work as dental assistant or research during the year off?

[polf]

I'm taking a year off in between college and dental school and am considering either working as a research assistant in a bio lab or dental assistant at an office. Which one would be better in terms of helping me out through dental school and beyond (running own business/ getting into a dental specialist residency)?

Aspects I'm considering:
Research: I hear research is imporant when it comes to applying for dental specialist residencies, but would bio research but not in a dental related area help? Also I know a lot of labs overwork their lab techs 60hrs/working on weekends(at least they did to the techs where I interned at last summer).

Dental Assistant: will familiarize me with the workings of an office, but actual work will probably be useless. main thing would be its not stressful and it'll give me extra time to take night classes (I didn't take any business courses in college and now I realize I probably should)

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[AnonymousADCOM]

Dental Assistant: will familiarize me with the workings of an office, but actual work will probably be useless. main thing would be its not stressful and it'll give me extra time to take night classes (I didn't take any business courses in college and now I realize I probably should)

actually, what you learn in the office will help you in school. at least that's what a recent dental school grad told me. i'm not talking about just doing the suction. if you can make stone impressions among other tasks, it really helps you in school. plus, it'd be a great idea to take business classes.

 

[polf]

hmm, well I don't know how much I would actually be allowed to do/able to do as I'm not certified as a dental assistant. (though I've seen ads looking for assistants w/ certification not required, which is why I'm considering that option)

 

[pine88]

hmm, well I don't know how much I would actually be allowed to do/able to do as I'm not certified as a dental assistant. (though I've seen ads looking for assistants w/ certification not required, which is why I'm considering that option)

I just got back from visiting schools and the advice I kept getting is "get a job in a dental lab." If you can do lab work quickly, it will free up hours and hours during dental school to study, play, etc.

If I hadn't already worked in a dental office, I would probably try work 1/2 time at an office and 1/2 time at a lab

 

[pre-dentalguy]

I just got back from visiting schools and the advice I kept getting is "get a job in a dental lab." If you can do lab work quickly, it will free up hours and hours during dental school to study, play, etc.

If I hadn't already worked in a dental office, I would probably try work 1/2 time at an office and 1/2 time at a lab

Where in the heck do you find dental labs at though??? I only know of dental offices!

 

[chomper]

I've been told over and over by admissions people that your field of research doesn't matter, as long as you've done it. Also, ~40hrs in a dental clinic is all most dental schools would like to see, off course more can't hurt.


I'd do both research and work in a dental office!