It is not an exaggeration when we say that a dental office is only as strong as its dental assistants. For the vast majority of the time, patients will spend more time with dental assistants than they do with the dentists themselves. Although being a dental assistant is challenging work, it is also rewarding. In the 2013 New Jersey Dental Assisting Survey, 76% (3% higher than the national average) of surveyed dental assistants in New Jersey said that would recommend dental assisting as an occupation, and nearly half of the assistants surveyed said that they regularly receive pay raises at fair intervals.
At Advantage Career Institute, we make sure that our students do not leave any money on the table. As one of the top dental assisting schools in NJ, we cover everything you need to be a great dental assistant.
So what exactly separates an average dental assistant from an outstanding assistant?
Being Able to Multitask Efficiently
As a dental assistant, you are expected to carry out a wide variety of tasks in the office.
On one hand, you are expected to prepare the office and patient for the dentist. This includes sterilizing instruments, preparing the treatment rooms, taking x-rays, and giving the doctor feedback on the status of the patient’s teeth.
There is also the active role an assistant plays in helping the dentist. A dental assistant must be able to hand the dentist the exact tools they need, and generally act as another pair of hands for the dentist.
Lastly, the dental assistant must be comfortable with some clerical work. Dental assistants will be working with a patient’s documents, charts, medical history, and more. The best dental assistants are organized and detail-orientated, ensuring that there is nothing misplaced or erroneous with a patient’s documents.
A Positive Personality
Dental assistants will deal with a variety of patients who come from many different walks of life. Being able to express compassion and empathy for their patients is essential for becoming a stellar dental assistant. The main feeling patients experience at a dentist’s office is fear—the job as a dental assistant is to relax these patients and alleviate their anxiety.
Being optimistic, thoughtful, and cheerful is therefore vital to successfully fulfilling the role of a dental assistant.
Being Prepared Everyday
Being prepared is more than just being alert and informed about the day’s patients. It is about having the strong foundation and understanding of the responsibilities of a dental assistant, so that you are able to unconsciously respond to situations in the correct manner.
This is why having a strong education program for dental assistant is a must. At Advantage Career Institute, our dental assistant school in New Jersey will make sure each and every one of our students are prepared to go through the most trying of problems faced by dental assistants. We have seen how our graduated students have excelled in their roles as dental assistants, and fully believe in the importance of our dental assistant program.
