Just double checking if these are considered illegal.

[LaughingGas]

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So I started as volunteer/shadowing at one dental clinic, and started getting paid after helping the office for one year. I did some work under the dentists' supervision, yet I wanted to double check before I submit it in the application.

-Sterilization of instruments😕
-Basic assisting, such as suction, making casts from the impressions given by dentists.
The rest are receptionist job.😕

I'm in CA if matters.

Thanks in advance 😀

 

[muffin21]

wait... that's an interesting question, i always thought that people gradually learned to assist as they shadowed? i've definitely had a lot of experience dental assisting for my clinic and my dentist, and these are both things that i listed on my application.. especially when dental schools expect you to shadow for 40+ hours, doesn't it make sense that we have time to learn more than just observe?

 

[wo5678]

So I started as volunteer/shadowing at one dental clinic, and started getting paid after helping the office for one year. I did some work under the dentists' supervision, yet I wanted to double check before I submit it in the application.

-Sterilization of instruments😕
-Basic assisting, such as suction, making casts from the impressions given by dentists.
The rest are receptionist job.😕

I'm in CA if matters.

Thanks in advance 😀

Only in some states do you need certification to be a dental assistant. Others, you can just trained on the job. I am not sure about CA.

 

[LaughingGas]

hmm yeah. 1) Not sure if CA is ok and can't find a link that states clearly about qualification for dental assisting in CA. 2)I am just double checking because I've seen somewhere in the forums mentioning taking impression is illegal.

 

[calid]

hmm yeah. 1) Not sure if CA is ok and can't find a link that states clearly about qualification for dental assisting in CA. 2)I am just double checking because I've seen somewhere in the forums mentioning taking impression is illegal.

Maybe fumble through this link to check? http://www.danb.org/main/statespecificinfo.asp

I know there are some things that are illegal for anyone uncertified to do, varying among states, and you never want to mention doing it in an interview or on your app. Some schools will turn a blind eye, knowing you probably didn't realize you weren't legally allowed to do that, but others really won't like it.

One adcom even told me that because what you can legally do varies by state, you'd want to say something like "I did xxx, which is permitted in the state of XX as a CDA," or "I did xxx, which does not require a certification in XX," because they don't know all the regulations in each state and you don't want them to, incorrectly, think you did something illegal.