Dental Assistant Career Guide and Counseling

Question: How much does a dental assistant make in Durango Colorado? I currently work in Oklahoma City, and I make $48,000 a year as a dental assistant. I am enrolled in school full time in hopes of getting into dental school within the next 2 years, but I would like to move to Colorado. Does anyone know the average salary there?

Answer: You can look up here : http://www.salaryexpert.com/

Question: can a dental assistant cross train into becoming a dental hygiene? im planning on becoming a dental assistant first, but i would like to become a dental hygiene afterwards is this possible?

Answer: You can become an assistant through on-the-job training or through a school for certification to be a hygienist however you need to go to an accredited institution and be licensed by your state. sometimes, the program you might be applying to for hygiene will give you extra points for being an assistant beforehand but it's not like being promoted. O, and I hope u do great! Dental hygiene is an awesome job

Question: How much will a Dental assistant earn in California? I plan to migrate to United states.Plan to take NBDE part 1 but need to work as a dental assistant while I prepare for exams.Will someone tell me what they pay for dental assistants in California? Can I work as a dental hygeinist some where?

Answer: probably about 30,000 a year, assuming you have little to no experience.

Question: How do I become a volunteer dental assistant to update my knowledge in the field? I am a Certified dental assistant with expanded functions and certified in dental radiology. I have only 2 years experience with a dentist that was old school. He did a lot himself. I learned mostly from the hygienist. Please help! I can't find any web searches.

Answer: I would just ask around to local dental offices. When I went to schooling i wanted to learn more, because we didn't get certified, and I wasn't able to get a job, so I volunteered for a dental office in town. I just went into his office, let the receptionist know what I was doing, left my resume and left. He called the next day thrilled that I was willing to volunteer, and eventually hired me on. It was great.

Question: How can I become a dental assistant for my County's sheriff department? I'm graduating next month to become a dental assistant.. I know there are job opportunities for civilian jobs and county, however I would like to know what are the steps I need to take in order to apply or volunteer for the sheriffs department? Thanks in advance!

Answer: well, every state and for that matter every city is different and set their rules. In certain cities where I am at the sheriffs office does nto provide dental treatment, they give the officers insurance and they visit dentist. Some cities will contract with a dentist and they send peoiple to that dentist. Other places will have a government run facility and hire a dentist. On the other hand there are dentist hired by the state to work on inmates. So to find out if there are opening google your counties sheriff department and see if their are jobs posting online, you can even google your counties official website. there is also dentistry in the federal level, the federal berueau of prisons also provides dentistry to inmates.

Question: What are the benefits of being a dental assistant? Is it worth it? I'm thinking about signing up for the program, it requires 11 Saturdays to become a dental assistant. Sounds a little short. I've always been interested in the dental field.

Answer: There is job security. You work with people, which could be either a positive or a negative. You work in a clean and comfortable environment. It is a respectable profession. Many times dental assistants go on to study and be a dental hygienist. The experience as a dental assistant will help you get into a school to be a dental hygienist.

Question: Can a medical office assistant work asa dental office assistant or do you have to go back to college ? i'm just wondering if i medical office assistant can work as a dental assistant or would they have to go back to college to do more credits? and which would make a better pay?

Answer: If you mean a dental OFFICE assistant...then yes you can use your training as a medical office assistant to work in a dental office. But being a dental assistant is a different occupation and will require further individualized training. Those are the people who assist the with dental procedures rather than running the administrative aspects of the practice.

Question: What are my chances of getting a dental assistant job with just a dental assistant diploma? Do I have a good chance getting a dental assistant job with just a diploma in dental assisting? I'll be going to penn foster career school for the diploma and I was wondering if I could actually get a job with the diploma.

Answer: A lot of offices are willing ( and prefer) to train their new assistants. They like people without prior experience, so that they don't have any old habits they have to break you out of. I started with a Dental office 10 years ago without experience or formal training. I just reached my 10 year anniversary there. Most of the girls I work with never went to school for assisting and had no other training.

Question: How much do you think a dental assistant in Missouri makes hourly? I am studying to become a dental assistant. I want to know what I'll most likely be making. We have about 5 dentist offices in the town I live.

Answer: Hi, The best way is to go to www.salary.com and type in dental assistant under job title and your zip code below that. The next page will show a list, and number 1 is the one you want that says dental assistant. Under that click on "base salary range" that is after the words 'for you'. It will take you to a page that shows the low, median and high wage range for your area. Good luck, my wife is studying the same thing right now.

Question: Can i go to school for dental assistant and work for orthodontics? I was just wondering, if i went to school for dental assistant, if i'd have to do something extra or different to work in orthodontics? I asked the receptionist at my dentist office, but she was no help. Thanks!

Answer: Yes, you can go to school to be a dental assistant, and then go on to work at an orthodontist's office if that's where you want to be! Entry-level dental assisting courses will teach you dental terminology, charting, oral anatomy, suctioning, retraction, radiology, infection control, sterilization techniques... you will learn how to pour models and pass instruments, as well as learn the names for them. There's so much to learn, but the basics will be covered. Healthcare Provider CPR w/AED is another class you want to take if you don't already have it. You'll need your hepatitis series of shots, as well as your TB. Some states require certification in Radiation, Health & Safety in order to take xrays. Some states also require certification in chairside assisting (CDA) or state licensure in order to perform expanded duties. If you go to www.danb.org, you can find your states info. There's no reason you can't work for an orthodontist if that's what you want to do. Having taken the entry-level course, it'll help you get your foot in the door, then you can learn the legal tasks allowed by orthodontic assistants in your state. You could always find an ortho office that will allow you to 'shadow' thier assistants, or a general office for that matter... it will give you an idea of what's actually done besides just suctioning and passing instruments.... Best of luck to you!

Question: If a Medical Assistant wanted to change and become a Dental Assistant would more school be required? How much? I am finishing a Medical Assisting Program and am considering changing to dental hygiene but first would like to become a dental assistant. Would more school be required? If so how much? Thank You

Answer: why do you want to switch ? I'm in a dental assistant program right now [9 months total with internship] [also plan on doing hygiene in the future]and it is allot different from medical.Of course more school would be required , it depends on if your going to a community college or a tech. school . If college; some of the basics like English ,math ...you wont have to re take those only if you can transfer your credits to the other school . If its a tech. school ,few months ,more hands on , you will have to completely switch studies . Ds= 9 months ,6 w/o internship Hygiene= 2 yrs , As degree

Question: What are my career options as a dental assistant? I am currently in school for dental assisting, I will be a certified dental assistant. I am externing in a dental office for 10 weeks and I really dislike dental assisting. I mean I can really tell that this is just not the career for me. My questions are, what else if anything can I go into career-wise with this?

Answer: well, you should've gotten out of the program when you knew you didn't like it. as for career wise... the only thing i could really tell you is that you could work in different kinds of offices, but nothing outside of dental. you could work with kids or adults or the elderly. or you could work in ortho or general or oral surgery. i would recommend ortho if you really don't want to do much. by the way, you won't walk out of school as a CERTIFIED dental assistant. i'm guessing you're not in california since you mentioned certified. when you get out of school, you will need to take your DANB exam to be a certified dental assistant. otherwise, you will just be a dental assistant. since you said this is definitely not the career for you, maybe you could talk to your school president or talk to the admissions counselors and ask them what you could do about transferring to a different program? maybe they will allow you to do medical assisting... the best advice i could give you, is to just work the most you could in the field and return to school for something else. if you have any other question, email me.

Question: What do you honestly think of a male becoming a dental assistant? What do you honestly think of a guy becoming a dental assistant? I know it's usually a female job but I'm a 22 year old guy and am thinking of becoming one? Do you think it's a good job or not? What is the male to female ratio in dental assistants? 1 to 10? I'm afraid I might not be able to get hired and what people might think of me because it's not a typical job for a man.

Answer: SittSitt Yes why not go into dentistry, its such a well paid profession. You're obviously interested in it. These days its very tech advanced and easier.

Question: How many days a week does a dental assistant work? I was just woondering wether i wanted to be a dental assistant or an esthetician but who works longer hours.

Answer: I've worked at several offices - and all dentists are different as to what hours they work. One office I worked Mon Tues Wed from 8:30 til 5, half a day Thurs and all day Friday. Another office was 7-3 two days a week and 2-10 (yup, pm) two days a week. Currently I work 6am - 4pm Mon Tues and Wed, with nice long 4 days weekends (but I've been there for 10 years and pretty much the dentist lets me get away with murder) I'd say 30-40 hours a week is pretty average, with most offices working 8-5 with an hour for lunch.

Question: Is there a difference between a dental hygenist and a dental assistant? I can get an associates degree from a community college for a dental assistant, but it looks like I can get a bachelor's from a four year. I'm just trying to do it the quickest and cheapest way, which from the looks of it would be through the community college. Does anyone know where I need to go?

Answer: Dental assistants help the dentist directly. They get all the equiptment out and hand the dentist what they need when they need it. Assist with root canals, crowns, fillings etc. That being said, a hygenist cleans teeth all day every day. So as for variety, I guess every mouth is different, but assisting is more interesting. I also know that hygenists make about twice as much as an assistant. State laws vary, how much can be done by an assistant. Generally you can be hired and trained on the job to be an assistant, but need schooling for a hygenist.

Question: How can i get a dental assistant license? I been working as a dental assistant for over 6 years, but i dont have a licese. i have x-ray and cpr liceses; i also finished with the pre-reqs for dental hygiene program. There is any way that i can take the test without having to go to school?

Answer: where i live in ontario canada all you would have to do is sit the certification exams for level 1 and if you wanted level 2. i know that at least in canada technically you do not need to even gone to school to work as a level 1 dental assistant and if you have you xray certs then you are good to go here in canada. but at the same time ther eis a movement in canada to make it a regulated job where certification is mandatory. i would just check with the state or provincial association that regulates the exams and find out qualifications for taking the exams and when the next dates are. usually there is a fee and they sit them like several times a year. once certified then you need to take courses each year to maintain your cert. plus a nominal fee.