become one. Have you seen the requirements to become one? Look up the training programs and you'll see any idiot can become one. I really don't think experience taking impressions, pouring stone, handing the dentist his tools, etc... are of significant meaning to dental admissions.

 

[Oracle DMD]

Hello Everyone,

I am curious to know if schools like the idea of a candidate who has worked as a dental assistant than a student who has only shadowed a dentist?

I know it will probably strengthen your portfolio but I wasn't sure to what extent and how do schools respond to such a credential.

Let me know if anybody can give me some feedback.

Thank You

all things being equal? then YES! YES! YES! that is a stone cold fact.

 

[Blue Panther]

The question is how to stand out among other applicants with similar numbers?

What differentiates two applicants with similar numbers is experience. The best experience to stand out will be the one where you utilize what you have learned through HIGHER education. In other words how you have applied the knowledge gained in undergrad and beyond in the real world.

However if you still believe that dental assisting will help you in your dental career, by all means go ahead and enlighten an admission member at your next interview that you have acquired a job as a dental assistant after earning a Bachelor's degree because you feel it will make you a better dental student and a more proficient dentist in the end. In other words, their school is a complete failure to adequately educate and train students to become proficient dentists thus applicants need prior dental experience in order to excel in their dental careers.

 

[ajusf16]

The question is how to stand out among other applicants with similar numbers?

What differentiates two applicants with similar numbers is experience. The best experience to stand out will be the one where you utilize what you have learned through HIGHER education. In other words how you have applied the knowledge gained in undergrad and beyond in the real world.

However if you still believe that dental assisting will help you in your dental career, by all means go ahead and enlighten an admission member at your next interview that you have acquired a job as a dental assistant after earning a Bachelor’s degree because you feel it will make you a better dental student and a more proficient dentist in the end. In other words, their school is a complete failure to adequately educate and train students to become proficient dentists thus applicants need prior dental experience in order to excel in their dental careers.

granted higher education is important, but the training you can receive by actually being with a dentist is huge. You think that shadowing a dentist teaches you a lot, try working with them full time. You learn more than just handing tools, you learn the interworkings of an office, how to run a practice, and you will also learn what it takes to be a dental assistant. SO when you actually become a dentist you know what the people who work for you are going through and you are able to speak to them on the same level. Education is important from all styles, be it book work, clinicals, or OJT, the more you have the more valuable you are.👍

 

[Blue Panther]

granted higher education is important, but the training you can receive by actually being with a dentist is huge. You think that shadowing a dentist teaches you a lot, try working with them full time. You learn more than just handing tools, you learn the interworkings of an office, how to run a practice, and you will also learn what it takes to be a dental assistant. SO when you actually become a dentist you know what the people who work for you are going through and you are able to speak to them on the same level. Education is important from all styles, be it book work, clinicals, or OJT, the more you have the more valuable you are.👍

Are you a dental assistant?

 

[dmitriyivanov]

So as a person who has been a dental assistant-I think that a 2.5 and a 17 as a dental assistant is better than a 3.9 and a 23 with just shadowing hours.

Are you crazy? You are rediculous for saying/comparing something like that 😱? ADCOM will look at your GPA and DAT before they decide to look at your experience... and unless you are 2.5 and 17 URM RDA, it will never be the same as 3.9 and 23!

 

[ajusf16]

well 5 years dental assistant
decent DAT but low QR
female hispanic
3.93ish gpa waiting on exact conversion
So hopefully the 5 years will help push me with the QR being low😕

Are you a dental assistant?

and I am not saying that it is the only thing, I just feel that it will help push me over the top if I am on a cusp