Dental assistnat or dental hygienist??

which is a better career choice???

Dental assistnat or dental hygienist??
I am a Registered Dental Hygienist. We definitely do get paid more. However, if you think the hygienists work less or not as hard as Dental assistants, you are wrong. don't get me wrong, assistants definitely work hard and most of them don't get paid what they are worth. I was an assistant for 4 years (while going to hygiene school) and I know this from experience. I must admit, I did think that RDHs had it made when I was an asst. Now I know better. Hygiene school is difficult. you absolutely must get top grades to get into this program. Most accredited programs require an almost perfect GPA. 3.9-4.0. Getting into assisting is easier and most programs are finished w/in a year. Hygiene programs usually run 4 yrs. Most program credit loads do not allow you to work while in school. You have to want to do this. if you do it just for the money, it will never work out. You will burn out after a short period of time if you truly don't enjoy your work. I love what I do and the patients I treat. You must decide what is right for you.


Good Luck in your decision, because both are great careers!


RDH in WA
Reply:dental hygienist. I am going for that career. A dental hygenist gets paid wayyy more than an assistant. My mom's friend was an assistant in a dentist office and I believe I heard she didn't really have to go to college. With a dental hygenist, you have to go to college. I'm taking four years. I would definetly recommend a hygenist! :) trust me
Reply:I'm a dental assistant currently in school to become a dental hygientist. There are 2 reasons why RDH's are better than RDA's: The pay is 200 percent more and there is 50 percent less work... There!!!
Reply:Depends on what you want to do. I'm an assistant and love my job. I love that I'm not doing the same thing all day long everyday. Being a hygienst is a great career but it's the same thing everyday. It just depends on weather you care about making a lot of money or doing something you love.
Reply:you need to go to college to be a hygenist..... you will make a min of $35 per hour and a lot higher.... some dentist might give you a sign on bonus


You need a course or can trained to be an assistant most start at $10 an hour...
Reply:Ha ha to the 50% less work comment. We have college degrees and produce the most money for a dental practice. That is why we are paid well. $35/ hour is a little high for this area....
Reply:I am a certified dental assistant in NJ. I probably shouldn't down my profession but, dental hygeinist is the why to go.





The pay is better and you will obtain more knowledge by going to school for 4 yrs vs. the 1 yr. of dental assistant school.





Don't get me wrong...being an assistant has its perks like, not doing the same repititious act over and over and always staying busy.





As an assistant you can feel like the low guy on the totum pole.
Reply:a dental hygenist becasue they have less work, more responsibility and get bettr pay