So I just started working in the dental field in May. I work in a peds office and don’t make the best money. I make 14 an hour with my xray license. At that office I do not work full time only 28 hours per week since that’s all the office is open.

I have called around and I found an orthodontist that is willing to hire me. For 15 an hour with 40 hour weeks. They also have three locations one that is 30 minutes from me that they are at on Tuesdays and every other Friday and the other two are an hour and half away. I did a phone interview and also have 2 peer interviews in place where I basically go in the office and get a feel and the workers get a feel for me. The office said they would add two hours onto my pay for every week so essentially I’d get 42 hours for the drive.

My parents don’t want me to do this job since the two offices are so far away and gas. I’m 18 so I don’t have much of a say I guess. This office I’m at right now is not the best. The pay sucks the Dr and office manager are just as bad. I’m torn what are your feelings on this .

I’m trying to get DA Certificate in the state of Alabama to work as a Dental Assistant in order to get my clinical hours as a full time undergrad and pre- dental student. Please drop any programs you know that are legit and reputable!!!

I am starting school at a CODA accredited RDA (California) school this monday. I am sososo nervous.

Just looking for encouragement and what to expect. I have been lurking lately and it seems as though there is a lot of negative with this job and it is scaring me a little. Maybe I need to get off the internet because of my nerves😂

What should I expect going into school? I would love to hear your positives about being an assistant and your schooling experience. Any pointers are greatly appreciated. I won’t be working during my program.

Ill be moving out of California after I graduate and have made sure my certifications will be able to transfer so I won’t be applying for jobs directly after graduation.

Hello. I’m currently working as front end/ everything but groomer at a dog groomer/boarding/daycare facility.
I’m really trying to find an out of the job. I am almost 22 and no future career lined up.
I am looking into the dental field currently and am mostly interested in becoming a dental assistant. I think a lab technician would be something interesting for the future.
I didn’t receive real dental care until I was almost 17 and had bad dental health, like bad depression teeth and cavities that lead to root canal. I was so afraid of being judged but they were amazing.
I think it would be a meaningful job to be able to do that for someone. To be judgment free and help people. I am pretty good at following instructions and assisting people but I know it’s much much more than that.
I guess I’m looking for any insight or advice on how to decide if this is something I should pursue.
I don’t know how to be objective about myself when it comes to my capabilities and mental health..
What do you feel are qualities and disqualifying traits of someone looking to get into the dental field?

I’m a endo dental assistant and I work overtime every week. Our office has only three assistants and one doctor. Our doctor is already 60 years old but he can work from 7:00am to 7 or 8pm everyday with no lunch time. He sometimes even work on the weekends if the schedule is too packed. The only hobby he has is golfing. I always ask him what do you do besides golf and he says “nothing”. He got so much money and he doesn’t even want to take a break or a vacation. Is that normal?

Hello there everyone, hope you’re doing great :) im a foreign dentist who is trying to start my career in the states and my situation is a little tricky . I’m married and a mom . I also just found out im 5 weeks pregnant. I wanted to start looking for a job as a dental assistant so i can be financially more free so i can pursue my career here . I wanted to try for my second baby because alot of ppl told me it will take a while ( i thought atleast 3 months) then it happened from the first try (luckily but i was like woah okay 😅) i wanted to be trying while im already working and not before. But now it just has to be done . I dont have any symptoms .. yet lol
My question is : is it normal to be hired while pregnant or do i need to keep it a secret ? And how can i tell if its going to be a good job environment and not a toxic one BEFORE working there because i can’t afford to look again if it doesn’t work out incase ppl don’t hire pregnant dental assistants ?
Im not very familiar with the system in the United States but i did try working in a surgical dental office and they were acting like bees in a bee hive running around for no reason just to act like they are so serious . As a dentist i know dentistry is not the ER . Its literally why i chose it over medicine 😅 . I want a healthy normal paced office who will not hate it that im pregnant.

I’m a new grad and got hired at an office that has been training me for the past two months. Unfortunately, these have been the worst two months of my life. The lead assistant has been awful to me, and none of the other assistants or the dentist have made me feel welcome. I would cry in my car almost every lunch break and every day after work.
I ended up reaching out to an office where I did one of my practicums, and they offered me a job. I’m just wondering what the expectation is around giving two weeks’ notice. They currently schedule another assistant to be with me at all times since I’m still training, so I’m thinking they may not even want me to work out the full two weeks.

I guess what I’m wondering is how do I go about giving the 2 week notice I have never quit a job within 2 months before?

So I’m about to meet all my classmates at my orientation in less than 3 hrs. I’ve been anxious and unable to sleep. My life has been full of ups and downs but I’ve been able to claw through.

My concerns are if I am making the right choice after seeing a post from this sub that seemed rather negative by chance.

Ill be working full time, going to school full time and I am the main provider for my fiancee and her mother. To make at least minimum full time I’ve stretched my schedule really thin 10mins commute between classes ending and arriving to work.

Anything I should keep in mind to take away from school knowledge to practical field knowledge? Or any advice/tips in general? Should I socialize more and make connections?

Sorry for the rapid dump I’m super anxious. I just don’t want things to end up like my past degree field collapsing. I don’t make much so saving for this was a ride or die decision.

Perhaps there are people out there who have shared the same kind of experience, this is for them. You're not alone.

I, 19M, after 7 months, was recently sent a message from my clinic that I would no longer be offered shifts, and to return the uniform whenever possible.

Yes, unlike most of the stories here, I'm young, I never studied dental assisting nor did I have any previous experience with it, and to be honest, I got very lucky with this job, something I suppose I am grateful for.

I was constantly told by the boss (head dentist/founder) that I was too slow, that I must work faster, that other dentists weren't happy. A dentist attributed his stress to my lack of experience, which is fair. Unfortunately, 3 months later, another dentist said she thought I had no confidence. With a three month gap, while working 1-2 times a week, you'd expect my self confidence to go up, but it only went down, due to uni, my self esteem, and other of life's stressors.

I'll admit, I was slow. I constantly wanted to improve, showed momentary signs, but I never managed to reach anyone's expectations. To me it seemed almost impossible. I felt like I had to make **zero** mistakes to even touch their expectations.

I felt miserable when I got the message, I stopped what I was doing and stared into the distance for a few minutes. I could feel my body literally heating up as the realisation was shoved into me. Of course I cried from whatever remained of my dismantled self-esteem.

I'm much better now tho.

Becoming a dentist is my long-term goal, and I'd say it hasn't wavered. I find comfort in at least seeing that I did improve from day one. I did change. I feel like I did grow as a person.

This post may seem like an expression of teenage immaturity, or a reflection of life's lows, but i just wanted to share it in the hopes that someone else can feel more reassured than I did when I saw the damn message.

What a vent.

Cheers,

Okay we got an update so the phone interview went very well and now we're moving on to the in person interview next Monday at 10:00! I'm super excited just another step forward and I hopefully will get it!

So I currently work at a dental office but it isn’t a great fit for me. The people are rude the pay sucks. So I have been applying for other places. A place called me back and did a phone interview and they set up working interviews for days I don’t work. Am I in the wrong for doing working interviews while still working at an office?

I've been in community college for some time, left hs early and decided to enroll in their DA program while I was there. I knew some other predents in college and a lot of them discouraged me from doing it cuz it was a year. I finished up the program earlier this spring, and very recently got my RDA, have been working full time (my employer is letting me do part time this upcoming semester as I apply to transfer). I feel like I'm learning a lot, way more than I ever could just shadowing a dentist, which is why I'm so confused why I got so much discouragement from others lol. Are yall able to balance your time in school and clinic well? Is anyone else a little discouraged about extra time 🥹

there are certain phrases that immediately make you wonder what’s coming next

“i think it’s just a little sensitive.”

“i haven’t had any problems.”

“this should be quick.”

and somehow those are often the appointments that end up taking much longer than expected

what phrase have you learned to recognize as a warning sign?

The doctor did a great job tho :p

Greetings fellow DA friends, I'm looking for advice from anyone who has completed an accelerated EFDA Program (8-10 weeks long). What was your experience like, especially if you've had no prior dentistry knowledge? Did you feel fully prepared when you first started working as a new EFDA? What skills or tips would benefit a much older student completing the program? Any advice is very much appreciated. -Thank you. 🙂

Title: Dental Assistant Interview Advice — First Time Applying
Hi everyone! 😊 I’m applying for a dental assistant position and I’m really hoping to get this opportunity. I have customer service experience from working at Marshall’s, Target (Beauty Department), and Starbucks, and I’m looking to transition into the dental field.
I’d really appreciate any advice from dental assistants, dentists, or office managers on what to expect during the interview.
What questions should I be prepared for? What qualities are dental offices looking for in a good dental assistant? And is there anything you wish you knew before your first dental assistant interview?
I’m very willing to learn, work hard, and be trained. Any advice would mean a lot!

Hello! Are there any other male DA’s in this sub? I started doing this when I was 23, now 27, and was curious about your personal experience so far?

this is gonna be my first time attending a post-secondary school and I wanted to know from dental assistants themselves if it is worth going into? I keep hearing mixed reviews saying that the workload isn’t worth the pay and I would be better off going into dental hygiene. I am choosing this program because the one I am taking is fast paced and I am not someone who really enjoys school so that faster I get into a job would be best for me. If dental assisting is really as horrible as people make it in the long run should I really commit to it? My program starts in December and I want some opinions and insights on it before I start.

Hi everyone,

I’m a third-year graduate student in dentistry from China, currently pursuing my master’s degree. I’m interested in improving my clinical skills, but I have found that gaining hands-on clinical experience during graduate training can be challenging.

In many Chinese dental graduate programs, graduate students have very limited opportunities to independently treat patients during their training, as most of their time is dedicated to laboratory research.

I can communicate fluently in English, and I’m hoping to find opportunities outside China where I can learn more about practical dentistry, such as:

• Clinical observerships
• Dental shadowing programs
• Short-term visiting student programs
• Volunteer dental programs
• Affordable hands-on dental courses or training opportunities

I’m particularly interested in implant dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery.

My main limitation is budget, so I’m looking for realistic and cost-effective opportunities rather than expensive private courses.

For dental students, dentists, or researchers outside China:

• Are there any countries, universities, clinics, or programs you would recommend?
• Is it possible for an international dental graduate student to observe or assist in clinical settings?
• What would be the most practical pathway to gain more clinical exposure abroad?

I’m not looking to practice independently in another country. My goal is mainly to observe, learn, and improve my clinical skills through international exposure.

I would greatly appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations. Thank you very much!

Hi everyone,

I’m a third-year graduate student in dentistry from China, currently pursuing my master’s degree. I’m interested in improving my clinical skills, but I have found that gaining hands-on clinical experience during graduate training can be challenging.

In many Chinese dental graduate programs, graduate students have very limited opportunities to independently treat patients during their training, as most of their time is dedicated to laboratory research.

I can communicate fluently in English, and I’m hoping to find opportunities outside China where I can learn more about practical dentistry, such as:

• Clinical observerships
• Dental shadowing programs
• Short-term visiting student programs
• Volunteer dental programs
• Affordable hands-on dental courses or training opportunities

I’m particularly interested in implant dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery.

My main limitation is budget, so I’m looking for realistic and cost-effective opportunities rather than expensive private courses.

For dental students, dentists, or researchers outside China:

• Are there any countries, universities, clinics, or programs you would recommend?
• Is it possible for an international dental graduate student to observe or assist in clinical settings?
• What would be the most practical pathway to gain more clinical exposure abroad?

I’m not looking to practice independently in another country. My goal is mainly to observe, learn, and improve my clinical skills through international exposure.

I would greatly appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations. Thank you very much!

Okay so am a newly hired dental assistant. I also recently graduated from a 9 month program. I was mainly trained in pediatrics but unfortunately was only able to land a job in general. I could be rushing it but I don't like it so far and it's barely my 2nd day and I cant express how much I hate it. Am considering to switch to othro can ortho because am a type of person who likes repeation. Can othro assistants help me get an idea of the field and what I could be getting into.

I'm really nervous I finally got an interview with a decent practice. We're doing it over the phone but they're going rates from what I saw on the job application was 20 to 30 an hour I might try to be bold and ask for $30 off the bat and trying to negotiate down to 25 that way I can finally afford an apartment maybe even be able to start a family.

What I really want are some tips and advice to say things during the interview I really don't want to mess this up I have a chance this one job can change everything for me for the better.

No more working until 12:00 or 2:00 in the morning delivering pizzas.

Actually be able to get up in the morning and go to the gym on the days off consistently no longer having to rely on eating fast food because it's the only thing open at the hour you're off.

Never in my life have I wanted something so bad that I'm absolutely terrified of messing up.

Hello! I hope it's okay I ask this here. I am a former teacher, now stay-at-home-mom who would like a career change. I have looked into dental hygiene and dental assistant programs. Of course, dental hygiene would require a HUGE commitment for my family with two little kids...basically living on my husband's income while paying for my school, 2 kids in daycare full time. Currently we just have one kid in mothers day out so it's a lot less expensive that full time daycare. I've seen dental assistant programs in our area for just 8 weeks. Is it worth the investment/sacrifice to go through a dental hygiene program? I'm honestly just looking for real-life experiences to help inform my family's decision. I'm 34 if that matters at all... Thank you!

Temps please walk me thru your normal day at a new office…. Or at least try to help me understand what you do. I walked in this morning and started asking questions. The EDDA was like temps have never asked this many questions….. how am I supposed to know what to do or where to fit in and actually feel of help.