Help dental assistants out there?

ok i need info on a dental assistants job


1) how long did it take school wise to be registered?


2)was school hard? is internships required when you are enrolled in a program? if so how long must you intern for?


3) how much do you get paid starting off?


4) do you learn how to take x-rays?


5) what are your main duites- while assiting the dentist?





i live in newport beach, ca. they currently have a accreditded dental assitant hygeine program offered at orange coast college- if anyone has gone there and taken the program please give me info on that 2 please!!! thanks so much !!!! i so appreaciate it!

Help dental assistants out there?
I went to school for hygiene and assisting. I obviously started out with assisting. The program I took and most others in my state range from 15months to 2 years. You have the choice of getting your certificate or getting an associates. I don't know the rules for your state, but in arizona where i am you have the choice of becoming a "Certified" or not. Certified means that you take a state test and reapply every year for your certification. Assisting is very easy. Hygiene was the difficult one. In my school you do the assisting program then finish it off last semester with an internship. We had to complete 90hours. I had a paid internship. You do learn to take xrays, but you need to get you liscense to take xrays. After taking your radiation class you need to take a state exam to get this. I don't know how your area pays, but assisting can range all over the country from 10-20/hr. It depends on what type of office you are in (ortho, family dentistry, etc) In a normal family dentistry you take the patient to their chair, take xrays, chart while the dr is speaking (dental terms), assisting the dr during procedures, cleaning the rooms after each patient and keeping up with disinfecting. THese all vary by practice. The hygienist is above the assistant but may help in some of these areas.
Reply:1 one year, which will make you registered in order to be certified..you must take the D.A.N.B exam and pass it that makes you certified in the whole us but you still have to keep up your c e u 's


2 school was difficult and yes internships are required throughout the program...mine were two semesters long. but they were through many different offices which is good for your exposure to get a job.


3 in my area $12 which is decent for a dental assistant


4 you learn to take all different kinds of x rays..


5. you are his *****.. assist with ..extractions , crown/bridge preps, cleanings, exams, endo, and cleaning the office.





no idea about the ca course and credits.....went to school in daytona beach fl
Reply:You do NOT need to go to college to become a dental assistant. You should first call around or look in the paper for any openings. Some dentists will train On The Job with no experience required. If you cant find a job then apply to a college.





It only takes about a year or less to become a dental assistant. In the first semesters you take many of the same classes a dental hygienist takes. So it is not an easy program but most everyone passes dental assisting programs. Good luck.