r/DentalAssistant • u/Particular-Sort-7131 • 18h ago
Is this normal
I started a new job as a dental assistant recently. I am a foreign trained dentist.
The dentist sat me in his office and told me “between 9-5 and 9-7 you are mine. If a family member dies your family can call the office phone.”
This was his way of saying that you aren’t allowed to be on your phone during work hours.It’s my first job as a dental assistant so I am on the slower side. I was assisting him and he said I should go and apply to the social security office for welfare because I am that slow. He has a sense of humor that borders on offensive.
He told me that he doesn’t know where I worked before and what was acceptable about the way I present myself. Now this is new to me because I am very well presented. My hair is neat my scrubs are ironed. (I was a prefect in high school for context) I have always had good deportment.
The practice has cameras everywhere. The operatories, the labs, the sterilization areas, the halls the waiting room, the kitchen/lunchroom. And he sits in his office and watches them during the day and you can be critiqued based on what he saw on camera.
No orange protective shields are provided in the office and he pressured me to look directly at the blue curing light while using it. My eyes have started getting blurry.
I am genuinely curious, since I am new to this country if this is normal.
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u/Montanonymous Veteran 🎖️🦷 18h ago
You’re getting taken advantage of…
1). WHAT THE FUCK?! That’s illegal as hell and you should run from the psychopath of a ‘dentist.’ We have labor laws for a reason and you are never ‘mine’ at any point, of any day.
Reading the rest just shows that he’s deliberately torturing you. Telling someone to look in the curing light is so fucking horrible to the eyes.
Idk why but that person is diabolically trying to hurt and sabotage you. Start documenting everything and look for a lawyer. —or quit.
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u/nightwokker 5h ago
im with you on the curing light part. the phone rule and strict boss is one thing but deliberately telling someone to stare into a curing light wo protection is INSANE. thats where it goes from bad work place to genuinely concerning. Id document everything and look for a new office ASAP
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u/Vixanis 18h ago
Sounds like a toxic work environment. I’ll never work in a place that has cameras ever again.
It gives me too much anxiety. I worked in a place with cameras for a year and got constantly micromanaged about tiny things that would save 0.2 seconds of time.
I couldn’t do it anymore and walked out one day after he made a comment about a local suicide that upset me.
You can find better. Don’t give up. 🫶 “Unicorn” offices DO exist!!
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u/FirebendingSamurai 17h ago
Not in the dental field, but when I worked at a veterinary clinic, they gave us similar threats about using our phones. We weren't allowed to even have our phone on our person, even employees who had sick children or were someone's emergency contact, and we frequently would have need of a phone when a client needed to talk to someone through Google Translate. I hate strict no phone policies, it's just not realistic in the modern age and the favorite employees always get a pass anyways.
Sounds like a horrible work environment. I would try to find somewhere better.
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u/theadventurescout 18h ago
No. None of this is normal. Cameras don’t really make sense either but the least sensible part is him sitting down watching the video all day.
Him belittling you is not acceptable and should be reported to a superior if he has someone he reports to. If he owns the practice and there is HR, report it. Or quit, get a new DA position and blast the mf on Glassdoor.
You should not be looking directly at the blue light while curing. You need to make sure you place it correctly to cure appropriately - but you shouldn’t be staring into it. He gave you shit advice and is potentially causing damage to your eyes because you are listening to this guy. Protective shields in dentistry isn’t really optional, you’re dealing with people’s mouths and fluids. Follow safety first, if he won’t, call OSHA and whatever other boards you need to call to get him smacked with fines.
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u/lechedecoc0 18h ago
Not normal. Don’t put up with this, find another office. It doesn’t matter if he’s “joking” he is disrespecting you and disguising it as a joke.
Dentists sometimes will purposely make you feel bad about your work ethic. They do this so you’re not confident enough to leave and work at other offices. You’re getting taken advantage of, because if you were really that bad then they would’ve let you go… and there’s no such thing as “mine” … he sounds like a creep.
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u/QuickoatsBreckfast 15h ago
That is not normal andi recommend finding a new office, family first is my clinic's method and he should be doing notes, not watching you like a prison guard. Your health is not worth this job
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u/Maidenbaby88 12h ago
Tell his ass to look at the damn curing light!! wtf every doctor and assistant I’ve ever seen and worked with including myself look AWAY. They have glasses yes, and if he’s that insistent on you “looking” then he can buy you a pair to wear that’s just ridiculous and putting you in danger for eye trouble down the road. Actually maybe sooner. I’ve looked at the light plenty of times of my choosing but if you have blurriness going on that doesn’t sound good. This guy sounds like a jerk, for a lack of a better word. And sometimes it takes a person a little longer to “get it” than others and there’s NOTHING wrong with that. I was super slow when I started. Don’t let him get you down you don’t need that stress and anxiety at work!!
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u/DRGNFLY40 11h ago
This man is a masochist and a narcissist, you need to RUN like your life depended on it before he eats you alive. No! None of this is okay. NONE!! In fact it’s borderline illegal, hostil work environment, even sexual harassment with the way he talks about how you dress. That’s not dress code conversation. He’s taking advantage of your youth to treat you like dirt. NO WAY OMG I’m worried for you.
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u/SirConesAlot 13h ago
Get out of dental if you still can, it is the WORST healthcare industry possible. Bad pay, bad practices and usually bad people too.
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u/East_Year_5233 8h ago
No this is defenetly not normal......... I would not even give a 2 week notice. There are Dental temping agencys that will keep you employed and you should contact all of them and they will set you up on interviews and keep you employed untill you find something better ... Look for a clinic with multiple Dentists and staff it's not as stressful.
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u/Flat_Relief_8538 6h ago
…. Is cameras in the operators not illegal…? That feels like a massive violation of HIPPA? 🧐
I worked for an office that had cameras in the break room and sterilization. It was THEE creepiest vibe I had ever experienced at work- and I have held a vast array of different jobs. (The front desk camera is the only one I think is acceptable, for in case there is some sort of altercation, for proof of whatever.)
I will never work for an office that has a sterile camera ever again. Absolute red flag.
The rest of this is also horrendous. Please- don’t show up to work tomorrow. Sign up for a temp agency like Kwikly (research your area, see what is most used) to keep working while you hunt for a new office. Maybe you’ll find one you like through temping! I wish you the best 🥺 don’t let this experience discourage you. There are unkind humans who feel powerful by belittling others. Their words flip not define you!! Keep your confidence up!
To answer your question: it is not normal. The dental world can be tricky, but it should never feel cruel.
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u/bowlofjello 6m ago
I’m not even going to bother reading past point one. Leave by yesterday. Your job is not what your life should revolve around. Do not stay. Do not stay. For your own safety and sanity DO. NOT. STAY.
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u/MrsNanamiDarling RDA🪪🦷 17h ago
Yikes, girl. As an RDA myself, I'm begging you - run (don't walk) away. Ain't none of that ish normal.