What does a dental assistant do?

[Jerry hello!]

Well, I know a bit about it, but can anyone, particularly someone that has worked as a dent. asst. give me some info on the day to day aspects of the job? I ask because I have an interview in a couple of days for a dent. asst. job. Hey, it required no experience, and this position could make my dental school application look better when I apply in the future. Thanks, especially you 3 digit type posters. Y'all do a wonderful job & give helpful advice.

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[DrJeff]

Here's what my assistant does on a day to day basis. Meets, greets, seats my patient, places topical anesthesia in the injection site, has the proper instrument tray/equipment set up. Directly assists me in 4 handed dentistry, mixes and prepares any materials that needs to be done. Takes x-rays, and models, and pours the models where applicable. Fills out the basic proceedure information in the patients chart, interacts directly with the other chairside assistants and our floating/sterilization assitant to ensure that all instruments will be sterilized, oversees product/equipment ordering for the office, and lastly makes sure that I stay on time during the day. She probably does about 20 other major things during the day that I have forgotten. A GREAT assistant does so much more than just hold the suction! And for all of you out there in school, remember this crucial piece of information, when you get that great assistant(and they aren't easy to find), pay them well and treat them with the utmost respect, or you will soon be looking for another assistant!

 

[No2thDk]

I am a dental asst. with 6 years experience. DrJeff is right, his asst. probably does a bunch of things he forgets about. On a day to day basis, I do everything that I can legally do for the Dr. I live in wisconsin and there's few things I can't do. I can't do anything below the gumline (subgingival) or irreversible.

I do all the things DrJeff mentioned as well as the following examples:

If the Dr. is doing a composite (tooth-colored) filling, I apply topical anesthetic and then the Dr. injects local anesthetic. Next the Dr. removes decay or old filling with handpiece. He then leaves the room while I apply bonding agents. He returns to place the filling material and then leaves again while I light cure the filling, check the bite, margins and interproximal contacts. The Dr. returns one last time to check my work and make any adjustments.

If we are doing a crown prep, I take initial and opposing impressions before the Dr. comes in the room. He then preps the tooth for a crown and leaves. Next, I take the final impression, fabricate and cement a temporary crown, and the patient is on their way.

Your goal as an assistant should be to reduce the Dr.'s time with the patient as much as possible. Most of the Dr.'s that I work with see 2-3 patients at a time. I work in a very large clinic with 26 Dr.s.

Good luck and if you ever have ?'s or need advice, e-mail me [email protected]

I'm sure this experience will help you in dental school.

------------------
Jessy

 

[Doggie]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by DrJeff:
Here's what my assistant does on a day to day basis. Meets, greets, seats my patient, places topical anesthesia in the injection site, has the proper instrument tray/equipment set up. Directly assists me in 4 handed dentistry, mixes and prepares any materials that needs to be done. Takes x-rays, and models, and pours the models where applicable. Fills out the basic proceedure information in the patients chart, interacts directly with the other chairside assistants and our floating/sterilization assitant to ensure that all instruments will be sterilized, oversees product/equipment ordering for the office, and lastly makes sure that I stay on time during the day. She probably does about 20 other major things during the day that I have forgotten. A GREAT assistant does so much more than just hold the suction! And for all of you out there in school, remember this crucial piece of information, when you get that great assistant(and they aren't easy to find), pay them well and treat them with the utmost respect, or you will soon be looking for another assistant!•

How much do assistants make nowadays? How about Hygenists?

 

[groundhog]

In the Pacifc Northwest a good expanded duties assistant makes about $30,00 to $40,000 per year. Hygenists are in the $60,000 range. This would be for full time work and subject to some variation depending upon benefit packages.

 

[MEAT]

Bite you tongue MEAT. Come on, you can do it!!!! aaaaahhhhhhhh. Okay, I feel better now.

SEEKING DENTAL LOVE

MEAT, M.D., DMD [hon.]

 

[Dr. Pedo]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by MEAT:
Bite you tongue MEAT. Come on, you can do it!!!! aaaaahhhhhhhh. Okay, I feel better now.

SEEKING DENTAL LOVE

MEAT, M.D., DMD [hon.]•

Hey Meat(head),

Your first sentence should read, "Bite [your] tongue..." We all know you're not very smart but why prove it to us!

SEEKING A CURE FOR MAD COW DISEASE.


R.R.B

 

[No2thDk]

Meat

What's your problem with this thread?

Why bite your tongue?

------------------
Jessy

 

[Dr. Pedo]

No2th,

Meat is a kid who has been rejected by dental schools for 3 consecutive years. He is now applying to chiropractic school and we all wish him luck.

I like to think of Meat as a "wannabe" dentist.

Unfortunately, Meat tries to convince people he is a med. student, but everyone knows the truth!

. Could you imagine his score on the writing section of the MCAT?

MINCING MEAT

R.R.B


[This message has been edited by Dr.2b (edited March 31, 2001).]

 

[dds2b]

Dr.2b: hahaha...that was funny...mad cow!!!

No2thDk: diddo to what Dr.2b said.

Meat was too busy chocking his chicken on the S&M forum too often and got kicked out of school, so he went a little ****oo and likes to eat his tongue.

SEEK 'M' FOR MEATHEAD ON MCAT VERBAL

[This message has been edited by dds2b (edited March 31, 2001).]

 

[MEAT]

Dear Dentists,

If you are going to 'attempt' to make a joke about me, can you at least make it funny? I'm always up for a good laugh, but so far I've gotten no satisfaction from you.

Ironic that you would make fun of my spelling. Wasn't it not too long ago when you're spelling and grammar was being picked apart? Errors were still being made after you did an edit job. The word 'your' is especially interesting because you seemed unable to distinguish the difference between 'you're' and 'your'.

Chicken choker? Dental school dropout? Is that the best you could come up with? No wonder turtleboard has lost interest in this section. If you are going to make fun of me, go to the Allopathic section and take some notes from the MDs on that board. I'll return when I've seem something worthy of my humor and wit.

SEEKING FUNNY JOKES

MEAT, M.D.

 

[Dr. Pedo]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by MEAT:
Dear Dentists,

Ironic that you would make fun of my spelling. Wasn't it not too long ago when you're spelling and grammar was being picked apart? Errors were still being made after you did an edit job. The word 'your' is especially interesting because you seemed unable to distinguish the difference between 'you're' and 'your'.


SEEKING FUNNY JOKES

MEAT, M.D.•

Wasn't it not......? (Dr.2b is moving his index finger side-to-side.)

Did you really take an english class?


MINCING MEAT

R.R.B

 

[MEAT]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by Dr.2b:
Wasn't it not......? (Dr.2b is moving his index finger side-to-side.)

Did you really take an english class?


MINCING MEAT

R.R.B

•

Dear Physician Wannabe,

If I didn't take an English class, I would have falied the verbal section of the MCAT and wound up in dental school.

SEEKING MEDICAL SCHOOL REJECTS

MEAT, M.D.

 

[badaboom]

who was that once said, the only thing a doctor gets to write is the prescription?

 

[MEAT]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by badaboom:
who was that once said, the only thing a doctor gets to write is the prescription?

•

Written like a true dentist.

 

[No2thDk]

dds2b and Dr.2B:

Thanks a bunch! I was worried that I said something wrong earlier!



------------------
Jessy

 

[Dr. Pedo]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by MEAT:
Dear Physician Wannabe,

If I didn't take an English class, I would have falied the verbal section of the MCAT and wound up in dental school.

SEEKING MEDICAL SCHOOL REJECTS

MEAT, M.D.

•

Meat(head),

It is ironic you misspelled the word "failed!"

Meat, you couldn't be a dentist or a surgeon. It is imperative, as a specialist, to have an "eye" for detail.

Good luck as a family physician!

LOVE MINCING MEAT

R.R.B



[This message has been edited by Dr.2b (edited April 07, 2001).]

 

[Doggie]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by MEAT:
Dear Physician Wannabe,

If I didn't take an English class, I would have falied the verbal section of the MCAT and wound up in dental school.

•

no........that only means you will fail the verbal section on the DAT as well.....and end up hoping to even being an ER janitor.

SEEKING HAMBURGER MINCED MEAT, MD, DDS/DMD REJECT

 

[MEAT]

Dentists

,

I have been posting on the Pre-Dental forum for some time now. Yes, I have made two typos lately. Why? I've lost interest in this section on SDN and try to spend as little time as possible here. Yes, I still made the typos, but at least I don't need to use the edit button on every other post.

Dr.2b, I would think that you would find the myriad of grammatical errors by your colleagues a bit more amusing than a few simple typos (forgetting a 'r' or switching the 'l' and the 'i'). Hmmmm.... would you rather see your kids make these type of typos or constantly confuse 'your' for 'you're'? How about unintellectual argument instead of unintelligible? Using 'of' instead of 'have'?

At least I can say that I don't limit my jokes to just dentists. I'm happy to poke fun of the unintelligible arguments made by MDs, DOs, Pre-Meds, etc. If anyone is biased it is you!! Isn't it ironic that you single out MDs because they are supposedly biased against DMDs? Hmmmm.... the word hypocrite comes to mind.

Since many of you seem so eager to be rid of me, perhaps you should consider removing me as the subject of your posts/threads. Good luck.

Doggie (nice name), to suggest that any MD would be a DMD-reject is laughable. I appreciate the servitude you provide to MDs and our kids so I will spare your pride by not biting you.

Dr.2b, of the bunch, I have found your posts to be the most amusing. Perhaps you could share you're sense of humor with your colleagues.

SEEK POSTING WITHOUT EDITS

P.S. Fortunately, most of your errors have been erased by the Dental Moderator. Is this a coincidence? Big Moderator protecting dumb dentist? Was Tim just a scapegoat? Hahaha.

1. Dental Mistakes Volume I

2. Dental Mistakes Volume II

3. Dental Mistakes Volume III - XXXV has mysteriously vanished.

 

[Dr. Pedo]

Meat,
As you know everything I say is tongue-in-cheek!

I actually hate grammar and stink at sppeelling, so for me to point a finger is rather ridiculous.

Anyway I actually side with most of the things md's have to say about dental school/dentistry. Having run a business and managing 25+ employees----I have learned that running a biz is hard, but not as hard as running a biz with 2500 employees! Similar--- yet there is a difference.

I find dentistry and medicine to be similar, yet let's face it, different! The extensive knowledge on the entire body that physicians are required to know is daunting. The years of training-- 4 in med.school, 3 in residency (min.) and several more if you want to specialize is unbelievable. It obviously takes many years to become a general physician----for good reason. Now, dentistry and dental school is complex but we are fortunate to be able to spend a majority of our time learning the specifics of the oral cavity. Is that difficult? Ask anyone who sat through an Oral Pathology or neuroanatomy class. It is basically a sub-specialty of medicine that requires great hands, artistic imagination, and a command of the sciences. Difficult? Yes. Are we highly trained, experts? You bet. Do we deserve a doctorate? You bet. Do we treat, diagnosis, and correct problems with the body? Sort"a"----Only in the oral cavity. Would I know the first thing about delivering a baby or diagnosing and caring for a tear in the supraspinatus muscle? NOPE. So is my knowledge as extensive as a 3rd yr. resident (on the human body)? Nope. Am I proud to be a member of the health care team? Yep. (I must admit some of are specialists are bad-a$$es, especially the OMS!)

This is my personal opinion----feel free to attack me, I have thick skin.

R.R.B

PS--I realize some of you are going to say we take the same classes plus etc... Yes the classes are similar (in fact Harvard and a few others---dental students spent the first 2 years with the med. students) but after that we delve into the oral cavity and become experts. They continue to deepen their knowledge on the body and its workings. Having to learn each area GI, Surgery, Psychiatry, IM, Radiology etc... Every area of the body. After their first 2 years the md/do's are only 1/3 of away through their schooling. Kudos to you guys, md/dos. But I'm not sure you're smarter for having to endure that!