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What skills and/or abilities do you have that helps your career as a dental assistant?
What is a typical day (or week) like for you?
What do you like most and what do you like least about your work?
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4 answers
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Elizabeth’s Answer
I wanted to answer this question even though I'm not an assistant. I'm a dentist who has had some amazing assistants who were very skilled.
2 things that male a good assistant:
1. Anticipate your dentists every need. Not only does this mean handing instruments but keeping on schedule. My one assistant would let me know if I wS running behind with out the patient being aware. She placed every instrument in my hand with enough pressure that the pass was felt.
2. Keep the patient happy and comfortable, physically and mentally. If they are apprehensive she would talk enough to calm and dustract the patient which allowed me to focus on the procedure.
Dental assisting is really hard work. My assistants worked so hard. Hygiene is another field I see you are considering. It's tough to but in my experience less hectic. Some of my assistants said they would not want to do Hygiene because there's less of a diversity of procedures.
Both assistants and hygienists can get EFDA certification which allows them to place fillings and earn more money.
It's tough work. Alot of skill and responsibility. Sometimes there's alot of pressure to produce. There is not much ability to go from assisting to Hygiene to dental school. What i mean is that other than experience there are not really any classes that you take for one that apply to other. The reason I mention this is because sometimes i hear from people that they are going to dental school for assisting and may continue to be a dentist. Some of my assistants would have been great dentists but didnt realize this. I'd be happy to answer anything I can if you have more questions.
Depending on the office a typical day can be seeing 5 patient to 30 patients. Seeing more patients require assistants to take on as much responsibility as possible. Less time is spent with the patient which I feel is less rewarding. I think making people happy is the most rewarding part and having mire time with the patient makes it easier. The need to rush is probably the feeling people in dentistry like least.
2 things that male a good assistant:
1. Anticipate your dentists every need. Not only does this mean handing instruments but keeping on schedule. My one assistant would let me know if I wS running behind with out the patient being aware. She placed every instrument in my hand with enough pressure that the pass was felt.
2. Keep the patient happy and comfortable, physically and mentally. If they are apprehensive she would talk enough to calm and dustract the patient which allowed me to focus on the procedure.
Dental assisting is really hard work. My assistants worked so hard. Hygiene is another field I see you are considering. It's tough to but in my experience less hectic. Some of my assistants said they would not want to do Hygiene because there's less of a diversity of procedures.
Both assistants and hygienists can get EFDA certification which allows them to place fillings and earn more money.
It's tough work. Alot of skill and responsibility. Sometimes there's alot of pressure to produce. There is not much ability to go from assisting to Hygiene to dental school. What i mean is that other than experience there are not really any classes that you take for one that apply to other. The reason I mention this is because sometimes i hear from people that they are going to dental school for assisting and may continue to be a dentist. Some of my assistants would have been great dentists but didnt realize this. I'd be happy to answer anything I can if you have more questions.
Depending on the office a typical day can be seeing 5 patient to 30 patients. Seeing more patients require assistants to take on as much responsibility as possible. Less time is spent with the patient which I feel is less rewarding. I think making people happy is the most rewarding part and having mire time with the patient makes it easier. The need to rush is probably the feeling people in dentistry like least.
Updated
Aned’s Answer
I've been a dental assistant for the past 10 years in a pediatric office. Good quality or skill to have is multitasking! You have to be able to do multiple things at a time and have good time management. Some days are busier than others but it's always rewarding helping out the kiddos and making them feel more at ease when coming to the dentist.
Updated
Shelby M.’s Answer
While professional abilities and certifications are of course important , it’s my experience that one’s interpersonal skills are what makes a good assistant become irreplaceable.
Stay focused and compassionate , play well with others in the office and mind your own business . Don’t talk excessively , don’t be late and most of all don’t be a know it all .
Good luck and best wishes ! Shelby
Stay focused and compassionate , play well with others in the office and mind your own business . Don’t talk excessively , don’t be late and most of all don’t be a know it all .
Good luck and best wishes ! Shelby
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
I am an EFCDA and I assisted a general dentist for 8 years before moving into a periodontal practice where I am a surgical dental assistant. A typical day, we do about 3-4 “production” procedures, 2-3 “new patient exams” and about 8-12 post ops or exams/toothache appointments. I set up the operatory for each procedure, take any necessary pre operative X-rays, assist the doctor during the procedure and clean the room after and sterilize instruments. After that, you write a note in the chart on the exact procedure and everything used by the dentist. Followed by a post operative X-ray if needed.