Become a Dentist?!?!?! =S?

Question

Ok, I definitely know what I be when I grow up. A dentist. But here's the thing, I was wondering I could become a dental assistant then a dental hygienist and then dentist. I don't care how many years it will take, or the money I will spend (even though I come from a very poor family) but all I want is to have a very successful life. I want to be ahead so there wont be those late hours of studying and stuff. But should I do that? Like I want to be more ..you know, more experienced. Is it worth it though? I am a very smart student. This question is always confusing me and I can't seem to make up my mind. Should I just be a dentist or take the long path? But in the end, I know, it's going to pay off.

Answer 1

Just go straight for the dentist route.  Don't be an assistant, then a hygienist, blah blah blah.  What an assistant does and what a hygienist does vs what a dentist does is no contest.  When I was in dental school I was my own dental assistant.  I didn't have a hygienist, because I had to learn how to do it myself.

Even if you become an assistant, and then a dental hygienist, and eventually a dentist, what you learned when you were an assistant may not be the same as when they teach you in dental school.  There's your dentist's way that he is comfortable with, and then there's the school's way which follows the text book to the letter.  So it won't matter because you either have to relearn or forget what you were taught before.

Save time, save money, save your sanity and just become a dentist.

Answer 2

The best thing is to enroll in college as a biology/pre-dentistry major and apply for dental school when your college advisor tells you to. Becoming an assistant and then a hygienist is NOT the best way to go. However, if you could get a job as an assistant part time while in school it would help you to be familiar with dental terminology and procedures. Good luck!

Answer 3

You should become a dentist, it is a very rewarding job and allows you to be your own boss and make your own decisions professionally, and make a good living. I wouldn't suggest becoming a hygienist first because going through the schooling for that would be a waste of time and won't make you any more experienced. The best thing to prepare for dental school would be volunteering or working in a dental office, as an assistant if qualified, and getting an idea of what you would be doing as a dentist. The 'long path' as you describe would waste your time and be more expensive. If you know you want to be a dentist now, then work toward getting into dental school and getting that over with, it's long, hard & expensive four years!!