Is a dental assistant a good career? what kind of wage do they bring in?

i am thinking of going to school to be a dental assistant. is it a good idea? any info would be great

Is a dental assistant a good career? what kind of wage do they bring in?
I am a dental assistant. I think it's a great career. There aren't a lot of jobs out there right now for assistants or hygienists. I make about $20 per hour but it also depends on experience and where you live. There's a lot of variety so that's nice. You can work in general dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, and periodontics so there is lots to choose from. I also get great benefits where I am at. I would work for a group practice or a University before a private practice. You normally get better pay and benefits that way. Hygienist is a good job but most do not work full time. There isn't much variety in it. You just clean teeth all day long. I've thought about going back but I think I would be too bored and there are absolutely no hygiene jobs here in MN so it's not worth it for me. Hope that helps.
Reply:Its a good job but why don't you go for dental hygienist they make more money and can controll their working hours more
Reply:I was a dental assistant for 5 years and loved it! but the wage is not always good...sometimes you will luck out and get into the right place and get a good wage, it also will get you into the dental field, and let you see what a hygienist does and see if it would interest you. It is easier to get into hygiene school if you have already taken assisting! I am in my first year of hygiene now and love it as much as i enjoyed assisting and find it easier than the girls that have not been asstants :) Good Luck!
Reply:Dental Assisting is a great career if you are interested in dentistry. I assisted for a while and found it was not for me. So I went back to school and became a dental hygienist. Assisting is very diversified, and there are many scopes of practice that you can work in. Depending on the area where you live will depend on how much you make. Hygiene is not only cleaning teeth. We educate, act as a co-therapist to the dentist, give injections (in my state we can, but not all states), screen for oral cancer and other dental problems,.... I have my own schedule for patients and I do work full time. The beauty is that I work a thirty two hour week and get paid for forty. I build a relationship with my patients and enjoy seeing them and what is going on in their life. I like the autonomy of hygiene and like being in my own room, with my own chair. I like the fact that my doc asks for my treatment rec'd when it comes to hygiene matters, and defers to me most of the time for such matters. Either career is a challenge and not one day is ever the same. You truly have to love dentistry and not be a person that gets grossed out easily. It is a career for a person that loves working with the public, and an outgoing personality usually makes things easier. My patients love the fact that I talk to them and make them feel at ease esp. during some unpleasant procedures such as giving injections and scaling and root planing. You have to be a patient person and be happy even when you are having a bad day. I was a waitress for eight years before I went to hygiene school and loved working with the public even then. I know how to cater to my patients, and that extra care goes a long way in how they perceive you as a dental professional. Good luck. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.
Reply:Great carrer, perfect if you love kids and are very detail oriented. i love it. wadges range from $14 when you start no school to $23 - $25 after school %26amp; experience? good luck
Reply:I have been a dental assistant for 10 years. I only make $15 an hour, cause my dentist is a cheap skate. LOL But I do get bonuses.





Assisting has its good and bad points. Just like any job.


You need to be willing to not always get an hour lunch and to work past closing time, cause sometimes emergencies make that necessary.
Reply:yeah it is a good career and it has half the time spent on trainin that a dentist does
Reply:they really dont make that much money. some only get paid minimum wage. the real money is in hygiene. thats what im in school for and most of my class were already assistants prior to the hygiene program. its good if your looking for a type of career and you can always further your education afterwards, but if you are looking for money then no...its not a well paying job. at most I've seen a type 2 make $16 but thats pretty rare.
Reply:It is a great job, as long as you don't work for a private practice, Dentist are assholes. Work for a Dental School, that is realy fun, and you get to help students be nice decent dentist and not assholes. It is very rewarding! Where I work you can only make 18 an hour, after that your tapped out.