Dental Assistants on becoming Dental Hygienist?

Wally Perrien: I am a CDA and thought about going to Hygiene school as well. After working in the profession for the last 10 years I stayed in dental assisting and find it to be a very challenging and interesting job. Don't get me wrong hygienists make awesome money but I think there work is very monotonous. I like the fact that with every patient I have a lot of different procedures to do and learn from as where a hygienist just scrapes and polishes day after day and patient after patient. You could always try assisting for a bit and if the money is not good enough for you then go to hygiene....Show more

Arlen Decorte: Oh yes! Get your pre-req's. Even if you support yourself as an assistant while you prepare for hygiene school, keep that as your goal. Meanwhile, you'll be picking up real-practice skills and establishing a network so that when you graduate, you will already know what kind of practice you want to work with (or better still have a dentist who wants t! o take you in as soon as you qualify.)There is currently someone working in my office as an unpaid sterilization technician while she goes to school part time. Our two hygienists have been most eager to mentor her and encourage her future goals towards dental hygiene.In my state, hygienists can place restorations (if the doctor first preps the tooth) and administer local anesthetic. A hygienist who can perform these functions, who has the right personality, and who keeps on top of the newest techniques, has the potential to earn a great deal.Think about it, you are working at somebody else's office, using their tools, seeing patients THEY bring to you, setting your own hours...what could be better?...Show more

Luke Creitz: Some doctors of Dentistry pay thei assistants very well, But the real money is in the Hygienst room. BIG BUCKS. Both fields are very satisfying

Laveta Fathy: There is not much comparison between a career as an assistant, even CDA/RDA, and a! career as a hygienist. Besides making 2 to 3 times as much p! er hour as a hygienist, you can probably pretty much determine your own hours, because the dentist will take what he can get and be happy about it. (Sorry y'all, but it's true and you know it.)The assistant in a progressive practice may have one-on-one patient contact, but the hygienst's practice is practically 100% one-on-one. The hygienist is viewed by patients as a health care provider and not "just" a health care worker. It's true that they won't learn your name any faster or better, but they will hold you in higher esteem.I can't answer your questions about expanded functions in CA, as I am in the most conservative state in the country when it comes to expanded functions....Show more

Dallas Bartolini: As an instructor in a dental hygiene program(Johnson County Community College), the husband of a hygienist, and a practicing dentist, I would encourage you to go on into Dental Hygiene. It is rewarding in many aspects. If however you remain an assistant, you ar! e still extremely valuable to a practice. The extended function assistants usually are paid better because they can perform more duties in the practice. GoodLuck!