so frustrated about something and FYI

I'm in the dental field, I am a Certified/Licensed Dental Assistant. New York State is one of the only states that does not REQUIRE certification/Licensure. Dental Assistants are "allowed" to work on an extremely limited basis without cert or lic.
there are an esitmated 26,000 Dental assistants in NYS, only 1020 are licensed.
90% of the others work performing tasks that are illegal and punishable by a class B felony however dentists in NY know that nobody is watching so they continue to allow untrained & sometimes unqualified people they pay a very low wage to do a job that is very serious. Most DAs do not realize that they are commiting a crime because the state has no way of informing them since they are not accounted for. The state mails info to the doctors reminding them, but they just throw it away.
I started a local professional organization eariler this year to try to educate other DAs about the law and the consequence. There was an unlicensed DA in Ohio that was named in a multi-million dollar malpractice suit and was charged with the crime along with the doctor after of the death of patient.

Recently I have been sending my resume out in response to ads I see listed because i'm ready for a change after being in the same office for 11 years. Time and time again I find that doctors on LI are paying DAs $10-$15 per hour to do things like take x-rays on patients. Would you want the person that takes an x-ray of you in a hospital to have no formal training or licensure and get paid $10 per hour?
How about dentists that allow someone that earns $10 per hour to sterilize instruments when they have never been taught the principles of sterilization? While both of these functions are allowed under current law, they should not be.
I earn much more beause I've been in the field 20 years but most doctors are not even paying their OFFICE MANAGERS what I earn! These docs on LI earn an average of 275,000 per year!!! They should be ashamed.
I thought I would share this info so maybe people/patients will start to ask their dentist about the assistants credentials.

Message edited 7/22/2009 12:19:04 PM.

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Thank you! I'm in the market for a new local dentist and will be sure to add this to my list of questions for them.

Years ago, I did temp office work for a medical office associated with North Shore University / Manhassett.

The friend who got me the job was a basic EMT, just as I was. That included basic first aid - bandaging, that kind of thing. Nothing invasive.

In the office, she was giving all types of shots, doing IV's, all kinds of things. I asked her how she was able to do that. She said that since the doctor taught her, she was working under his license.

Listen, during my paramedic hospital rotations, I had people teaching me how to do stitches, which I never would have done again in my life. I know the lure of that kind of thing. But the fact is, no one asks for qualifications so these people are bold. I think you're doing a very good thing, warning them of the dangers of this!

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Wow the dentist I know pay their assistants $20-22 and hour..

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Wow, I had no idea about this. How interesting! (And a little scary.)

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

when we get temps from the temp agency they make 25 an hour.

our regular staff makes that as well- the assitants that is.

I have heard pretty much only in the city they want certified dental assistants.

they are rare on the island but as far as sterilization goes- I cant speak for other offices but in the 5 offices I have worked in we all take the osha sterilization/infection control course and or a video is watched and signed off on so there is no question when osha decides to just drop by and check offices that includes the front desk b/c you never know when they will be needed to help out in the back.

b/c it is not a law in nys and not required Im sure each dentist and assistant feel they are not doing anything wrong. thats why they have malpractice insurance and umbrellas for the employees.

certified or not I think the pay is the same- I dont think dentist are paying more or feel they need too.

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

in my dentist's office all of the diplomas and certifications are hanging on the wall. should i assume if there's a NY certification (don't know off hand specifically what it says) that they are fully licensed?

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

here's a link to a new ad just placed this morning in Huntington-not a crappy area looking for that "superstar" employee for $15-$19 per hour
another cheap dentist

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Posted by KellyFG

here's a link to a new ad just placed this morning in Huntington-not a crappy area looking for that "superstar" employee for $15-$19 per hour
another cheap dentist

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Message edited 7/25/2009 10:15:27 PM.

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Posted by OneOfEach

Posted by KellyFG

If hygienists didn't "need" to be licensed would you still think its ok for a doctor to hire someone without a license so they can pay less?

The fact is we need to be licensed by NYS and that's why we got our license. Because it's required and it will guarantee us a set salary.

Unfortunately dentists are not going to pay more for a certified DA since it's not required. We all know this because we've worked with them for years and years and they are cheap! It's cheap labor for them and they know it
I would much rather have a certified DA work with my dentist because I know they got the proper training. NYS really should make it a requirement.

ETA: our assistants are getting paid $17 an hour

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Posted by KellyFG

Posted by OneOfEach

Posted by KellyFG

If hygienists didn't "need" to be licensed would you still think its ok for a doctor to hire someone without a license so they can pay less?

The fact is we need to be licensed by NYS and that's why we got our license. Because it's required and it will guarantee us a set salary.

Unfortunately dentists are not going to pay more for a certified DA since it's not required. We all know this because we've worked with them for years and years and they are cheap! It's cheap labor for them and they know it
I would much rather have a certified DA work with my dentist because I know they got the proper training. NYS really should make it a requirement.

ETA: our assistants are getting paid $17 an hour

I hear you, DAs NEED to have a license to make temps, recement temps, remove sutures, adjust or repair dentures, change ortho wires, give post-op instructions....do the DAs in your office do any of these things? I know a lot that do.

Here's another one from today-

"must be experienced"

Message edited 7/27/2009 11:30:18 AM.

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

Thanks for the information. It is sort of like certified paralegals vs. not certified and it is sort of like going to a forms preparation service instead of a law office. There are a lot of articles online about ULP, which is the unlawful practice of law. Those articles deal with the entire idea of people doing things that they are not regulated for even when other people have licenses that regulate their conduct. There are articles about how this happens in many industries. In NY they have cracked down a lot with the legal field, so you may have a chance.

My mother in law is certified as either a hygienist or assistant. I think she is an assistant but I am not 100% sure. She eventually stopped working for dentists and went to work for a dental insurance carrier paying claims. She never made a ton of money but she loved that job and worked with nice people. My cousin is a dentist and I bet he would do everything by the book. I sure hope so and I can ask when I see him! He works in the city.

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

"90% of the others work performing tasks that are illegal and punishable by a class B felony however dentists in NY know that nobody is watching so they continue to allow untrained & sometimes unqualified people they pay a very low wage to do a job that is very serious."

Can you elaborate exactly what it is that is illegal and punishable. Does taking an xray fall into this category? Sterilizing instruments?

Please elaborate....

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI

I actually looked this up and found my answer. In the dental office where I work, the DAs only sterilize instruments, seat the patient, and take radiographs. Good to know.


# What other tasks may an unlicensed dental assistant perform in the dental office?

Answer: An unlicensed dental assistant may perform such tasks as:

* preparing the patient for treatment by seating patient, obtaining records and applying protective garb;
* preparing instruments, materials and medicaments to be used;
* taking dental x-rays in accordance with Public Health Law (see question 16);
* decontaminating, scrubbing, packaging and sterilizing all instruments;
* performing solely mechanical work upon inert matter in a dental office, e.g. trimming or mounting impressions taken by the dentist.


# Are additional education and certification needed for dental assistants to take x-rays?

Answer: No. Additional education and certification are not required. In accordance with section 3515(4)(c) of the Public Health Law and section 89.45 of the Administrative Rules and Regulations for Public Health, a person acting as a dental assistant, licensed or unlicensed, may operate radiographic dental equipment, under the supervision of a licensed dentist, for the sole purpose of routine oral radiography in which the x-ray beam is limited to the patient's head.

Re: so frustrated about something and FYI