What can a 17 yr old do working in a dental office?

im 17 and im going to go to college for dental hygiene.


i thought it'd be a good idea to get a job at a dental office so that under job experience on my college applications i could put that i work in a dental place and that would show that i'm really interested in becoming a dental hygienist.


this would also give me a better idea and feel for it too.





but i was wondering what kinds of things i would be doing?

What can a 17 yr old do working in a dental office?
Probably either medical records (pulling/filing charts etc) or front desk. Mostly the work that the trained staff does not really have time for but it is important to get completed.





The MD I used to do billing for had a part-time HS student who was his medical records "clerk". She was always busy and by having her, the staff was free to concentrate on other things that she was not able to do.
Reply:Maybe set up appointments, or file??
Reply:well you can sort files make appointments and be someone to hand the dentist his tools so he can work on the patient's teeth
Reply:I would think only secretarial work because of your age.
Reply:You can set appointments, file papers, work chairside assisting the dentist, take x-rays, develop films, take impressions, mold impressions to be sent to labs, and disenfect and clean the room and instruments after each use. Just about anything that the dentist and existing staff are willing to teach you.
Reply:Receive patients


Set appointments


Give out information by phone


Help the dentist by bringing whatever he/she might need.
Reply:Hello,


You may be able to set appointments, but other than that I'm not sure. The problem you have is that you aren't 18 - when dealing with medical records, you (usually) have to sign a waiver that says you will keep all the information you find to yourself, confidentially. The problem is, people under 18 are allowed to back out of any legal agreement such as that and people don't want to deal with the risks involved.
Reply:In my office we had a similiar situation, in which a girl was in the process of going to school for Dental Assisting. Since she was not licensed yet, her clinical abilities were limited. We did however create, what our office called a "Rover" position, in which she primarily was our "behind the scenes girl." Basically she dealt with sterilization, setting up %26amp; breaking down the operatories, seating/dismissing pts., %26amp; helping front desk personel out when needed. What was nice is that she was always available to be the extra set of hands, around the office. She also got exposure to all facets of the office, both w/ the front staff, as well as clinically in the back. I suggest you find an office, %26amp; most probally it'll need to be a pretty busy one, ideally one w/ more than one DDS- and present them with this position. Even if you just work a few hrs. a day, or a couple times a week, the exposure %26amp; appreciation you'll gain from the variety of roles everyone plays will only make you a better hygientist. Good luck.
Reply:Pretty much only work at the front desk and clean things. The reason is, you're under 18 and you haven't gone to college or dental school.