Should I be a dental assistant before a dental hygienist?

I am currently enrolled in college and have 2 more classes left in my prereqs. My school told me that I should have been a dental assistant for a couple of years before thinking about being a dental hygienist. When I started school almost 2 years ago they didn't say anything. Now that I am going to be applying and have a high GPA, the woman told me that they still may pick someone over me that has worked as a dental assistant. On top of it I heard from a friend that there is a 4 year waiting list for the program. Should I take my last two classes and apply for the dental hygiene program, or take a break and get experience as an assistant? Thank you!

Should I be a dental assistant before a dental hygienist?
How heartbreaking for you and totally off base. Finish what you started and don't worry about the dental assisting portion. Hygienist are much more highly revered because the job they do is totally separate and different than an assistant AND it brings in revenue to the office. Why that woman said that to you is beyond me, but any dentist would be glad to have a hygienist with a high GPA over dental assisting skills any day. Dental assistants can be trained off the street with no education and a lot of offices, unfortunately, hire assistants that have absolutely no training, the reason, money, they can pay these assistants less money. The reason you will be hired over an assistant/hygienist is because you are smart and your grade prove it. Hang in there and don't let that woman push you into something you don't want to do.


Best of luck!!! (You will be fine) :o)


P.S. I am not trying to bash assistants skills because they can be the dentists right hand and in many cases help make things run smoothly and some have oodles of training and experience. What I am trying to show you is the importance of what you have accomplished and the goal you are steering towards, don't give up.
Reply:Generalizing any one group is never a good thing. Your comments are offensive to me. My combination of technical skills along with my ability to relate to patients has made a higher paid professional than any hygienist in our practice. Report It

Reply:Your choice.
Reply:I would apply for the dental hygiene program. I was a dental assistant in college w/o any specialized training.
Reply:My advice is that since you are so close to applying to the hygiene program, go ahead and complete the course of study you are in and apply. You never know, you may be accepted right away. Even if you are not and have to wait, all your classes are completed. You can then use your waiting time to work as an assistant and have a better chance of being accepted later. I began assisting with every intention of starting study for my hygiene license, but 6 yrs later I am still an assistant because I love the variety of the work.....every hour or two is a different procedure. My 8 am patient may be for denture impressions, 9am a 6 yr old for primary tooth fillings, 10 am an emergency extraction. It's never boring! Also many hygienists suffer repetitive injuries from doing the same tasks every hour, often carpel tunnel or back injuries. Anyway, I think whatever you do, a wide variety of experience is a good thing. Many offices like for you to be able to assist sometimes,and it makes you more marketable than if you are only trained in hygiene. Good luck to you!!
Reply:Finish your last two classes and apply for the hygiene program. You have come this far, you might as well try. Strangely enough, in our area the hygiene school prefers people who have not worked in dental before. Applicants were told that they prefer to take "fresh minds" over people who think they already know. Financially, you will be better off as a hygienist. If that does not work out for you, you can always decide on something else later. So, don't give up, so close to the end. Good luck to you!

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