texas angel asked: I was just wondering, if i went to school for dental assistant, if i’d have to do something extra or different to work in orthodontics? I asked the receptionist at my dentist office, but she was no help. Thanks!
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Written by World's Best on January 14th, 2010 with
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NLzonie
#2.
January 19th, 2010, at 3:16 PM.
You can go to school, but may be able to get on as a trainee in an ortho office. Write a letter or call the ortho offices near you and maybe someone will take you under their wing and train you. Dental assisting schools can be overpriced for what you get, so be careful. Most only teach general dentistry so you would still need to be trained by an orthodontist. Check into a local college or vocational school it may be less expensive.
Ortho is fun, as an assistant you get to do much more for the patient aside from holding the suction and handing instruments to the dentist.
CDA~NY
#3.
January 19th, 2010, at 3:36 PM.
Yes, you can go to school to be a dental assistant, and then go on to work at an orthodontist’s office if that’s where you want to be!
Entry-level dental assisting courses will teach you dental terminology, charting, oral anatomy, suctioning, retraction, radiology, infection control, sterilization techniques… you will learn how to pour models and pass instruments, as well as learn the names for them. There’s so much to learn, but the basics will be covered.
Healthcare Provider CPR w/AED is another class you want to take if you don’t already have it. You’ll need your hepatitis series of shots, as well as your TB.
Some states require certification in Radiation, Health & Safety in order to take xrays. Some states also require certification in chairside assisting (CDA) or state licensure in order to perform expanded duties. If you go to, you can find your states info.
There’s no reason you can’t work for an orthodontist if that’s what you want to do. Having taken the entry-level course, it’ll help you get your foot in the door, then you can learn the legal tasks allowed by orthodontic assistants in your state.
You could always find an ortho office that will allow you to ’shadow’ thier assistants, or a general office for that matter… it will give you an idea of what’s actually done besides just suctioning and passing instruments….
Best of luck to you!
Stroms
#4.
January 22nd, 2010, at 9:41 PM.
My sister never went to school at all and she works in the orthodontics, how ever she’s been doing this job for 27 years and she’s making 23.00 an hour. This is in the south east MI. area. I do know this same Orthodontist hired a high *********** but they weren’t giving her enough days so she quit. She was starting out at 8.50 an hour. So I would do research like you have been. I just thought I would let you know this short story. Good luck.
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#1. January 17th, 2010, at 7:15 AM.
You don’t have to.You don’t even have to go to school to be a dental assistant. You can be trained on the job. It’s much better to go to school to become certified, but not needed in all states.
So you could also be trained work with braces.
Good luck