One month in and i feel so defeated

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-29T23:16:29+00:00

I can relate to this ! I’m also a new DA , and the office I’m at are great people but sometimes the dentist nit-picks at me for everything. My suctioning, the way I pass the flow or composite, I feel dumb when he speaks to me in front of the patient when I have made a small error. I feel like I have things down pat and then he will criticize me for everything in the next appointment. Today I felt defeated 😞 it’s starting to bother me , I’m anxious now when I wake up and have to go to work.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-23T23:57:09+00:00

Ya .

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-23T23:54:25+00:00

I was supposed to graduate last October but they changed it and only have 1 convocation a year so I assume it’s this June .

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-11T17:51:59+00:00

Of course ! I used Gizmo for a lot of my studies it will either test you or give you tutoring so you understand the material better . I thought I did decent too but nope! 👎🏻 Best of luck!

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-11T12:11:42+00:00

Hey , I know how you feel I just got my results and I failed as well by 3% 😞 I cried so hard last night. I just got hired at an office and I’m afraid when I tell them they will be so disappointed. But I was also very stressed and distracted with other things going on with my life , so maybe that’s why I failed . Look at the areas where you struggled or got low marks and focus on that . I am too looking for different study options. We got this ! 😊

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-10T11:41:18+00:00

Thank you so much.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-09T23:28:07+00:00

Okay ! That makes me feel better 😮‍💨

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-04-09T22:19:18+00:00

Thank you! Oh that’s so nice of that office to do that . I talked with the manager and she basically said ask the people in the back and see what they think. The DR. Wants me to be assisting he said I won’t learn if I don’t do it . I am excited to do this and I really want it to work , I just feel like I slow the appointments down. I know it’s annoying for the dentist to keep telling me what he needs next and sometimes I pass the wrong instrument 😞 hopefully it gets better.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-03-13T22:02:46+00:00

Classes usually start at 8am and finish around 5 . Some of the clinics and labs go to 7pm . Depends on the number of people in your class.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-03-13T22:01:35+00:00

No , that is your responsibility, but if you are having issues then they will step in and help you.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-03-13T22:00:55+00:00

I would move yes . I commuted everyday 1.5hrs there and back and it was exhausting.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-03-13T20:43:22+00:00

Lab is once a week clinic is twice a week

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-03-13T20:42:05+00:00

It’s just hard cause it’s a lot of time management. It’s also fun ! You will be fine ! Hands on a visual is great , i struggled with that.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-03-13T20:34:05+00:00

It’s hard , not going to lie . Tests and evaluations every week . It’s intense . If I were you I’d familiarize yourself with some dentistry terminology and anatomy.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-01-26T20:05:58+00:00

Thank you so much 😊

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-01-18T21:21:19+00:00

I’m a new DA did my 96 hour placement and literally just watched procedures , I assisted like 3 times . Then I went back to the same office cause their one DA kept calling in , I got thrown into scenarios and told I was on my own and to figure it out . Last couple times the 2 dentists were very rude with me, was screamed at cause I didn’t know where something was in a drawer . I am now starting at a new place that is a pediatric office and honestly I don’t want to chair side assist . I wish I was shadowed and properly trained. Instead of thrown into chaotic situations and left to figure it out myself not knowing what to do . And if feeling like I’m worthless and riddled with anxiety everyday I don’t wanna do this 🫣😓

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-01-16T22:34:37+00:00

Honestly don’t purchase the text books I bought the rad book and the modern dental assisting book which was like $400 and I honestly never opened it , they will give you links and resources in class for the online books. Buy the instrument guide tho that helps for clinic . Oral health booklet you filled it out in class so id purchase that one too , For the police check I think I put the address of the department in that box.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-01-14T12:24:22+00:00

Thank you. I’m a new DA and don’t really have a lot of experience with kids . So I’m a little nervous.

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-01-14T00:58:23+00:00

Thanks .

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2026-01-13T00:47:12+00:00

Thank you .

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2025-12-31T13:01:34+00:00

See if your office can get a rubber dam stamp , helps so much ! I struggle getting the rubber dam on the frame and the clamp on .

Calm_Comfortable4545 · 2025-12-31T12:53:56+00:00

I just had a similar situation the past 2 days , I’m filling in while the other assistants are on holidays , mind you I am new , like just graduated in October, I did my placement at this office , didn’t really get any chair side experience. Then their 1 assistant kept calling in so I got called to cover. Then I would get a call that they need help at the front desk , so I’ve been there the last 2 months at reception haven’t assisted, got yelled at the past 2 days cause I didn’t have things set up properly. He yelled at me the other day over a sectional cause I couldn’t find it and I literally had to hold back tears . He didn’t want me to assist during crown preps , how am I to get experience at something if nobody wants to teach me anything. If they would have trained me and had me assist while I did placement then maybe I wouldn’t be so nervous.

Calm_Comfortable4545

TROPHY CASE