r/DentalAssistant

I'm a relatively new RDA, and plan to attend dental school and become a dentist in a few years. Not naming my office for HIPAA and privacy. It's a pediatric office and all of the assistants do coronal polishing daily, but I don't think everyone has taken a coronal polishing course/certificate. This is what the rules state from my state's dental assisting association. From what I can understand, the experience requirement is waived if I took a CODA accredited program, but I still need to take a coronal polishing course to be legally covered to perform a polishing under direct supervision? Since I want to be a dentist one day I want to make sure everything I'm doing is above board so it doesn't damage my record.

Coronal Polishing

STATE'S Dental Assistants by rule # may be delegated the task of coronal polishing by a licensed STATE dentist under direct supervision.  Certain requirements apply as stated below:

Coronal Polishing Requirements for Dental Assistants

• Have at least one year of experience as a dental assistant (no experience needed for graduates from a CODA-accredited program)
• Successfully complete a current course in basic life support (CPR)
• Complete a minimum of 8 hours of clinical and didactic education in coronal polishing taken through a CODA-accredited dental, dental hygiene, or dental assistant program approved by the Board.

Additional Note:  Coronal polishing must be in accordance with the minimum standard of care and limited to the dental assistant’s scope of practice.  The delegated duty of polishing by a dental assistant may not be billed as a prophylaxis.

Pursuant to (the law), the delegating dentist is responsible for all dental acts delegated to a dental assistant, including application of pit and fissure sealants.

I only just completed on the job training and want to quit. The hours suck so i’m barely scraping by, but everyone is SO nice at my office though, so i feel immense guilt. Im going back to school and going into a completely different career path and picked up a second job because it’s so unsustainable. I’m the only assistant so is be royally screwing everyone over but i’m just not feeling it anymore! Like, 25 hours a week is abysmal.

I work for a 65 year old orthodontist and he can be rude at times when making mistakes

Temps please walk me thru your normal day at a new office…. Or at least try to help me understand what you do. I walked in this morning and started asking questions. The EDDA was like temps have never asked this many questions….. how am I supposed to know what to do or where to fit in and actually feel of help.

I got into a dental assisting program but now that I'm about to start, I'm having second thoughts if it's worth spending 10k+ on it. Even my dentist has advised me against it, and said the career is not worth it.
I know I would rather do something else but I'd have to spend a year upgrading my bad grades, and I'm afraid even then I might not do well enough to get into something more competitive. Plus I already wasted 2 years doing nothing.

It's been weeks of contemplating and I'm just so lost. Should I just go through with the program and maybe start upgrading after?

How do yall feel about nomad and being pregnant?

I’m totally fine taking x rays with a wall mount until, but the nomad makes me very nervous.

hey yall, im currently a steri tech who will eventually be trained to become an assistant but ive had some difficulties with my manager and its making me want to quit alltogether. shes very nit picky and micromanages whoever she chooses to be her target that day and im really exhausted and fed up with it.
sometimes ill go on my phone during a shift, which i know is frowned upon, but i only do it if i have literally NOTHING else to do.
she constantly says that theres stuff to do and i can always help people, but ive been doing that and its going unnoticed for some reason, its a very depressing cycle.
today she warned me again for the phone and said next time it happens, ill be written up. I would understand this if i had things to do but i legit dont.
Ive even tried to find alternatives to being on my phone but she doesnt want me to do those either (doodling, journaling, etc)
today her mini-me was micromanaging me too (i put packs face down in autoclave, she wants them face up)

Im just tired of being expected to stand there like a robot or statue and not do anything? why doesnt anyone try and help me out in that department? they KNOW ill always do what they ask of me….
i feel like i am really good at my job and havent had any issues with what i have to do everyday but being constantly picked at and rarely appreciated is taking a toll on my mental state

And yes - depending on the state, legal scope, credentials, experience, and procedures being performed, highly skilled expanded-function assistants can justify earning 2–3× an entry-level dental assistant wage.

Why?

Because you’re no longer comparing the same level of responsibility.

An entry-level dental assistant may primarily support the dentist chairside.

An expanded-function assistant is legally authorized and trained to perform advanced clinical procedures that would otherwise require significantly more of the dentist’s time.

Depending on the state and credential, that can include duties such as:

🦷 Placing and finishing restorations
🦷 Coronal polishing
🦷 Sealants
🦷 Temporary restorations
🦷 Fabricating and adjusting provisional restorations
🦷 Scaling adult teeth
🦷 Administering local anesthesia
🦷 Placing and removing sutures
🦷 Placing and removing orthodontic materials
🦷 Other expanded functions specifically authorized by state law

And here’s the part nobody wants to talk about:

Those skills can directly increase a practice’s capacity.

When an expanded-function assistant can legally complete portions of treatment while the dentist moves to another patient, the practice can potentially treat patients more efficiently and make better use of the dentist’s clinical time.

That’s not “just assisting.”

That’s a higher-skilled clinical role carrying greater training, responsibility and value.

We already understand this concept everywhere else.

More education → more qualifications.
More qualifications → greater scope.
Greater scope → greater responsibility.
Greater responsibility → greater compensation.

So why do we suddenly pretend that logic doesn’t apply to dental assistants?

If an entry-level assistant in a market earns $20–$25/hour, I don’t think it’s outrageous to have a conversation about whether an experienced expanded-function assistant performing advanced restorative duties could be worth $40, $50, or even $60+ an hour where their scope, experience and economic contribution support it.

That doesn’t mean every EFDA/EDDA/RDAEF automatically deserves exactly triple another assistant’s wage.

It means we need to stop pretending a $1–$3 raise adequately compensates someone for substantially expanding their education, scope and clinical responsibility.

If you want assistants to pursue advanced education…

If you want assistants to take on greater responsibility…

If you want assistants to build careers instead of leaving the profession…

THERE HAS TO BE A FINANCIAL REASON TO ADVANCE.

Expanded functions should mean expanded opportunity.

Expanded responsibility should mean expanded compensation.

And an advanced credential should be more than another set of letters behind someone’s name.

PAY SHOULD REFLECT SCOPE. AND ASSISTANTS ARE TIRED OF THE MISTREATMENT.

EFDA / EDDA / RDAEF assistants: drop your state + credential + hourly rate below.

Let’s see whether expanded functions are actually being compensated like expanded functions.

#DA #RDAI #RDAII #RDAEF #EDDA #EFDA #OPA #RDA #CDA #DentalAssistant #DentalWorkforceReform #DentalAssistantPetition #Dentistry #Dental #DentalAssistantPay

I have an assignment of reading the first 3 chapters but the textbooks are like $400 and I’m scared I’m gonna have to pay for them if I open them. I was wondering if anyone had a version of the online pdf?

We're in Upstate NY in Rockland County and we're hiring but no one is budging. I can't find anyone right for the clinic or it. I tried everywhere. Please reach out if you an interview.
Our clinic starts at $20/hr + benefits like 401k, health (dental obv haha) and vision care. After every year we raise the wage up.
We train for around a 1.5 weeks for the software, x-rays, patients handling; we are bilingual clinic.
After that we leave you alone with the dentist of the day but we do check up on you to see how you're doing.
We're looking for either new DA grads or somewhere around 1-2 years training.
PM me if you're interested and send me a resume!
Thank you!

sat down with my spreadsheet this weekend trying to figure out whether to push for a raise at my current office or just start applying elsewhere, and I realized I have no real data on what part time assistants are actually getting paid per hour. job postings either don't list a rate or they list a range so wide it's useless.

I've been at my current place long enough that I'm not starting from zero anymore. I know the flow, I know the doctor's preferences, I'm faster than I was, and none of that has turned into a conversation about pay. I don't know if that's on me for not pushing, or if that's just how dental offices work where nothing changes unless you force it.

The thing I keep running into is that negotiating feels different in a small office with like three people on staff. It's not a corporation, it's personal, and I think a lot of assistants just absorb that discomfort and stay at whatever they started at for way longer than they should.

Curious what actually worked for people who did push for more. Did timing matter? Did you wait for a review, bring it up out of nowhere, or find a competing offer and use that as leverage?

EDIT: not asking what I should be paid, asking how people actually had the conversation.

I’m a fairly new DA working in a corporate office. This past Thursday, there was only two of us assistants in the office and by the end of the shift, I thought my brain was going to explode. I’ve never felt that overwhelmed in my life and I’ve worked retail during the holiday season. I spent the entire weekend laying in bed crying bc I don’t ever want to feel that way again. I’ve already known this is not something I want to stick with long term but I have to go back in tomorrow and I’m dreading it. I really want to put my mental health first and put in my two weeks but one of the other DA’s is going to be gone for over a month soon and the office is going to be down to two DA’s if I quit now. I don’t want them to struggle but I’m worried about my mental health. Any advice?

Hi friends so I’ve been conflicted about whether I should mention that I go to raves and what it means to me.

I think there’s a part in the application or interview where it asks about a defining moment in your life or an accomplishment. My options are being an RDA or this I think. I haven’t experienced loss or many unique hardships. I’ve been on a couple trips and I guess I couuuld stretch it writing on a solo trip, but I definitely wouldn’t consider it a self-defining experience. Obviously being an RDA looks good, and I can talk about my clinic and experiences that made me want to pursue dentistry, but I’m worried it’s too generic and I won’t stand out.

I’m also worried the stigma around raving culture with drugs will blacklist me, or at least negatively affect their perception of me and they’ll think that I do drugs. If I do write on it, I probably would stick to words like “dancing” “festival” and talk about the music without specifying EDM or using the word rave. It’s made me a lot more open minded and accepting, easygoing, less stressed, I’m less judgemental since going to these kinds of things. I feel like it really has changed the person I am and has shaped me to be a kinder, more loving person and being more intentional/present in my life. I’m more hippie-ish. That’s the part I’d want to talk about.

TLDR; do I make the self-defining moment/big accomplishment in my life being an RDA or how going to festivals has changed me as a person?

So I’ve been working at an office since May when I graduated highschool. For background I went to vocational school where I studied dental and got my X-Ray license. So I got a job straight out of high school making 14 dollars an hour. At the beginning I didn’t think much about the money. Now though it’s become a reoccurring issue. I get paid so little while I am licensed and I feel like I’m just so overworked. The dentist talks to me like I’m a piece of crap under her shoe the HR lady constantly belittles me telling me I need to change my whole personality for the job (I’m not much of a smiler) while I do smile around the kids. I feel like I’m not doing good at all

Me and the hygienist are the only ones taking X-rays, and sometimes I have to retake theirs while making tx plans or cleaning. I had a talk with my HR lady and she basically told me a raise is no where in my future because I’m not qualified enough to get one. My friend just started a job today doing the same thing making 18 an hour. I feel so discouraged and I feel like I’m failing. I keep looking for a new job somewhere that will pay me more but when I submit my resume nothing ever comes from it. I feel like I’ll be trapped for a while until I move in with my boyfriend who lives in a different state.

we have two DA’s at our office, myself and another. we have our tasks spilt pretty evenly, and i’m looking for advice on keeping track of things.

i’m regularly submitting, and sometimes making digital waxups

we just started making nightguards in office

there’s definitely more, but can’t think of it off the top my head (hence why i need help keeping track)

what are some useful things you do other than a spreadsheet?

I’ve been in my head all week and I can’t seem to get out of it. I figured. Maybe if I type this out it’ll help me get over it a little bit more. I got fired a little over a week ago after asking to go part time due to health concerns. I let them know that I would need to be going part time via letter at the beginning of July which my manager approved and asked me when I would need to become part time. I let her know that the beginning of August would work if that would be OK. She said it would. I was leaving for vacation July 22-30 W-TH then came back on the 31st because that’s a surgery day and I’m required to be there after the approval and her asking me when this would need to happen. There are no other words. She didn’t say that that wasn’t a possibility. She didn’t say if they could work with me. It was just left at that anyways Back to Friday when I came back to work, I worked until one and took my lunch. The doctor that I am lead chair side with left for the day, but there was still a periodontist, so I just jumped in on her side when I came back from lunch. While of us away they did a work interview. And there was a Dental assistant that was meant to start the next Monday and I didn’t think anything of it. I just assumed that they got another staff member, but are around 4 o’clock. the manager came into talk to me, and she had an envelope in her hand, and I asked her what was happening, and if she was firing me, she said no, and we talked a little bit about how it was gonna work with me being part time with the new higher, but she would say certain things that would make me ask if she was firing me and she would consistently say no, but it was the end of the day. I wasn’t feeling well, so my sensors were just down. She started talking to me about my health and how I was going to afford my healthcare. Now that I was part time, and I told her I wasn’t sure, but I was still trying to figure it out, and she gave me something to sign in between that saying it was for the part time. It said in Big letters that it was the change of availability and she was still asking me about my health I didn’t see anything on there, saying anything about putting. I just saw it say about the change of availability, but then, after all, that was sudden done, we even had a conversation where she said that she needed my key to give to the new hire, but that I would get a new one soon. They just have to make another one and since she was arriving Monday, they needed it, so it was all to assume that I have his part time, and after I signed she talked to me a little bit more, and then handed me the envelope and told me that I was fired and not to come in next week. I was honestly in so much shock. And I asked her what the hell she had me sign and she wouldn’t give it to me. I just left and that same night I asked her to send me what she had me sign. I didn’t receive it for almost a week, but after I saw it, she made me sign something that said I was quitting, which I never did, and I never agreed to. And I just feel so tricked,stupid, wondering i’m going to put food on the table for my family. I’m in California, so I believe she also took away my only chance of getting unemployment. I want to try and fight and say that I didn’t sign anything because from my knowledge. Nothing on their. Head said that I quit. So I could’ve been a different paper but I also know that’s probably not the case. I did send them an email saying that that’s fucked up and that I didn’t quit and they were like too bad. Too sad. You already signed the paper, so yeah I’m not sure if there’s anything I can do legally but I just wanted to vent and hopefully this will make me stop going crazy. Cause I can’t focus on the past. I need to focus on finding a new job in this terrible economy.😭😭😭

I graduated from my dental class in May with my certifications expect for my x-ray license. Every job that’s looking for a DA requires them to have the x-ray license or be an RDA. Even though i have internship hours and class time hours, i still feel like i need to start from the bottom and get trained. I also start school in a week and go twice a week, but the DA jobs i qualify for (certifications wise) require a full time position. How can i go about it? Should i call around and ask if they’re looking for someone? Should i apply for the full time positions and ask if they can do part time? Any advice would be wonderful please because i feel like giving up

I am a dental assistant if 5-6 years now I’ve done it all . Every specialty you can think and I think I’m bored and want to advance my career and be a hygienist however I feel like I’m too old for it now. I’m 29 with a 2 year old and 6 month old . I thought being an assistant would fulfill me but the lack of money and no freedom and snappy dentist I want something more . I love the dental field and always thought of being a hygienist but never went further until now . Is there anyone else that did it a little later or am I being crazy for wanting to start over at this late in age ?