Dental School

Have any of you guys considered just going to dental school? Why or why not? Because I have a friend who has a B.S. degree chemistry or biology I think and decided he didnt want to go to dental school so he went back to become a hygienist. Any opinions?

Right now i'm in school to become a dental hygienist i'm only 19 and i decided to be a dental hygienist, because I only need a 2 year college degree for it, but after i get my degree in dental hygiene if im not happy with my choice, i'll go back to school to be a general dentist...I'm also not the best in MATH and it takes alot of math/chemistry corses to get a degree in science....most general dentist do 4 years of college and 4 years of dental school thats 8 years, dental hygienist only need a 2 year college degree. But the pay difference is crazy dental hygienst make about $29.15 an hour thats like 60,000 a year, but general dentist make, about $64.27 dollers a hour thats well over 100,000 a year.

I know tell me about it if you have the capabilities of becoming a Dental Hygienist I say go for it, because I almost decided to go ahead and persue Physical Therapist Assistant but then I really thought about it and I finally realized that Nurse Assistants make around the same freakin amount, and they went to vocational school for only about 4 months it's crazy but true why would I want to persue an associate degree in that when I could do Dental Hygiene for about 2 years and make about double that salary of 15 bucks an hour and it turn into 30 hour it just made sense I'm not longer even thinking about it unless they increase the pay for Physical Therapist Assistants I won't really bother to think about it go after what $$$$$ cause money is really important and the standard of living is really going high and education in a field that is secure is the way to go peace and I hope I helped

Hygiene school $30,000
Dental school $130,000
Otherwise, dentistry has more variety. Hygienists pretty much repeat the same procedures every 45-60 min., day in and day out.
If i already had a BS and were under the age of 30, i would go for dentistry.

gogreen in Greensboro, North Carolina said: Have any of you guys considered just going to dental school? Why or why not? Because I have a friend who has a B.S. degree chemistry or biology I think and decided he didnt want to go to dental school so he went back to become a hygienist. Any opinions?

well, i've been a dental hygienist for 18 years and i've recently gone back to school to complete my b.s. degree so i can go to dental school. i love the dentristy profession but am a bit bored as a hygienist, and i've always wanted to be a dentist, now at 37 i'm ready to take the challange! not the best time in my life being a single mother and all, but i don't ever want to look back and say "i wish i gave it a go". go for your dreams.....

gogreen in Greensboro, North Carolina said: Have any of you guys considered just going to dental school? Why or why not? Because I have a friend who has a B.S. degree chemistry or biology I think and decided he didnt want to go to dental school so he went back to become a hygienist. Any opinions?

I'm actually in the process of applying to dentistry school right now. But the amount of debt I will be in when I get out is making me think that hygiene might be a better choice. If I go to my first choice school, I will be about $300,000 in debt. In my area, I've heard associate dentists make about $750 a day. But my area is saturated with dentists, so it's difficult to find full time work. Hygienists make about $400 a day, there's a big demand for them, and the debt is not so horrendous.

Katie in Waterbury, Connecticut said: well, i've been a dental hygienist for 18 years and i've recently gone back to school to complete my b.s. degree so i can go to dental school. i love the dentristy profession but am a bit bored as a hygienist, and i've always wanted to be a dentist, now at 37 i'm ready to take the challange! not the best time in my life being a single mother and all, but i don't ever want to look back and say "i wish i gave it a go". go for your dreams.....

HI Diana,
You are so courageous to be doing that! I'm also a hygienist and have been for the last 9 years. I am 34 and bored of hygiene. I thought of dentistry but don't know if it is exactly for me. I'll tell you the honest truth why it interests me. At my age I want to be financially independent, be my own boss. HOwever, I have a strong sense of compassion and empathy as well. I also have a strong social conscience.
For example, if I see a homeless person on the street, I think of how awful it must be and I have an overwelming sense of compassion for people who are oscerzised in society.
Yet, I also get frustrated at times being a hygienist as the patients can be difficult(with any job) as they are highly anxious, or they don't respect you as much as the dentist. I think I am a decent hygienist. However, I'm not someone who is a curette queen and loves scaling! I have very good manual dexterity, very quick and efficient and gentle at the same time. But I get bored easily. I wonder if being a dentist will be that much different? I was not a dental assistant before being a hygienist so I haven't watched a dentist does all day. Of course I know what they do, but how they do it or how it would feel doing it, I am not totally sure on that.
Anyway, I am thinking of it because of the financial benefit and the autonomy.
I have always been into preventive general health so it does interest me. I just dont know if this feeling I have is ambitious enough to

JK in Toronto, Ontario said: HI Diana,
You are so courageous to be doing that! I'm also a hygienist and have been for the last 9 years. I am 34 and bored of hygiene. I thought of dentistry but don't know if it is exactly for me. I'll tell you the honest truth why it interests me. At my age I want to be financially independent, be my own boss. HOwever, I have a strong sense of compassion and empathy as well. I also have a strong social conscience.
For example, if I see a homeless person on the street, I think of how awful it must be and I have an overwelming sense of compassion for people who are oscerzised in society.
Yet, I also get frustrated at times being a hygienist as the patients can be difficult(with any job) as they are highly anxious, or they don't respect you as much as the dentist. I think I am a decent hygienist. However, I'm not someone who is a curette queen and loves scaling! I have very good manual dexterity, very quick and efficient and gentle at the same time. But I get bored easily. I wonder if being a dentist will be that much different? I was not a dental assistant before being a hygienist so I haven't watched a dentist does all day. Of course I know what they do, but how they do it or how it would feel doing it, I am not totally sure on that.
Anyway, I am thinking of it because of the financial benefit and the autonomy.
I have always been into preventive general health so it does interest me. I just dont know if this feeling I have is ambitious enough to

go through 7 years. I'm 34 so I'll be 41 or 42, with a 200,000 debt! And i heard that dentists make less than a hygienist when they graduate!
I would love to hear from you since you are a hygienist.
Thanks,
Julia

Sorry the above two emails were for Katie in Conneticut.

Hi JK,

Thanks for your reply. I didn't mean to misrepresent my credentials. I am actually not a dental hygienist. I just received my B.S. in Biology earlier this year. The process of preparing for dentistry school (working in an office, shadowing dentists, speaking with students, etc) has made me rethink what I'd like to do. There are many reasons for why I'm rethinking, but one main one is that I'm not quite so sure I want to buy into what my family, friends, and pro-feminists have in mind for my future. And I don't necessarily want other people telling me where my priorities in life should be. My priorities aren't to make tons of money by working long hours so I can pay to have a daycare take care of my kids. (Yes, if i have my own office, I can make my own hours. But this is rather naive to think as opening an office takes so much committment for at least the first 5 years. My biological clock is ticking). Most scary of all (at least to my parents), is that I don't really want to be financially independent. I have excellent grades and credentials, but I find it insulting that people think I'm "wasting my abilities" in wanting to plan around a future family rather than "doing good for the world" or being "successful."

I would love to hear more about you. For you to go through 7 years of schooling for this is a serious committment. Are you planning on opening your own office? That would make for a salary that is eventually superior, but it does take a few years to get a dental practice settled. And there are a lot of overhead costs and details to manage. How old are your kids? Are you the primary caretaker? Are there specific reasons for why you'd like to be financially independent now? I ask because I've come to realize it will come at a cost that I might not be willing to pay. Estimates I did for dentistry school debt with a 6% interest rate showed that I would be paying about $4000 a month for 10 years to pay it off. It just seems like such a daunting am

HI Diana,
Thx for your email! I agree, with what you are saying here and would like to tell you more about my situation but I don't know how to send you a personal email. I don't really want to tell the whole world! LOL!
Is there a way to send a personal email to an individual so that the whole forum can't see it?
Julia

:o) I was wondering the same thing when I was posting the last comment. I kept thinking it would be nicer if I could just email you personally instead of posting something really long and personal for the whole world to see. Anyway. I'll go ahead and take the plunge. Email me at babybananaslug@gmail.com; I'd love to hear from you.

~Diana

will in Elberfeld, Indiana said: Right now i'm in school to become a dental hygienist i'm only 19 and i decided to be a dental hygienist, because I only need a 2 year college degree for it, but after i get my degree in dental hygiene if im not happy with my choice, i'll go back to school to be a general dentist...I'm also not the best in MATH and it takes alot of math/chemistry corses to get a degree in science....most general dentist do 4 years of college and 4 years of dental school thats 8 years, dental hygienist only need a 2 year college degree. But the pay difference is crazy dental hygienst make about $29.15 an hour thats like 60,000 a year, but general dentist make, about $64.27 dollers a hour thats well over 100,000 a year.

How much does school cost (Dental school)?

Hi my name is Shanta Harris and I am in school to get my BS in biology. I am a sophmore and I want to go to dental school, but I am starting to rethink it because it really is alot. Sometimes I wish that I would of went to a two year school and did the dental hygienist program. Does anybody know that if a dental hygienst has a bs would they make more?

I can't speak for how things work in other areas of the country. But in my area, having a B.S. in hygiene might give you a slightly higher salary in the beginning, but over time, it's experience that will get you a higher salary. I know at the dental office I work at, it doesn't matter at all.

I personally don't think a B.S. in hygiene is worth the extra time, money, and effort unless you want to do something besides being a dental hygienist (like teaching, research, etc)

Thanks!!

I have just started my pre reqs. I am 37 years old, and wanted to do this a long time ago. I am curious what every thinks about a male in the DH profession?

I am great with people, being a womans advice columnist and all.

www.ask-ryan.com

Thanks!

Hello All. I just thought I would join in on this conversation. I am 21 yrs old. I am attending junior college and in the mist of taking pre-reqs for a 2 year hygiene program that I am interested in. After considering how long it would take me to get a 2 year degree. I thought.. maybe I should just finish my BS. and maybe go to Dental school. I calculated. : 1 year pre-reqs, I would apply in 2008. Only to get accepted to hygiene for the fall 0f 2009. Then it takes about 2 years to get through the program ( 2009-2011). so counting from this year (2007-2011)thats 4 years. for a 2 year degree. is it me, or does that sound insane?. I might as well graduate with my AA in 2009. Attend a university and just major in either hygiene or.. go to dental school. Can someone tell me what they would do?

Hi Everyone,

I am 20 years old and going through the same situation. Right now I am a junior in a university working on a bachalor in biology, I also work as an orthodontics assistance (which I love). My plans were to attend dental school, but I am rethinking that. I dont think I want to go through all those years of schools (which is extremely difficult. I havent stoped at all with school because i graduated in 2005 from high school and went straight into college. I was now looking into dental hygienist but I have so much pressure from my family on top of me. I want to make sure I make the right choice since I would like to be a mother and have a family in my future and would want to have a financially stable career.

I dont know what to do!! what do you guys think???

Diana in Mountain View, California said: Hi JK,

Thanks for your reply. I didn't mean to misrepresent my credentials. I am actually not a dental hygienist. I just received my B.S. in Biology earlier this year. The process of preparing for dentistry school (working in an office, shadowing dentists, speaking with students, etc) has made me rethink what I'd like to do. There are many reasons for why I'm rethinking, but one main one is that I'm not quite so sure I want to buy into what my family, friends, and pro-feminists have in mind for my future. And I don't necessarily want other people telling me where

Diana,
This post mirrors my current situation. My future family is really important to me, and for some reason I feel if I am anything less then a dentist then I will be letting everyone down by not living up to my potential and the “great opportunities.” I’ve already applied to dental school and I am currently waiting for interviews; and I don’t know what I am scared of more getting in or not getting in. I would love to hear what you have decided to do.

i really dont know what i am going to end up doing. if i decide to go to dental school i have to apply on may 2008. most likely i will apply just in case i change my mind since i am so confused, but as of right now i think im just going to get my bachalors degree and then go to the hygienist program. but i dont know, im scare i might regreat my decision in the future, and that will be the worst!

hi everyone,
well i jsut got my B>S in Biology and like to continue with Dental School. however my grade average is super low i knwo i can't get in. any suggestion i should do with my degree....i am so stuck right now..iam already taking a year off from school...
117

Hi all,

I actually applied and got accepted to 4 dental schools, and then decided it wasn't the career for me. My main reason for deciding not to attend was the amount of loans/debt. Plus, similar to Diana's situation, a huge goal in my life is to eventually have a family. I couldn't justify spending 300,000 dollars (plus interest!) on a career that I might eventually step back from when I decide to have kids. It is very difficult for women these days because we have so many opposing viewpoints being thrown at us. On one hand, we are encouraged to succeed in a lucrative career and value independence above all else. However, we are seldom told that everything comes at a cost, if not to us, then our children/families down the line. So I just thought I'd throw my opinion out there. I have a B.S. in Biology, and I'm working in a research lab. I have considered hygienist school, as well as other options for my career.

Hi Laura, I see you work in a research lab. How is it? I was thinking about it, but to me the idea seems boring. I am a sophmore biology major, and I am trying to decide if i want to go to Dental school, hygienist school, or work in a lab..please write me back..thanks!

Stacey, you can always look into working for your state Health department. There's the epidemeologist, food/beverage/lodging inspector a.k.a. sanitarian, the pollution control dept where they test the river water, etc, also look into the drinking water protection dept. You can use your BS degree in any of these fields and many of these employees are older and will retire in 10-20 years so they need replacements. I would call your state, city and county health department or look on their websites, contact the supervisor or HR person and get more information.

Hi everyone,

Iam 24 years old and i want to apply to dental hygiene program but it's so hard to get in. Any recommend or tip that i should do and what kind of questions do they asks in the interview. Any one that go through the process already and you kindly help me. thanks

Please help!!!

I have wanted to be a Dentist ever since I can remeber. My problem is that I don't know what major I should go for... I am a Sophmore trying to major in Biology but it is so hard for me! Does any one know what major would look better (or if it even matters) in a Dental college application?? I would REALLY love to hear back from someone!!

Michelle

Miriam in Miami, Florida said: Hi Everyone,

I am 20 years old and going through the same situation. Right now I am a junior in a university working on a bachalor in biology, I also work as an orthodontics assistance (which I love). My plans were to attend dental school, but I am rethinking that. I dont think I want to go through all those years of schools (which is extremely difficult. I havent stoped at all with school because i graduated in 2005 from high school and went straight into college. I was now looking into dental hygienist but I have so much pressure from my family on top of me. I want to make sure I make the right choice since I would like to be a mother and have a family in my future and would want to have a financially stable career.

I dont know what to do!! what do you guys think???

I think that you should go with whatever you want to do. Take me for an example. I graduate in 2006 with a degree in Biology. At first I wanted to go to dental school, but now I am in a Public health graduate program which I like a lot because it made me realize that I wanted to do community based oral health and that led me to become interested in Dental Hygiene. So when I finish my graduate degree this summer, I will apply to a dental hygiene program. So my point is that you do not know where life is going to take you, but you make the decisions about your life, not your parents....

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Does anyone know if you have time to work while you go to dental school? it takes 4 years of coursework and i know i wouldnt be able to afford it if i couldnt work on the side and go to school, anyone have any ideas besides getting in debt up to my eyes? Also are there any men that work in the hygienist profession?

john in Halltown, Missouri said: Does anyone know if you have time to work while you go to dental school? it takes 4 years of coursework and i know i wouldnt be able to afford it if i couldnt work on the side and go to school, anyone have any ideas besides getting in debt up to my eyes? Also are there any men that work in the hygienist profession?

Hi! I am currently in a DH program in Kansas City. We have one male in our class of 25. From what I hear, there is no way to work while in dental school...but I don't know of any doctor that isn't in debt $130K + either! Good luck!

john in Halltown, Missouri said: Does anyone know if you have time to work while you go to dental school? it takes 4 years of coursework and i know i wouldnt be able to afford it if i couldnt work on the side and go to school, anyone have any ideas besides getting in debt up to my eyes? Also are there any men that work in the hygienist profession?

There is virtually no time to work while in dental school...maybe during Jr and senior year if yiu are not sick enough of doing your own lab work, you could do tech work. My wife is a hygienist...we work together 2-3 days a week. Great pay, pick 1-6 days of work a week if you want....great versatility if you have a family... less debt on graduation.

Hi. I am currently in a college that does not have a dental hygiene program, but I'm pretty sure that I want to become a dental hygienist. Do you think that I should continue with this college, (I'm a freshman) and apply to a dental hygiene school after I graduate.. or should I drop out and transfer as soon as possible? Thank you!

i think that you should do what ever is best for you i just finished dental assisting program and am now thinking about becoming a hygenist you get a lot of positive feedback about that career and make great money and thats what i want and its alot cheaper to go do that then to become a dentist but then again if you have the money and wanna do it in the end it will pay off big time

Hello-I can relate to must of the posts on here. As a career I wanted to be a dental hygienist because I have the passion for teeth, you make excellent pay, flexible schedule so you are able to work part time and still raise your children while making great money, as well as having little educational debt. However, the hygiene program is extremely difficult to get into, so I figured I would get my BS in Biology and go all the way to persure dentistry. In the mean time of going to college I have been working my way through school as a Dental Assistant for the past 5 years and on that note I realized that yes dental hygienst make excellent pay with a few years of college, but really I could only see myself doing that for about 5 years just because is it the samething day in and day out. Whereas, a dentist you can still pick your schedule and what procedure you want to do and everyday is actually a challenge and different. Futhermore, most hygeinest end get burned out after a few years and end up going back to school as to get their BS. Granted I am 25, but I figured since I love everything about the dental field I should at least try to go all the way, and it will take me about 5 more years to finish, but in the long run it will pay off and I will be doing what I enjoy and love.

I definitely agree with the statement above. However, do the dental school look at the reputation of the school you obtain your degree from or does it depend more on the individuals DAT scores and academic performance if they are not attending a highly selective school.

hey everyone i was reading everything and i am 17 years old and i had to quit school so i got my GED my girlfriend was pregnant and now i have a 4 month old wonderful son. I scored really high enough to where i get two years free of collage at a junior collage...and i plan on starting in august and i dont know if i want to become a dentist or dental hygienist. im not worried about the pay of collage or dental school its just that i dont know if i want to do all of that schooling. But i want the best life for my son and family...please help???

Hello everyone. I am a 25 yr. old currently attending dental school here in Dallas. After shadowing with a dentist for over a year, he told me that as a dental school graduate I could stand to make anywhere between $70-90K/yr if I work as an associate. As a private practice owner, the pay can vary due to location, patient-base at start-up, and money spent for start-up (buying dental equipment, hiring staff, purchasing your location, etc. etc.). I know there are a lot of confusing statements out there but realistically as a dentist, you are NOT GUARANTEED be making over $100K UNLESS you choose to be an associate dentist at that starting salary (and yes there are plenty of places that will you pay you that right out of school), you buy into a practice with a large patient base, you scout out a location with lots of traffic (such as a newly developing community) or you are lucky as hell when you first start your practice and get lots of patients coming your way. The point is it takes a while to establish yourself when you are new dentist. There aren't many fields where you coming out making as much as these payscale.com or salary.com websites claim. It takes time to build up your patient base, get good with your hand skills, and get better at managing your business (eliminating unnecessary costs and the like). Anyway, I hope this was helpful. Take what I say for what it is and don't let it discourage you! Dentistry is an awesome profession! You will always have a job and you will DEFINITELY make a lot of money. With the economy going the way it is would anyone REALLY bet against going into a healthcare related field? I don't think so and last time I checked healthcare professionals weren't going 'out of style'.

Peace and best of luck to you all,
Chris

HI I am currently looking for DH school in my area and I cant find. Every time I research a school I get all these advertisments. Can anyone help? Is it more a technical school? Should I start taking liberal and science classes on line at home I am also pregnant. Any advice would help. Thank you

Ok so I'm a Freshman in High School, and Science really isn't my thing, but I'm interested in being a Dentist, is it worth it?

I am currently in dental school and am glad to say that it's one of the best decisions I have ever made. Don't get me wrong, you work hard and it's VERY stressful but the rewards are plentiful. You get to be your own boss, make great money (I am talking six figures here), help people achieve a great smile through various methods, and most importantly, you will ALWAYS be in demand (no worrying about the job market with this one). These are things that will benefit you for the rest of your life. Plus, you get to work 32-40 hrs/wk which leaves you enough time to start a family if you so choose. There are downsides such as dealing with difficult patients and managing your staff/practice (the two main, but big issues that dentists face) but there are stresses with ANY job (trust me, I worked at a bank for 2 yrs. and that was very stressful with sorry pay) so don't let that deter you. Hopefully this helps and don't hesitate to ask any questions.

Chris

Hi everyone, Im 16 with a High school diploma. I want to become a dental hygenist And I dont know where to start. should I go to my community college for a while, and then go to a dental hygenist school? Or is there any way I could get into dental hygenist school right away. I dont want to want to pay for college, or dental assisting school, if I dont even need it. If you could help me out in anyway, please email me. angelachka24@yahoo.com

melinda in New York, New York said: HI I am currently looking for DH school in my area and I cant find. Every time I research a school I get all these advertisments. Can anyone help? Is it more a technical school? Should I start taking liberal and science classes on line at home I am also pregnant. Any advice would help. Thank you

Hi Melinda

I know that NYU has a DH program. You might also want to go to the ADA website. There is a place where you can search for DH programs by state. I hope this helps. Also, I am not sure how many science classes are available online. I know that online classes are becoming huge and I know some community colleges down here have it where you just come in for the lab. Good Luck....

Chris in Dallas, Texas said: I am currently in dental school and am glad to say that it's one of the best decisions I have ever made. Don't get me wrong, you work hard and it's VERY stressful but the rewards are plentiful. You get to be your own boss, make great money (I am talking six figures here), help people achieve a great smile through various methods, and most importantly, you will ALWAYS be in demand (no worrying about the job market with this one). These are things that will benefit you for the rest of your life. Plus, you get to work 32-40 hrs/wk which leaves you enough time to start a family if you so choose. There are downsides such as dealing with difficult patients and managing your staff/practice (the two main, but big issues that dentists face) but there are stresses with ANY job (trust me, I worked at a bank for 2 yrs. and that was very stressful with sorry pay) so don't let that deter you. Hopefully this helps and don't hesitate to ask any questions.

Chris

Hi Chris

I currently have a BS in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry and I am also working on my MPH. I will be done with that in the Summer of 2009. I have been trying to decide between Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene. I like dental assisting because you can work in all areas of dentistry whereas with dental hygiene, it seems to be the same thing every single day. I would like to get my PhD in education and teach at a dental school one day. I also have thougth about becoming an orthodontist but I am not sure I have 7 years of school in me :)I am not one all about the money when it comesto what I want to do but I have to admit I like the dental hygienist salary alot better than the dental assistant but I have heard that some dental assistants make pretty good. Anyways, what subjects do you think are key when applying to dental school? Even though I recieved my minor in chemistry, it really was not my favorite subject...Microbiology was... Thanks

I'm doing a project for my algebra 1 class, and I need to explain how dentistry relates with math, doesnt matter how. Someone help me? Email me at brittany_heinen@hotmail.com

Ashley in Fayetteville, North Carolina said: Hi Chris

I currently have a BS in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry and I am also working on my MPH. I will be done with that in the Summer of 2009. I have been trying to decide between Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene. I like dental assisting because you can work in all areas of dentistry whereas with dental hygiene, it seems to be the same thing every single day. I would like to get my PhD in education and teach at a dental school one day. I also have thougth about becoming an orthodontist but I am not sure I have 7 years of school in me :)I am not one all about the money when it comesto what I want to do but I have to admit I like the dental hygienist salary alot better than the dental assistant but I have heard that some dental assistants make pretty good. Anyways, what subjects do you think are key when applying to dental school? Even though I recieved my minor in chemistry, it really was not my favorite subject...Microbiology was... Thanks

Hey Ashley,
Sorry it took me awhile to get back to you. The avg pay for a dental assistant is about half that a hygienist makes ($30K and $60K respectively) as you already know. As far as ease, it's much easier to become a dental assistant. It only takes about 6 mos. of training at a specialty school before you can apply for your first job (and usu. the program you are in will help you find a job if it's good). A hygienist on the other hand takes 2 yrs. of rigorous training at a dental school before you get your degree. Both allow you flexibility (hygienists and assistants alike are both in high demand) but it really comes down to what you really want out of the profession. Hygiene is more repetitive than assisting but you have to do more grunt work with assisting for less pay. Many hygienist's complain of burn out but so do many assistants. Other than pay as an obvious advantage, being a hygienist also allows (thread to be cont.)

you to schedule your own patients and the possibility of part ownership with a practicing dentist (if that's what you desire). So in a nutshell, hygiene may be more repetitive but you have more opportunities for success and realistically, dental assistants don't have much variety in their job either (you assist the dentist in different procedures like root canals, extractions, fillings, etc. but you actively participate less in helping the patient than a hygienist does... if that makes any sense). I highly suggest that you shadow if you can because many times the only way you will know if you like something is if you experience it yourself. That's my advice and I am sticking to it! :-P Let me know if there is anything else you need. I am always happy to help because I know things are confusing out there.

Take care and good luck!

Chris in Dallas, Texas said: Hey Ashley,
Sorry it took me awhile to get back to you. The avg pay for a dental assistant is about half that a hygienist makes ($30K and $60K respectively) as you already know. As far as ease, it's much easier to become a dental assistant. It only takes about 6 mos. of training at a specialty school before you can apply for your first job (and usu. the program you are in will help you find a job if it's good). A hygienist on the other hand takes 2 yrs. of rigorous training at a dental school before you get your degree. Both allow you flexibility (hygienists and assistants alike are both in high demand) but it really comes down to what you really want out of the profession. Hygiene is more repetitive than assisting but you have to do more grunt work with assisting for less pay. Many hygienist's complain of burn out but so do many assistants. Other than pay as an obvious advantage, being a hygienist also allows (thread to be cont.)

Confusing is a great word to use :) When I was in school, I knew that I wanted to be a nurse but that chnaged once I graduated. I have shadowed a DH a year or so ago and she told me to stay away from dental hygiene. I also asked the dental assistants who worked with my dentist if they enjoyed their job and they said yes. I am just at a lost :) Since this is an open forum, I sometimes dont want everyone to read what I have to say. This is my email: carolinadiva09@gmail.com You are very helpful. Thanks.

Hi all.. first time reader/first time poster... I came across this site by chance, so now I'm asking for help/suggestions... please!

I am a 32 (almost 33) year old single mom to an almost 7 year old. My life long goal was to become a dentist, I went to college right out of high school but wound up on making it 2 years before quitting. I've since started back to pursue the same thing, but can only go to school at night and part-time because I have to work a full-time job to take care of myself and my child.

So, here is where I need help... how in the world am I going to be able to get thru dental school without being able to work? How do adults with children (and no spouse) function without income while going thru school?? I am even considering doing hygiene now because it would mean less time to get thru the program & less money to pay back after getting out.

I am at a loss and completely freaking out about all of this. Needless to say, I have very many regrets from my younger years! :(

Thanks for listening and for any help!

SD in Nashville, Tennessee said: Hi all.. first time reader/first time poster... I came across this site by chance, so now I'm asking for help/suggestions... please!

I am a 32 (almost 33) year old single mom to an almost 7 year old. My life long goal was to become a dentist, I went to college right out of high school but wound up on making it 2 years before quitting. I've since started back to pursue the same thing, but can only go to school at night and part-time because I have to work a full-time job to take care of myself and my child.

So, here is where I need help... how in the world am I going to be able to get thru dental school without being able to work? How do adults with children (and no spouse) function without income while going thru school?? I am even considering doing hygiene now because it would mean less time to get thru the program & less money to pay back after getting out.

I am at a loss and completely freaking out about all of this. Needless to say, I have very many regrets from my younger years! :(

Thanks for listening and for any help!

I know of many people who attended medical/dental school while being a single parent and not working. I know many dental/medical schools will give you a stipend of like 25g a year so that you dont have to work. I am also considering dental hygiene because I am not sure I have 7 years of school in me (I would want to be a orthodontist). Even though I am only 24, I still wish I would have pursued dental hygiene right after finishing my BS degree. I wish you luck and you can do it :)