An Inside View of a Dental or Orthodontic Assistant

 Most community colleges offer an assisting program in orthodontics and dentistry that doesn't require many pre-requisites. These programs usually lasts for one year. However, an alternative route is on the job training.

I started working after school for a local orthodontist when I was fifteen years old. At sixteen, the doctor began training me to work on patients. If you work with a doctor (under direct supervision) for six months, you are qualified to take an orthodontic assisting certification test. I did the same thing with another doctor to become certified as a dental assistant. This is a very common practice in the dental field and the best part is that the doctor usually pays for everything. In both cases, I was compensated for time, gas, food and the test itself.

The salary for a dental assistant is generally decided by the doctor. To the best of my knowledge the average starting pay is about twelve dollars an hour for a dental assistant and ten dollars an hour for an orthodontic assistant. I only work four days a week, most dental offices are closed either Monday or Friday, which is a great benefit! I am definitely spoiled by three day weekends!

The only thing that can be a bit challenging sometimes is working with eleven other women, but for the most part we're like family. For moms I would have to say that working in a dental office is probably one of the most family friendly jobs you can have. If anyone were to ask me if I would do anything different, I would definitely have to say "Yes, I would have gone all the way to become the doctor." It takes a lot of school to be a dentist, four years of college, four years of dental school, plus an additional two-six years in residency, depending on the specialty. I know that is a lot of time and money, but the hours and paychecks you get in the end would be worth it.