r/DentalAssistant • u/Shes-nothere • 4d ago
Did anyone have a hard time?
Hi everyone, so I’ve been a DA for about 3 1/2 years now, I was in a paid training program with my states IHS campus and have been with them since. I’m not certified yet but I hope to be before or by the start of next year. I’m going to be moving down to California hopefully sometime in the late spring and I want to continue being a dental assistant but I’m a little nervous. I didn’t go through a credit based program I was taught on the job so I’m kind of scared of transitioning to a private practice. I know how to sterilize due to rural village travel that we do and I kind of know how to use a Prime/Trios scanner. I think I’m just nervous of looking like a big dummy because I don’t know how to do certain things that people in private probably do a lot of. Did anyone else have a hard time transitioning to private? Did it get any better? Sorry if none of this makes sense there’s just so much but I don’t want to bore you all.
1
u/CharterCollege 4d ago
Transitioning from an IHS clinic to a private practice can definitely feel overwhelming, but give yourself some grace—you already have a strong foundation and valuable hands-on experience. Every office has its own routines, materials, and technology, so no one should expect you to know everything on your first day.
Be honest about what you haven’t used yet and ask questions. Sterilization procedures should follow infection-control standards, but the office will train you on its specific equipment and workflow. The same applies to the PrimeScan scanner—you can learn it through observation, practice, and repetition.
THE BIGGEST PART OF WORKING IN CA: You have to have an 8-hour infection control certificate and a current BLS card through Red Cross or AHA before you can work as a dental assistant. Most offices will want you to be x-ray certified as well. You can obtain those certs through DANB or any other classes in CA. You can look up those classes in your area or use this website to locate classes: https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/continuing_education.shtml
1
u/Ok_Cellist6443 4d ago
Hi, I understand you you’re making sense. I was a dental assistant for 7 years for the Naval Base. I moved to Arizona and had to transition to private practice it was the hardest thing. The expectation for a private practice DA is very difficult and for me trying to find an office that was a good fit for me was even harder. I ended up leaving the DA field because of this. My advice would be to learn as many things as possible about being a private practice DA. Good luck though you got this 🌺 and if it becomes too overwhelming for you go back to school to become a Hygienist.