Is there a difference between a dental hygenist and a dental assistant?
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at
4:14 am
#1 Buckeye Fan!!!! asked:
I can get an associates degree from a community college for a dental assistant, but it looks like I can get a bachelor’s from a four year. I’m just trying to do it the quickest and cheapest way, which from the looks of it would be through the community college. Does anyone know where I need to go?
Tagged with: Associates Degree • Bachelor • Dental Hygenist
Filed under: Higher Education (University +)
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yes the assistant. assists the hygienist . that is how they learn.
ask someone at college. your dean .
Dental assistants help the dentist directly. They get all the equiptment out and hand the dentist what they need when they need it. Assist with root canals, crowns, fillings etc. That being said, a hygenist cleans teeth all day every day. So as for variety, I guess every mouth is different, but assisting is more interesting. I also know that hygenists make about twice as much as an assistant. State laws vary, how much can be done by an assistant. Generally you can be hired and trained on the job to be an assistant, but need schooling for a hygenist.
The training you receive in dental assisting is very minimal and you will discover that work is hard to find, despite your education. Dental Hygiene, however, will furnish more opportunities for employment and compensation.
Dental assistants are really just clerks with a little experience in a dentist’s office. Their training is mostly vocational, which differs from the legitimate education that a DH will receive. I highly recommend you go the DH route if you intend to float around the discipline of dentistry.