will becoming a dental assistant help me get into dental school?

[ncide]

One of the most interesting things for me, aside from the actual concepts underlying clinical practice is the wide variety of material available and that continue to come out. It seems fairly daunting that there is so much constant change in terms of improvements to restorative materials, bonding agents, etc. I have always wondered how dentists that go into practice determine what they should/shouldn't use. I assume it is based on familiarity from school and/or residency along with price.

Another way is for representatives from the industry to come by with "lunch and learn" events where they sit down with clinical staff and show off the latest additions to their lines and the scientific literature behind their products. They ask us what we like about their products, like whether the change in the viscosity level of a particular flowable composite has been well-received, and they relay that information to the material scientists and marketing team. Typically samples are left behind as a trial run of something to entice further use.

At the offices I work at, we also have a dental supply company representative come to pick up our orders and we can always ask her for advice.

With regards to the topic of this thread, I believe becoming a dental assistant serves one in many ways and highlights your desires to pursue dentistry and grow as a clinician. I see it as only helping your applications.

Dentistry is much more than mechanical clinical work. It entails an aspect that solicits a connection with another. You have to learn how to effectively teach and inform patients using information drawn from academia. Communication skills are necessary to being successful and working alongside your patients will help hone those invaluable skills. You need to connect and establish a level of trust that shows you are empathetic and truly concerned for the welfare of your patient. As an assistant, you stand next to the doctor and help mediate that relationship. It takes time, observation, and active provocation to excel in this area. I have worked under numerous doctors and I cannot emphasize this enough. There are doctors graduating from school who are poor in this area and it overshadows their clinical skill in the mind of the patient.

On the periphery you will learn about all of the procedures you will be engaged with in school. You will see abnormal cases and see how doctors treat them, how the dynamics of the dental workplace unfold with staff and patients, and the uses of various dental supplies and instruments. I'd imagine that this information will be useful to us, but we will learn about them regardless of whether we encounter them now or later in school. It's the interpersonal skills that I've discovered to be truly worthwhile developing.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Kelso5184]

Has anyone experienced a bad dental office where you were assisting? I don't want to create another thread, but how did you approach this problem?

I've had my fair share. The best thing to do is leave. Typically the practice has been functioning this way before you and I promise you they will not change for you.

 

[BluntForceTrauma]

Define "best schools." ADEA itself states that there is no reliable ranking of dental schools.

"While there are many publications that rank the dental schools, they are often inaccurate, as there is no level playing field to rank one against another since they all offer programmatic and mission-based differences." -ADEA Website

It is my understanding that each school trains you to become a dentist by giving you the basics and you learn in the real world- that's why they call it dental "practice."

Also, in a previous post you called for people to be blunt...well allow me: I disagree with your presumption that schools schools that have higher DAT averages are necessarily better schools.

This. The University of Utah, a relatively brand new school, has incredibly inflated stats due to high demand. Having spoken with many students who go there, many would probably want to go somewhere else if they could do it again because there is still much the university and the program are figuring out with regard to curriculum, instruction and basic administration.

A school that is the only in-state option for many would have incredibly inflated stats just because its cheaper. Not necessarily the best option, however.