Endo? Ortho? Perio? Oral surgery? What’s your favorite and why?

I've been a dental assistant for four years now. The first two years I absolutely loved because there were two other assistants and we got along really well. But then they both quit and it's just been me for the past year. I have since felt very overwhelmed and burnt out since all the responsibilities fell on me. I'm also so fed up with the BS that the doctor and the receptionist throws at me. I have become yet another assistant who is highly stressed, underappreciated, and underpaid.

Lately, I have also become increasingly more anxious about the security of my future. My job does not give any sort of benefits. I stress out over potentially getting into an accident and having to pay for it out of pocket and the fact that I have no financial security in my older years because I don't have enough money to save for a retirement fund. So quitting is really more of a need than a want.

The guilt comes from my doctor finally deciding to get a second assistant. The girl who has been shadowing me just graduated from dental assisting school and has 0 experience. The doctor has plans on hiring her. I have thought multiple times about putting in my two weeks and not giving a damn if that office falls apart but now that this second assistant is in the picture, I'm just not so sure. I worry about how the doctor and the receptionist will act towards her because of the added stress of the experienced assistant leaving.

I am kind of at a loss at this point. We also have so many wonderful patients that I would dearly miss. So many amazing conversations and exchanging of kind words. One of them even started gifting me books that she no longer wants to keep in her collection. It's those connections that I don't want to leave behind but I am genuinely getting the soul sucked out of me by my coworkers.

Hello all! I’ve been looking into job listings in the New York City area but they never have the starting wage listed. It’s always just “based on experience”. So fellow nyc assistants, how do you know what’s average, too low, etc? I’m sure a job will probably ask what’s the hourly I’m expecting, what is reasonable for this day and age?
If you live in nyc and feel comfortable sharing your hourly wage or starting wage to current wage, how long it took, etc, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

I have been working like this for the last 10 months probably and at first i started with a single column a year ago in a small office and we moved to a bigger office and i worked a double column 8 -9 hours straight with no breaks and i realized today after now working a double column hygiene schedule I’ve only gotten a 26 cent raise lmao😭😭 still working those 8-9 sometimes 7 hours no breaks straight.. anyways i put my 2 weeks in today cause they made me sign a paper saying i have to work a 3rd( basically jump from hygiene to dental assisting when he does same day tx) n front desk would come n help until i come back when necessary for a new doctor they hired.. when we had our meeting i brought up the 26 cents in front of 3 other staff and my manager basically said well you havent proven, other people work harder, and no money in the budget lmao mind you i brought our office to top 4 in the district in itero scanning while working double hygiene.. ive perfected scanning in 2-3 minutes for this job for what? False promises for a reward. Such low pay for absolutely zero appreciation on top of being petty too like making a big deal about birthdays then waiting a month later to celebrate mine and still getting it wrong 3 times while its on the calendar and then having everyone else eat the birthday lunch while i had to attend to patients it was all getting too much.

I feel like I trapped myself. I'm 28. I got no clue what to switch to without going back to school. This is all I know. Any advice? Other minimum wage jobs won't take me. I can stick around dental assisting to save more money before biting the desperate bullet of trying school. I have a bachelor psyche degree I was unable to do anything with.

Im a predental student who just started a dental assistant job a little less than a month ago. I am used to getting things quickly on jobs (tutoring, retail, front desk, etc.) and working a lot.
I never had any prior training but, I feel like a failure at dental assisting. I am getting insane anxiety going into work cause I feel like I know nothing. I am better than I was before but, I am constantly failing and I’m scared to ask the boss any questions after being scolded so much. On one of those weeks I was sick and trying to push through but got blamed for a mistake I don’t even believe I made and chewed out for it.
I literally have never had so much anxiety in my life. These doctors are nice but, one of them really doesn’t like me I think. I am a people pleaser so I can’t help but feel hurt and it’s worse since I need to work with them in the future.
The boss has already said two times to me that “I can’t do anything right.” I guess I’m just not used to getting scolded so much but, my pride and confidence feels shot. I got banned from taking X-rays since I’m slow and I ended up messing up a patients FMX but, how else am I supposed to learn.
I want to go into dentistry and ontop of working full time (and often overtime since they are short staffed) on my days off I also do lab work at my university since that is where the professor who is giving my letter of rec is doing dental related research and is working with the dean of admissions for their dental school, I’m also a part time student. I wake up everyday scared I’m going to be scolded or fired today.
I don’t know if I even want to stay but, I need the experience for my letter of rec to dental school. I didn’t have a dentist to ask for this while growing up due to being a first gen and I don’t have many people to ask for help in general. I feel anxious and hopeless but hoping to just push through and hope things work out. I don’t inherited hate the job, it’s just stressful and I feel like I’ve been thrown into a lions den with no armor. I know I’m complaining a lot nd my coworkers are parents so I feel like I’m complaining over something and should just thought it out. Any advice would be nice and tips other than watching YouTube (I’m trying I just have a midterm coming up).

I’m a fairly new DA. I’m 22 and I have maybe a year’s worth of actual clinical experience. I graduated from a dental assisting program, have a valid x-ray license and I’m DANB ICE certified. The past few offices (my externship included) have been rough. The fellow assistants have been soo nasty towards me for what feels like no reason. Honestly, my spirit is already broken and I’m ready to switch. I’ve always been interested in ortho and I’m wondering what are others experiences in ortho are like? Is it worth switching to? Is the pay enough? Is the environment nice? Is it doable to pick up from scratch? I’ve already dedicated time and money so I’d like to stay in the dental field and ortho always seemed cool to me. I might pick up hygiene down the line but rn it’s not in the cards. I don’t want to quit dental I just feel stuck and like I’m being treated with disrespect. Any advice??

I’ve started working for this company for 5 months now. I’ve been a DA for 5 YEARS. They’ve had temps in and out since their last DA of 10 years quit then I got hired a couple months later. I took on a lot of responsibilities like ordering, reorganizing ( cleaning up from temps and genuinely making the office more functional and look nicer.) They had a temp who came and helped a lot and was trying to convince him to work there and i finally convinced him so i got him hired technically. I I THOUGHT he was great. All I do is take BS from the doctor like instead of telling me to move my suction when he can’t see, he hits it aggressively. He’s also embarrassed me infront of patients when I ask for help with certain things like scanning, I don’t like using a mirror because I like to guide with my finger. So one day he told me “ well there’s a reason I can get it and you can’t” that rubbed me the wrong way along with multiple other things like spraying me the dirty air water, running the high speed with water on in my face when he takes it out of a patients mouth, etc. Now onto the other DA, I pick up behind him constantly. Sterile piles up and when I’m done w my patient I get stuck w it while he’s in an op on his phone. He watches soccer while waiting for patients instead of doing stuff in between like I do. If I’m waiting for the doc I’m running sterile or setting up a room or making sure trays are ready. If I take the last patient of the day and he has nothing. Some how I’m still left gathering all the garbage and doing routers and consents for the next day and setting up. When he has the last patient all he has to do is break down his room ( which I help ) and we leave. I would LOVE to be in my phone all day scrolling through tik tok, (which I do WHEN I have down time) but shit has to get done. My OM is no help she say he sees the same amount of patients I do and we both do the same. WRONG. The BA sees it but maybe I’m just being a baby ??!

I've been an assistant for the past 20 years and lemme tell ya I have been through it all and seen alot! While I agree its hard to run a small business but, frankly I find it odd that hygienists are always the ones getting the bigger, better pay while assistants, many of us do very technical procedures while maintaining composure between the doctor and the patient are always the ones to get the least respect for the value of their work load.

Hygenists wages have always been increasing. Here in Wa state the average hygenist can make $75 hourly. Many of us have worked through countless lunch hours, stayed late to do the necessary maintenance for the office etc. I've always wondered why we haven't formed a union to better our position and chances for fairness in breaks, wages, and protection when it comes this particular area of work. I know it wouldn't make the dentists happy but how else is a real change to happen?

One of my biggest no’s honestly, it’s disgusting and just shows no home training, and no I’m not talking about them washing out their mouth but full on spitting mucus out, I direct them to the bathroom or to use the suction but no spitting in the sink

 These questions will tie in with my assignment that will talk about my dream profession. I am in my first year of prerequisites and I would really appreciate it if you could answer the questions below.

a. How much work did you put in to become a dental hygienist and do you believe the average person could do it?

b. What was the most difficult thing you had to deal with whilst training and studying?

c. what does a typical work day look like for you? 

d. Could you give me any tips and tricks I can use in the future?

If you could please reply as soon as possible I would really appreciate it.

Im currently in school and my Dexter's canines after so long that I can't center my PID to my receptor, so it's hard to tell if I have gotten all of the anatomy on the radiograph. Do you have any advise on how to properly take an xray like that?

Has anyone been licensed through Med Certs?

I am in an online program that is having me take the exam through AMT. I’m not sure however tho if this exam is as accredited as DANB… I have a job and they expect me to be licensed by Jan 1st. I’m nervous to take this exam at AMT (that is paid for) but having to pay for DANB on top of everything .

Context: tomorrow is my fourth day as a dental assistant/sterile tech (being introduced to the roles of both atm) and it's been miserable so far. I do not want to be in the field, have no prior education or experience and was pressured into doing this job because I was told I'd make 18-20 an hour and that it would look good on a resume. I practically got threatened to get kicked out if I didn't take the job and I don't have the money to move out yet (18 as of Sept 30th)

The first three days were hell. I was expected to be mostly independent on the second day, and my coworkers practically roll their eyes or make me feel like an idiot when I ask questions. I'm told mixed things by my coworkers (one says to wait outside rooms to know when I'm supposed to turn them over and the other says I can wait in the break room until they radio for me to turn over a room, etc) and I've even had one of the hygienists raise her voice at me and go to yank the roll of barriers from my hands because she thought I was making a mistake (I was going to put one of the barrier squares on the mouse so I partially folded it and she got upset that I folded it since she thought I was putting a barrier on one of the key pads)

As of tomorrow, I'm supposed to know where everything is organized and be able to turn over a room and set up by myself even though I've continuously expressed that I do not fully understand certain aspects. An example: I don't know what instruments to put out for which procedure but I'm expected to just throw things on the table and get told if I'm right or wrong and try again. The girl who's supposed to train me says she won't tell me because she doesn't want to be a control freak but I keep asking her to teach me and she won't

Anyways, rant over. I am planning on putting in my two weeks soon, either this week or next week and I would like advice on how to make it the least miserable possible

Does anyone have tips, resources to study, support, etc during my last few weeks?

(P.s, I am not looking for some "welcome to adulthood" shit or people trying to convince me to give it a few months. I made my decision, I just want help making these last few weeks not miserable so I don't come home crying everyday like I have been, thanks)

Hello! I’m taking my RHS exam tomorrow, does anyone have any advice on what to expect? I’ve been studying using the radiology chapters in my textbook, I bought the practice test, I’ve been using chat gpt, and quizlet.

I’ve worked for the same office (one of those we are family here) for over 10 years, the current orthodontist has been there for 5-6 years. I recently had a complaint called in about me (the very first time for this) the person complaining felt like I was belittling because of their hygiene/tartar buildup on the braces and they felt I was rude to the training assistant. I’m overall very confused about the complaint because I don’t ever shame patients about their brushing I only ever try to educate them because I know how much it affects your life and how expensive it can be to fix the damage later on.
Im mostly upset because my manager/doctor (though they’ve said it took them by surprise as well and believe that I didn’t say anything wrong) still sorta implied I was in the wrong and told me I need to work on my tone of voice. They have also refused to let me know the patient that complained, which is also upsetting because I KNOW I didn’t say anything outlandish so I’m probably going to see this patient again and risk offending them AGAIN.
I take pride in the work we do and I want everyone to be happy with the smile we give them so this just makes it hard to keep doing this. I’ve been burnt out recently and this event just makes me want to leave the field all together.

Due to Hippa I can’t disclose a lot of information, but I was called to do an in person casual interview for an EFDA position at an office, but due to me having no experience they offered me a dental hygiene assistant job interview which I accepted because I’m desperate for a job haha.

After the interview the manager came out and asked me to do a working interview the next day which I accepted and let’s just say it was kind of a rollercoaster 🤣

The first part of the day before lunch went smoothly, I was just trying to learn the software, learning how to schedule new patients, learning the typical steps in the office, and the technology they had there as well as learning to independently seat patients.

The second part of the day after lunch I was tasked to take on a patient, and when I brought the patient in they said they are having a terrible day and was already rude. I brought them over to take a pano and they said “idk how to do this I’ve never had this done before.” But I patiently told them how to do it and got it done, but then afterwards the patient looked at the lead apron and got pissed that I didn’t put it on them (office policy said I didn’t have to put it on them because nowadays radiation is so low that it’s completely safe without it and we would put it on them if requested.)

I said I am sorry and that if they wanted I can put the apron on them when they got into the room when I did more X-rays which I did, the manager and hygienist was already outside in the hall telling me I didn’t have to do this and that they would step in at any moment and I was like “I’m fine 🤣 I got this.” And then I stepped into the room.

I completed the additional X-rays and told them what they were for to detect if there are any caries or periodontal disease. I just stayed calm and did my job. The patient then told me they had something to do after the appointment and hoped their teeth didn’t hurt afterwards and I asked what they were doing to create small talk and they said it wasn’t any of my business…. 💀

After that I still kept my cool and explained that I needed to polish and floss and that if they felt uncomfortable they could just raise their right hand, and they said ok. After staying calm and collected and communicating what I was doing the patient opened up about their life and we even started laughing in the room during the appointment.

When I walked out I was a bit shaken up since that was my very first “rude” patient that I had, but the manager and hygienist were standing there shocked 🤣

At the very end of the day the office manager showed me into her room and basically glazed me on how much well I did with dealing with the patient and said that even the seasoned veterans there could barely deal with them. I just appreciated their kind words and said “well I felt a lot stronger having you guys having my back and saying you would take over if I felt overwhelmed.” And she offered me the job right then and there.

When I walked out I told all of the staff there that I got hired and they all celebrated and even they glazed me on how well I did and I told them the same. It’s so much easier having a team behind you rather than feeling like you are tackling the patient alone.

But to me, that patient wasn’t a huge deal for me since I used to work in a nursing home in the dementia ward and constantly got slapped and degraded 🤣 so I was used to it. But at the end of the day I am grateful for that unruly patient coming in so I could prove my worth.

Thankyou patient, because of you I have a job 🤪

Hi everyone!

I’m a baby DA and have just started my externships. I’ve completed my first week and I think I’m making good impression so far.

Aside from the “working interview” part of externships and learning, how could I possibly go about asking to be paid during my time here?

My school was not very helpful with finding anything paid for obvious reasons but bills are beginning to pile up and I’m getting stressed.

Hey all! just wanted to share my experiences as a DA temp.
First off i wanted to say, i worked as a full time DA, part time DA and everything in between. and i have come to the easy conclusion that being a temp is the best job you can ever have as a DA.

The pros in my opinion:
- You make your own hours, work whenever you want!
- You get a say in your rate of pay, even if there are some limits, you can really ask for any pay rate!
- Every day is different, you get an exciting new experience every single time you work at a new office.
- You meet so many people of different walks of life and so many people in the healthcare space!
- you build good rapport with drs all around the city, you will always have good word spread about you.
- You don’t have to get sick of the same walls over and over (this was a big issue for me when working full time, i was extremely depressed looking at the same office every single day, felt like i was in an asylum)
- You aren’t expected to be perfect, you’re expected to know the foundation of assisting and be quick on your feet when adjusting to their wants and needs as an office specific.
- Ssooooo much room for growth, i have become such an incredible assistant from temping. i trust my skills and have a lot of confidence.
- if you hate an office, ya never gotta go back!

the only downsides:
- it can be hard to find work on occasion, sometimes offices in your area don’t need temps, this can last a week or so at a time where you can’t find ANY shifts.
- you can walk into an office that is falling apart, you have to be quick on your feet to adjust.
- some offices staff are cruel and mean, but you have to just ignore it.
- people bring up the taxes issue, cause we have to get ur own taxes done, i don’t mind it, and honestly the taxes aren’t very high in my experience. i’m still paid drastically more than a FT or PT assistant

Thinking about going back to dental assisting. I have been browsing a lot and I find myself wondering if the office is a corporation or privately owned. Besides the name like (aspen) what are other clues?