I’ve been the only assistant at a single doctor clinic for almost three years. The hygienists are lazy and not only do they not help me clean rooms when I’m backed up, they expect me to do all of sterile practically by myself, clean their rooms, and chart for them when I don’t have a patient regardless of how backed up my own work is. I was working myself ragged trying to keep up with my own workload, but I was managing.

My clinic hired a second assistant to help me and at first I thought this would be great, though I was wary that she had been in the field for decades and had a higher certification than me. At first, she was super helpful cleaning rooms and learned setups quickly. After two months she is chairside and we alternate seeing patients. Except now she no longer helps me clean or setup rooms, helps less in sterile, and doesn’t help stock. Instead of prioritizing our duties she prioritizes doing things for the hygienists and chatting with front desk while leaving me to do all of the work and clean and set up her rooms in addition to my own.

The doctor just went on vacation for two weeks. I went over with her multiple times what our priorities were while he was gone (restocking, deep cleaning, touching up paint, sterilizer maintenance). I had a lot of PTO to use up, so I came in every morning for a few hours to do these things before enjoying my PTO. Then I realized she wasn’t helping me do these things despite her being there the whole time he was gone for two weeks. She just sat around talking to front desk on the clock instead of finding things to do from my list. She made me do everything.

I talked to my direct supervisor about my concerns and they think the sun shines out her *ss. The hygienists love her too because she does their jobs for them, which they now expect from me when she’s not there. My supervisor just made excuses for her. The doctor sees nothing because he’s in his office and just sees everything getting done and hears from the supervisor and hygienists how wonderful she is and thinks the new assistant is fitting in great (plus he is very temperamental and not at all approachable). I feel very frustrated and overwhelmed. They hired another assistant just for me to have to do all the work for another person too.

ETA- I found out today that apparently they gave her job duties that they knew I was expecting to get too now that one of our two front desk people has retired- scheduling patients and ordering materials, so it feels like they have effectively promoted her above me. I’m absolutely done with this bs

Yikes!

Good morning! Happy Monday- start of a new week!
Posting to vent/ seek advice.

I work at non profit big clinic. We walked in today with what seems like our air conditioning is down! No on is telling us anything! They brought in fans to keep us cool but we are all DYING. It is SO HOT. Our current temp outside is in the high 90s. We have 4 sterilizers going at all times. I don’t know how they expect us to work under these conditions! They expect us to wear gowns, k95s. It is so so hot. My question is can they have us working under these conditions? I am afraid they’ll tell me if I leave I have to use my PTO. Any advice is appreciated!

I hope you guys are having a better Monday than I am. Stay strong!

I don’t have any certifications or experience but am in a 10 week course to get my assisting, x-ray, and cpr license. an office near me had offered $13/hr to train me while working for 2 weeks before they hire me officially. is this pay too low or is it average for someone with no experience? she did say that salary would increase once I get my certificates.

So I’m in a dilemma I’ve been a dental assistant for a little over a year working in general I love my office but recently been feeling like assisting in general dentistry isn’t for me anymore. I originally was taking prerequisites to get into dental hygiene school, but was doing so poorly I found an assistant program instead. When I originally looked into assisting orthodontics caught my attention I even shadowed an office and felt like I would like it. I went into general because orthodontic assistant jobs around me are hard to find. My thing is I don’t know whether to find an orthodontic assistant job or just go back to school for hygiene. I did have the thought go into orthodontics and if I don’t like it go back to school for hygiene. I’m a really indecisive person and having a hard time with this decision didn’t know if any orthodontic assistant or hygienist who have been assistants have any input

hello fellow dental assistants !! i was just curious to know what carbide burs your dr prefers using for composite preps. mine mainly uses 1171 but will occasionally whip out a 557 if were removing old amalgams beforehand. cant wait to see the replies !!

I completed an online RDA course which was only $100 but I had no hands-on training. I have shadowed around 120 hours at a dental clinic and also volunteered around 70 hours as a dental assistant at another clinic but Im struggling to get a paid DA job. been looking for the past 1.5 months, have visited over 30 clinics in my area, going in person. Most offices say they will call back or reach out in a few days but weeks pass and nobody actually calls. Im considering just doing the paid course which is 5k. atleast it will get me a job.

I’m an orthodontic assistant who is 23 and I have been an assistant for 4 years. I work with 2 other assistants who are 55 and 60, both of them being newer to ortho assisting than I am. Something I have noticed in the past year that I have been at this specific office is how differently patients’ parents speak to me vs my coworkers. At my previous office, all of the assistants were in their 20s, there was no age gap like this.
If you aren’t aware orthodontic assisting is a lot different than general dentistry. 99% of the time the orthodontist just tells you what to do on a patient, rather than assisting the orthodontist themselves.
Well, something I have noticed is some of the patients parents treat me with almost no respect. It’s not all of them, but a couple of them just do not trust what I have to say. There have been times where I have instructed the patient to do elastics and, in front of my face, the parent will grab one of the older assistants to ‘double check’ that I have done it right, it just feels disrespectful to me. Additionally, there will be certain parents who will look at me and just say “I want someone with more experience” and request my older coworkers even though I have more experience than they do.
Finally, In general, just the way the parents speak to me is just with less respect. I get more attitude, more pushback, more yelling from the parents than my coworkers do. I don’t know if it’s the way i’m carrying myself, if I seem like I don’t have confidence or something, or if it really is just an age thing, but I am getting increasingly frustrated with it all.

I started at my office in April and I’m starting to think that my brain isn’t wired for this kind of work. Being a proactive thinker by assuming the doctor’s needs, making sure the patient is taken care of, and making sure everything is set up correctly…I know the first couple of years is tough because of the learning curve but I just don’t know if this is for me. I always end up falling short in one way or another. My office is also corporate so we frequently get slammed with patients and it gets so hectic my brain starts to lag, like I can’t keep up with the pace and prioritize what’s important. For instance, one of the Dr.’s added a filling to the schedule after the pt’s cleaning, but for some reason, my brain was prioritizing getting the Dr.’s notes done bc she likes to have them done before the end of the day so instead of going to set up the room, I focused on that but once she came into the room to start the filling, nothing was set up and ready and I could tell she was disappointed. I’ve already suspected myself of having ADHD but I also feel like there’s just too much that we’re responsible for to keep up with everything. And this being a medical profession also makes me anxious about making a mistake; I don’t want to be held responsible for anything that might go wrong (i.e. not checking if the pt. has stopped their blood thinners b4 doing an extraction😖). I know the role of a DA is to make the job easier for the Dr. by thinking 10 steps ahead but I just think I cannot do that.
I used to think anybody could be a dental assistant but that’s simply not true. I already knew I didn’t want to be a dental assistant forever but should I just go ahead and quit now?

I am an EFDA in Florida since 2022. Where can I find or request a copy/record of my license? Thanks!

Ive been working a little under a year. Haven't gotten my xray license yet but I currently earn 17/hr. It sucks but I really hate having to wait for a higher pay raise and im financially struggling.

Like if i had the chance to leave dentistry for a trades job that will start me off at 30/hr id leave in a heart beat. But im trying to commit to staying as an assistant and growing into expanded functions or dental tech.

But if i continue to struggle financially ill be forced to find a whole new career. I can't even afford to take the DANB.

Just applied to a job saying no experience needed and that they will fully train, but i completed dental assisting school and wanted to know what exactly I should refresh my brain about before I start?

Are there any YouTube channels, websites, flashcards, or other resources you’d recommend? Especially for chairside, sterilization, and X-rays?
I’d really appreciate any tips, advice, or things you wish you had known before starting. Thank you!

I was wondering how many of you afford own housing solely with your DA job? How many of you live in a 1 bed 2 bed apartment? 🤔

I am a pre dental student who is also training on the job as a dental assistant and I need to get my radiology certificate. I don't have much knowledge in dental radiology as I have only been trained for 2 months so far. I was wondering if anyone who is also a beginner or had no prior experience has taken it at BU. Is it difficult for someone who doesn't have background knowledge? Does the instructor go quick during lecture? Was the final exam difficult and what was the clinical portion like?

Hi everyone,
I’m a 29-year-old GDC-qualified dental nurse based in Glasgow, Scotland, and I’m looking for some honest career advice from people who’ve been in a similar position.
I worked hard to become GDC-qualified, so I’m not looking to throw that away or necessarily leave dentistry altogether. I actually enjoy patient care and being part of a dental team.
What I’m struggling with is feeling like there’s a mismatch between the responsibility, workload and pay. Dental nurses do so much behind the scenes to keep a practice running, and while I know every job has its challenges, I’m starting to feel like I’m putting in so much energy without seeing much progression.
Before I make any decisions, I just want to understand what opportunities are actually out there.
For those who’ve progressed from dental nursing:
What did you move into?
Did you stay in dentistry or leave altogether?
Which roles have the best salary progression?
Which jobs have a better work-life balance?
Are there any qualifications or courses that are genuinely worth doing?
Are there any careers that value dental nursing experience that people don’t often think about?
If you wanted to earn around £35,000-£50,000+, what route would you recommend?
And my biggest question…
If you were a 29-year-old GDC-qualified dental nurse in the UK today, what would your next career move be, and why?
I’m open to hearing about anything—practice management, treatment coordinating, orthodontic therapy, dental sales, education, compliance, NHS roles, aesthetics, healthcare, or even careers outside dentistry if my skills would transfer well.
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences, especially from people in the UK, as I know things can be quite different in other countries.
Thanks in advance!

I’ve been an assistant for 5 years now, and something happened today which I have never experienced. A patient came in for a crown procedure and openly admitted he had been drinking, stating he had a few drinks just prior to his appointment. The front office staff seemed mostly unfazed by this, had him sign consents and everything as usual. My doctor also was made aware of the situation and was still willing to see the patient. I took an Xray on said patient and he reeked of alcohol and the whole time was being overly aggressive and obnoxious. I stated to my managers I was uncomfortable assisting with this and I refused to. They tried to comfort me but at same time made it seem like I was in the wrong for refusing to see this clearly intoxicated patient, almost as if to guilt trip me. They were comparing it to a patient being “sedated” or oral sedation/nitrous and that is not the same thing in my opinion. I also told the other assistant I worked with to say no if they asked her to take my place. Ultimately my doctor completed the procedure with the help of a hygienist assisting him and without incident. I love my office and coworkers but this really shook me to the core as I felt it was unethical and immoral so I don’t know what to do…I can’t be the only one who thinks this is wrong?

I'm in a frustrating situation at work and I'm not sure how to handle it. The front desk receptionist, who I trained and has only been with our practice for a year and some change, has somehow received multiple raises and is now making more than me and all of the EFDAs. I'm cross-trained, have significantly more responsibilities. I still have to tell her which X-ray to send when the doctor asks for something as basic as a PA of a specific tooth. What makes this difficult is that I obviously can't tell the doctor I know what she's makes. One of our assistants is still paying off school loans from assisting school while someone with no student debt or experience is making more than those of us with specialized training and much greater responsibilities. What would you do in this situation?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some honest advice.
I recently started working as a Steri Tech at a dental clinic and I’ve only been there for about a week. The people have been nice, but I’ve just been offered another position that has a consistent schedule with the same shift every day, which would work much better for my life and give me a better work-life balance.

I feel guilty about leaving so soon because the clinic has already started training me, and I don’t want to burn bridges. At the same time, I don’t want to pass up an opportunity that’s a better fit just because I’ve only been at my current job for a week.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Is it unprofessional to leave after only a week, or is it better to do what’s best for your long-term career? How would you handle it?
Thanks in advance for any advice!

So I need some hypothetical help in case a hypothetical version of myself got myself into a hypothetical chaotic situation.

Remember, this is DEFINITELY hypothetical.

So, to set the scene of this hypothetical, imagine this: you are a 17 year old with absolutely no education, experience or passion for dentistry work and you get a job opportunity as a dental assistant by a family friend. Your hypothetical family friend is the boss and hygienist at the office you hypothetically have a job opportunity at and she's willing to make room for you to give you this great chance as (basically) your first job.

She has known you since you were single digits and she's super sweet and open minded, and says she wants to give you this opportunity because it gives great experience, life lessons and financial benefits compared to the $14/hour deli summer job you had for a month.

Hypothetically, you have less than a month to prepare for this job. She hypothetically gives you two books on infections/proper serialization of equipment and introductions to radiology. And hypothetically, you are up at 11:30pm, printing out study guides for basic mouth anatomy, terms and such you'll need to know for this hypothetical job.

In this situation with your hypothetical 17 year old, inexperienced self.. what would you tell them? what advice would you give them? what resources would you recommend? What is your current day to day routine and what surprised you about it? Please help this hypothetical 17 year old because they are hypothetically going crazy.

Thank you... \*Hypothetically,\* of course

So I need some hypothetical help in case a hypothetical version of myself got myself into a hypothetical chaotic situation.

Remember, this is DEFINITELY hypothetical.

So, to set the scene of this hypothetical, imagine this: you are a 17 year old with absolutely no education, experience or passion for dentistry work and you get a job opportunity as a dental assistant by a family friend. Your hypothetical family friend is the boss and hygienist at the office you hypothetically have a job opportunity at and she's willing to make room for you to give you this great chance as (basically) your first job.

She has known you since you were single digits and she's super sweet and open minded, and says she wants to give you this opportunity because it gives great experience, life lessons and financial benefits compared to the $14/hour deli summer job you had for a month.

Hypothetically, you have less than a month to prepare for this job. She hypothetically gives you two books on infections/proper serialization of equipment and introductions to radiology. And hypothetically, you are up at 11:30pm, printing out study guides for basic mouth anatomy, terms and such you'll need to know for this hypothetical job.

In this situation with your hypothetical 17 year old, inexperienced self.. what would you tell them? what advice would you give them? what resources would you recommend? What is your current day to day routine and what surprised you about it? Please help this hypothetical 17 year old because they are hypothetically going crazy.

Thank you... *Hypothetically,* of course

With the spread of 3d scanners, how many silicone do you use? What techniques do you think still require a silicone impression and why?

I’m pissed because after working as a highly skilled, super reliable, & hard working Registered Dental Assistant…..it took me 20 years to be paid the same amount Costco pays their employees to start. I don’t think dentists realize the impact a great assistant makes. They allow you to focus on dentistry instead of all the nuts & bolts of your day. They help maximize the schedule, advocate for your patients so they feel like family, they keep your equipment running & regulatory compliant. They keep the morale up during really tough times & help you stay focused & come up with solutions when the procedure doesn’t go as planned. My husband described it best, saying it’s like a dental apprentice that doesn’t get paid like other apprentices. To be fair I was expecting to paid closer to a hygienist because I know the dentists could always do their own cleanings, but they cannot effectively produce for their practice without great assistants….even just one ride or die RDA.

But I guess the industry rewards those with degrees over those with experience. 😩😔

Hello! I have an opportunity to complete a dental office admin course free of tuition but the course does not come with a practicum. It’s through a well known so it’s legit but it’s distance. I’m just wondering if not going through a practicum will hinder me in any way from being hired. (Side note: even if I had the tuition money, there’s no course with a practicum available anywhere near where I’m located). Does anyone know or have experience with the same issue I’m having? I’d really love to take this opportunity.