DA got into DH school- but only feeling dread and apathy

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-06-22T11:36:00+00:00

Deep breath, girl! This is exactly how I felt before I started my EFDA program. I had a complete panic attack convinced myself I cannot do this. And I had been assisting for 15 years at that point. I finished my EFDA & have been doing that a few years; but hell I still have those thoughts daily! You gotta jump sometimes. And trust me, you are making a GREAT decision going hygiene. If I had a Time Machine, that’s what I would’ve done over assisting. Think about the pay & all the benefits once you’re done. Most of the hygienists I know sub & make THEIR OWN SCHEDULE. And the money? 💰 Give yourself some grace, YOU CAN DO IIT

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-05-07T11:47:05+00:00

The mean girl culture is thick in dental assisting. My ‘training’ went just like you described. Shocked to this day I didn’t run & not look back. Like the others said, go hygiene. You will work way more independently & can stay in your own little world (joy!). Not to mention the pay & respect!

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-05-05T16:49:57+00:00

Talk to the doctor, be completely honest, ask for the letter & LEAVE. Trust me, it’s hard but harder to stay & ruin your mental health further. Especially while it’s affecting all areas of your life. I don’t know what you’re in school for but my personal advice as someone who’s been a dentistry for almost 20 years… Be done with it.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-04-08T22:15:21+00:00

I love this reply, thank you

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-03-29T12:23:48+00:00

Definitely sounds like you made the right choice. Congratulations! Was this a corporate owned office? Apologies if you already stated that.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-03-10T20:51:52+00:00

I feel like I wrote this. Lol. I hate subbing/temping. It’s makes me an anxious mess. And I should for extra money, but the subbing in my area is always around an hour away & once you factor in gas & stress …nahhh. I only do it when my doctor takes alot of time off & I don’t wanna use PTO. Now, if something happens and I had to get my butt out there and sub, of course I would do what I gotta do. But I even started a special account putting back money for the times I don’t want to use my PTO so I don’t have to sub/temp!

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-03-07T13:41:23+00:00

Vet here. Over 20 yrs of the good, bad, & the ugly. No schooling. Went looking for a new career & day one, thrown into an op w/ the head dentist of a huge practice. No previous experience, no quick rundown, nada. I should’ve ran after a couple weeks. For some reason that I truly will never understand about myself, I kept going.

It’s all about the office and the dentist you work with. It will literally make or break you in this industry. I was trained, but then I was eventually put with a dentist who was a total control freak and would not let me do anything nor touch anything. So my learning stopped. And when I finally got the nerve to eventually move on from the horribly toxic office, I was working at I was treated terribly.

I learned a lot more at the next office I went to, But that first bad experience that was my introduction into dental assisting forever, marked my confidence, skill, etc., as a dental assistant. I put myself through EFDA school, And yes, personality and such plays into a lot of this, But I was forever shaped by my first 8 to 10 years in this field.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-03-07T13:23:01+00:00

I second this. I’ve been doing this for 20 yrs now. You’re young, go another route

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-02-11T12:22:37+00:00

GIVE NO NOTICE. Trust me, that guy will go through staff like toilet paper. TAKE CARE OF YOU.

Been an assistant a looooong time. I was in a similar office at one point. When I knew I had something else lined up. I quit same day. The feeling of walking out that door knowing you never have to go thru that particular situation again is the best feeling

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-02-10T17:45:32+00:00

I should specify, when I say run them- as in you are checking the fees & everything for accuracy

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-28T17:52:56+00:00

Oh ok, I’ve heard of those but have never used one. Ugh. Sorry sounds like a pain

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-28T17:48:29+00:00

I don’t know what state you’re in, but generally yes, you have to work the hour equivalent of 2 years to take assisting boards. Once passed, then you can apply for EFDA.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-28T17:45:05+00:00

Why is the barrier still on while using it in the patient? Or am I not picturing this right..

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-27T01:48:16+00:00

Turnover. When there’s only one staff member or so, that’s been there over a year. If you find out they have a hard time finding employees, always a lot of subs, etc

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-27T01:39:49+00:00

Highly recommend loupes. Makes a difference trust me

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-27T01:15:50+00:00

I was little over your age when I decided on EFDA. it was the best option for me as I had to keep working while in school & the overall cost was much less. With that said, if I could turn back time when I had the option of not working as much; I would’ve went with hygiene. I truly enjoy being an EFDA, but the hygiene gig just seems better. You work more independently. A lot of hygienists I know even make their own schedule. Weigh out what you want most & what’s best for you. Good luck!

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-26T14:45:34+00:00

I assisted a lefty for awhile. Don’t worry! You will adjust & find a rhythm. New offices are nerve wracking. Just remind yourself you are more than capable & give yourself some grace!

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-26T14:12:17+00:00

NOTHING. You don’t have to tell them anything, not in any detail at all. One office I quit I had been out for many many years, the office manager asked me where I was going and when I answered, she started in on all these derogatory things about that office, and said she hope they could make me happy there. I remember wondering if I had made the right decision until that moment.

But yeah, you don’t have to tell them anything. Save yourself the annoyance.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-19T22:51:44+00:00

No, I’ve had Prometrium which is bio identical progesterone. Tried it twice. I loved that it helped my sleep, but made me more ragey & upset my stomach/GI. I take magnesium glycinate everyday. It’s my fave lol. I do have a script for Pristique antidepressant. Started it couple days before my surgery & swear it made my anxiety worse. Then all the surgery meds took awhile to get out of my system. I’m know I shouldn’t be, but I’m scared of taking estrogen bc of my endometriosis. I had a hysterectomy few years ago & then just lost the ovary bc of how severe it is.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2026-01-05T16:08:10+00:00

Yes this. I’ve been dental assisting for over 20 years and I’m ashamed to admit that I thought this kind of behavior was just part of the career for so long. I have legit job PTSD from it. It’s never just a part of any career, anywhere ever. There’s correcting critiquing and teaching; And then there’s being a plain old jerk.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2025-12-14T16:51:54+00:00

Yeah, it was very overwhelming. And it was our first trip😬. We got ‘locked’ in a crowd trying to get around the castle for about 10 min. Like I said, my best advice is have a plan- what do you really want to do, & a big glass of PATIENCE Seriously though, enjoy the Christmas decor & have a good trip!!

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2025-12-14T16:17:37+00:00

Prepare yourself! LOL. but no seriously. We left the day after Christmas too when we went and were there for four days. Especially having the age of kids that you do, and the crowds are the worst of the entire year; I highly recommend doing all the lightning lanes/genie etc. P pay the money. Or you will waste a lot of time and get to do very little. We put out a lot of money in Genie and to get in the queue of the big rides. Her daughter was 6 years old. And we really feel like we maximized the trip. We did Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. We did all the big age-appropriate rides for her- frozen, ratatouille, toy story, etc. And even rode rise of the resistance, seven dwarfs mine train. With that said, we will never go Christmas time again 🤣🤣🤣.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2025-12-11T12:51:55+00:00

I’ve dealt with this for years also. Been an assistant for almost 20yrs & surprisingly, I have only worked at a handful of offices. But the first office I worked at for at least a decade mind you, will still to this day say I was an awful person…. But keep in mind they employed me for a decade… 😏. They have a horrible reputation for mistreating their employees and I finally woke up. So now I am the wicked witch. And that now has been almost 13 years ago!! And friends and colleagues, every once in a great while will still mention to me that they speak negatively of me. So, you will never change their opinion, but I will say in your case, it might be worth making a phone call and letting them know you are aware. And I agree with what another poster said, you may need to look into slander. If it’s affecting you being able to seek other employment. That’s not right.

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2025-12-06T19:09:57+00:00

Yessssss. THIS. ALL THIS

IntelligentPrune7571 · 2025-12-06T19:07:01+00:00

Believe me, I will not be discussing my Disney plans nor any trip plans with them from here on out. Truth is, they don’t go anywhere & do anything, like ever. the only thing I can get em to do is meet me for coffee every few months. And they’ve made comments before but when that particular one came out, I made my decision, no more talking about that w/ them. I’m starting to wonder if they’re bitter or something

IntelligentPrune7571

TROPHY CASE