how to get a dental assistant job?

[bobuba]

should i just fill out the job application which a dentist requests?? or resume??

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[jjash]

There is a 6(maybe its 3 months..I forget) month training program that a person must go through in order to get Certified as a Dental Assistant. It includes doing an externship at a dental practice. There are some online diploma farms that will give you a certificate if you pass their "test", but you will have no hands on experience. Most practices are looking for a full time person to become their dental assistant for an extended period of time and don't usually hire someone that will leave when school starts again. (Just coming from experience). So if you are certified and want to apply, just bring your resume to them.

 

[xdianaax]

It's different from office to office. In some rare cases the dentist says that he is willing to train the right candidate, then you're really lucky. That's what happened in my case, I guess I impressed him somehow because he was willing to teach me everything.

You really just have to be patient. Most dentists want assistants that have experience, and you can't really blame them. But there are some that are willing to put in some work to get an assistant that works to their liking. You could also start by shadowing and showing the dentist how involved you are. Pay attention to everything the assistant does and if there's ever an opening, as for the position. Good luck!

 

[BigLou]

I was cleaning golf clubs at a country club my first summer after freshmen year and asked a local oral surgeon who played there if I could shadow. After a week of shadowing he asked me to come in and start working as an assistant. I took my Pennsylvania dental radiology certification course and have been able to take x-rays for the past 5 years. Look into other things besides just general dentistry to get experience. I've also worked as an assistant for a summer for a prosthodontist. If you are up front and honest and tell a dentist, general or specialist, your interest to join the profession chances are he/she will at least invite you in to watch.

By the same token, there are some out there who just want to do their job and go home and have no ambition to groom future professionals. I would find some places to shadow first and see if you are compatible with that person and if they have a general interest in teaching as well as working with you.

 

[haisha ni narou]

one word. Craigslist.

 

[polskasila]

honestly i dont think you have to get certified. I just happened to pass by an office that had a sign on the door. walked in, got an application, got an interview (no resume), told the doc that i wanted to pursue dentistry and he hired me for part time. worked there for 3 years with a very flexible schedule while in undergrad.

I think your best bet is to find a doc who just needs some extra help part time. craigslist is probably a good idea. i think most docs would go crazy when you say you want to pursue dentistry. even though you might not be permanent, they will know that you'll take it seriously; and i think he got a kick out of introducing me and telling his patients that i'm going to go to dental school

 

[Lopyswine]

same as everyone else here.

I started shadowing a dentist and few months later I was an assistant. Its now 3 years later and I restore teeth and take radiographs.