Dental Hygienist or Physical Therapy Assistant?

Question

I am already working in the physical therapy field. I am more interested in physical therapy than dental hygiene. I know dental hygienist make good money and so do pt assistants. I want your opinions on the two fields.

Remember, it's not always about the money.

To Kajimivi4ko. I am not a PT Assistant, I am a PT Aide. You need an Associates Degree to become a liscenced PT Assistant. The starting salary for PTA's is about $37,000. Some make more than that. If you dont mind being in school for Doctorate then you can go straight to PT school. I know the dental field is boring.

To Reallove33, it can be either Physical Therapy Assistant or Physical Therapist Assistant. They do the same as a PT, the only difference is the PT can evaluate the patient.

Answer 1

Why not go all the way and become a physical therapist? School is more demanding and takes longer if you don't already have your Bachelor's degree and pre-requisites, but it is well worth it. Not just for the money but for the freedom to treat without the restrictions of the PTA. If you become a PTA and later decide to become a PT, there are very few programs which allow that transition easily.

Now, while I'm on my soapbox, please allow me to say that a PTA is a "Physical Therapist Assistant" not "Physical Therapy Assistant". Thanks for listening, er, reading.

Answer 2

Hi!
I have the same problem,but reversed-I am a dental assistant right now,but I have always been interested in the Physical therapy field.For the dental field I can tell you that in a wail it gets pretty boring,I am doing most of the administrative work too-like dealing with dental insurance companies,collecting payments etc.,but I can tell you one thing-I have never worked anything easier then this!
If you don't mind can you post a comment how it is to be a PT assistant,what is the approximate salary,how long did it take you to graduate and is it better to go straight for PT instead of PT assistant!Thank you very much if you decide to answer!:))

Answer 3

The burnout rate of Dental Hygientists is 5 years. I was going to go into that field myself at one point in my life. I worked as a Dental Assistant for my junior and senior year of high school through a career/vocational type school.

Unless you are comfortable doing the same thing every day, with little changes, then I would not go into that field. Which is why a lot of people opt for the dental assistants since you see a variety of different things each day. They make good money as well (not as much as a hygientist) but if you are an expanded assistant you can make some really good money. A friend of mine is doing that right now.

My dental assisting teacher was a Dental Hygientist and she fell into that 5 year burnout. She stopped doing that and started teaching instead.

Answer 4

I would not compare these two professions in ANY way at all. To me, the dental hygienist is much more independent than a PT assistant. If you are happy doing what you are doing, do NOT switch just for the money. Besides, you'll lose at least two years of income while you are in school and it will take a long time to make up for lost time, even if the salary is higher.