Have some questions about becoming a dental assistant?
I’m interested in becoming a dental assistant but have a few questions. How much schooling does that involve? I hear some people saying you need a year or two of schooling and some saying you don’t need any. Generally, how much schooling should you have to become a dental assistant? What I’d like to do is start off as an assistant and then go to school to be a dental hygenist eventually after a few years. Does that sound like a good plan? What steps should I take to get there?
Also, I’m male. Usually dental assitants are female. How common is a male dental assistant and will that make it any harder for me to get hired?
Finally, how do I go about finding out what dentist office(s) need assistance? Should I just go to all the dentist offices in my town with my resume? Thanks in advance for the help!
There are different types of dental assistants depending on the laws in your state. the ADA or DANB (Dental Assistants National Board) is a good way to start. Find out what the laws are in your state. Some require you to maintain a ton of licenses and some do not. Some places offer a fly-by-night, few weekends courses but if you want my advice take a real course offered at a college. Most courses are 1 year or less. Then, depending on what state you live in you may take additional courses for additional licensing. You can be trained on the job if you like though-you would just need a dentist willing to do that. For being a dental hygienist…all of the schools I have been to like it when you are an assistant before you are a hygienist. You get a head start on all of you anatomy and in my case I do not have to take an x-ray class for hygienist because I took one as an assistant. There are a LOT of schools with waiting lists for dental hygiene so having an assisting job while you wait is good. You being a male is awesome! Your teachers will love that and you will too if you are single since it is mostly females in those classes. The only issue is that if you work for a male dentist are you okay with him being the boss. If not, try to work for a female. as for finding a job it is the same for everyone…if your instructors like you-they usually know dentists and can hook you up. Other than that there is the want ads, Craigslist etc. The same way anyone looks for a job.
There are different types of dental assistants depending on the laws in your state. the ADA or DANB (Dental Assistants National Board) is a good way to start. Find out what the laws are in your state. Some require you to maintain a ton of licenses and some do not. Some places offer a fly-by-night, few weekends courses but if you want my advice take a real course offered at a college. Most courses are 1 year or less. Then, depending on what state you live in you may take additional courses for additional licensing. You can be trained on the job if you like though-you would just need a dentist willing to do that. For being a dental hygienist…all of the schools I have been to like it when you are an assistant before you are a hygienist. You get a head start on all of you anatomy and in my case I do not have to take an x-ray class for hygienist because I took one as an assistant. There are a LOT of schools with waiting lists for dental hygiene so having an assisting job while you wait is good. You being a male is awesome! Your teachers will love that and you will too if you are single since it is mostly females in those classes. The only issue is that if you work for a male dentist are you okay with him being the boss. If not, try to work for a female. as for finding a job it is the same for everyone…if your instructors like you-they usually know dentists and can hook you up. Other than that there is the want ads, Craigslist etc. The same way anyone looks for a job.
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I’m a dental assistant who is thinking of becoming a hygienist.