What are the disadvantages of being a Dental Assistant?

Everyone keeps telling me that I shouldn't become a Dental Assistant. Could someone tell me what's so bad about it.

What are the disadvantages of being a Dental Assistant?
If you are kind and understanding, with an amazing personality and your not judgemental. Then being a Dental assistant, has enormous amount of advantages. Fallow your heart, and proceed with your goal. It's your life, not anyone Else's. Unfortunately, you know only negative people in your life. So, be a leader and get out there and do what your heart desires!





Good luck, you can do anything. But not everything will keep you happy, so make your own choice, most important what makes you happy!
Reply:you should do it if you feel you want to, i think putting your hands in someones mouth would be really gross
Reply:A dental assistant does most of the work and the dentist gets most of the money. If you like that field go all the way and be a dentist.
Reply:Well, smelling peoples breath all day and having to see what they had for lunch every day would seem to be drawbacks of the profession!
Reply:Well, I couldn't spend my day looking into other peoples mouths, but I'm glad some people can or else there would be nobody to fix our teeth when problems arise.


If you are into it then go for it!
Reply:My mom has done it for almost 20 years. For her it was a great career. She now does front office as well. But its ALOT of standing and bending over. Also you must be ready when the doctor is ready and do things the way he/she wants.


If you get in with a good doctor he/she should treat you right. The pay isnt great but a good doctor will give you plenty of bonuses as well as time off/vacations. Alot of Doctors will even do mini getaways with the office...like a vegas weekend or disneyland stuff like that. You can also work up and someday be a office manager. Its worked well for my mom. Give it a try if you like the feild maybe you can go back to school to be a hygentist? Good luck to you and your career :)
Reply:being elbow deep in the mouth of a crackhead whose mouth looks like he garggled acid and smells like something died. Plus you won't make any money while the dentist hauls down six figures.





People's mouth, need I say more? It's almost as bad as being a proctologist assistant.
Reply:I worked in the dental field for 16 yrs. There is no reason not to become a dental assistant unless you are not suited to the job. It pays well and you meet a lot of nice people. Maybe you are being steered clear because they feel the demands of the job don't fit your temperament, personality or work habits. So here's what you need. 1. Absolute reliability - always on time or early, pays more attention to tasks than to socializing with the staff. 2. Attention to detail. It's a very technical vocation that requires continuing education throughout your career. 3. Even temper and constant good humor. One of your main jobs is to keep the atmosphere in the operatory low stress and pleasant for the patient and the doc. 4. Caring nature.





So if you feel this is you, go for it. Good luck
Reply:Why wouldnt you want to become a dental assistant?? I am, i was trained on the job i am 20 years old and have been doing it for 2 and a half years and i love it. You dont smell peoples breath all day you wear a mask, and you dont put your bare hands in someones mouth you have gloves. Its so very intersting, and its great pay as well. If you like to be busy this is the job for you, you will always be busy. Plus its a field thats growing like crazy. YOU WILL NEVER BE WITHOUT A JOB!! I love it, and could never see my self doing anything else...ever!!
Reply:I have been a dental assistant for 10 yrs. There are good things about it and there are bad things, just like with any career. I have been responsible for training or teaching new assistants and interns before, and I always tell them the same thing: Dental assisting is something you either have the knack for, or you don't. I have seen people that really wanted to be a dental assistant, however it was obvious that they just simply weren't cut out for it.





Depending on the office you work in, is what determines what responsibilities you would have and what skill level you would need. I started out in a small, slow paced offfice, where the assistants basically sucked spit, cleaned rooms and took x-rays. Now, I work in an office that is very, very fast paced, I am responsible for all surgeries and implants, ordering supplies, fixing equipment, calling in medications, and being in charge of the doctors schedule. I have to work 90 to nothing all day. I have to be able to know what my doctor needs before he asks for it, I have to be able to know what to do without having to think about it too much, and I have to be able to multi-task very well. I work with 4 other assistants, and I am one of the top 2, so not only do I have to know what I am doing, I have to know what the other assistants are doing and help them when they don't know how to do something. Luckely, this is not a position that most assistants would be expected to do when they are just starting out.





Now days, assistants in most states have to be registered just like a nurse, meaning that you have to take tests in radiology, infection control and jurisprudence (laws), be CPR certified, have a certain number of continueing education credits a year, and maintain your registration every year. Used to, when I first started, you could get on the job training and as long as you were radiology certified, you could work as an assistant, but not anymore. Luckely, the tests were easy for me since I had been in the field for so long, but I saw the looks on the faces of the women who were just starting out and they were obviously very confused. But if you pay attention to the courses you take, study hard, and really dedicate yourself, passing the tests shouldn't be too hard.





Depending on the office where you work, what the dentist you work for does, and the field of dentistry to enter (periodontics, oral surgery, general dentistry), you will have to have a strong stomach at times. Like I mentioned, I handle all the surgeries in my office, so I see some pretty nasty stuff. I was really busy one day, so I had to get one of my co-workers assist on an oral surgery, and she almost passed out. She had to leave the room and I had to stop what I was doing and take over for her. You also need to have great hand-eye coordination, be very multi-tasked, and be able to handle situations on your own. One of the main responsibilities of an assistant is to make temporary crowns and bridges, and you need to be able to handle knowing what to do, even if you are having a difficult time with it. I have gotten really frustrated before, when a temporary isn't coming out like I need it too, but I know that my doctor has more important things to do than to come help me, so I have to figure it out myself.





I would suggest that you try to find an office where you can be an intern. We have had quite a few in my office. That is a great way to see if it is something you want to do. You probaby wouldn't really be allowed to do anything really involved, but you might be allowed to assist on some minor procedures, under the supervision of the dentist or an experienced assistant, and you would be able to see if it is something you are interested in.





Many dentists are very high maintenance and are demanding, so you have to find a place that fits your personality. My dentist can be a real jerk, but I am not known to be a meek, quite, shy person, so I am able to deal with him. I have seen new assistants in my office, get really upset trying to work at his fast pace, or meet his demands, and I either try to help them improve so that they can work better with him, or I mention that perhaps he isn't the doctor for them. You just have to find an office where you fit in well with the doctor and the staff. Myself and our other main assistant work very well together, and that makes both our days go alot smoother.





Good luck in your choice.





BTW: Working in someones mouth everyday, is not as bad as some people would think. After awhile, it just comes second nature. I don't usually even think about it when I see an abcess, a rotten tooth, or a broken tooth anymore.
Reply:If you really want to help people, you should do it. You work very hard and you get little recognition for it. The Dr. usually will not appreciate you as maybe you might expect. Not all Dr's are like that but most are. You might want to get your RDA after you become a dental assistant, they get better pay for the same duties and extra duties. Just think about it and if you really want to be a dental assistant than do it. You are the one that has to be happy at your job. I was a dental assistant and then an RDA, now I do the dental insurance billing for my office and I'm very happy with what I do. I like dentistry and I stayed in this profession. Good Luck.
Reply:getting f#cked by the dentist