Are you interested in becoming a dental assistant? Wonder if you have the right qualities to be successful? If you are not sure, the good news is that you can hone most of your qualities and skills during a vocational program as well as throughout your career. If you never stop learning, you will continue to grow personally and professionally.
What Qualities Make a Good Dental Assistant?
There are many qualities that are good, and a few are important for dental assisting success. These qualities include:
Quality #1: Empathy
Many dental patients are coming to the dentist’s office unaware of what will happen during their appointment. Will they have a cavity? Is the minor dental surgery going to hurt? It is important for you, as a dental assistant, to put yourself in the shoes of the patient and understand what they are going through. Empathy takes active listening and compassion to comfort the patient during an anxious time. Make sure you fully educate the patient on what is going to happen and whether they will feel anything in the near future. You might feel a small pinch, is a good way to prepare a patient for local anesthesia to numb the area in the mouth that may feel pain. You are doing a good job, is another way to support the patient during this trying time.
Quality #2: Reliable
The dentist expects you to be ready to assist during a dental procedure and you want to be ready to help. It is important for you to prepare the dental tray for the dentist before they are to see the patient. It is much easier to put all the instruments and supplies in order, so you are ready for the dentist’s requests.
Quality #3: Ethical
It is important to note that dentist offices are subject to HIPAA guidelines. This means that you are responsible for keeping sensitive health information confidential. This is not as difficult a task in a dental office as opposed to a medical office but there may be information a patient doesn’t want non-authorized individuals to know about their dental health. Always get the patients permission before divulging any personal information to third parties. Keep computers password protected and files secure. If you are viewing something on your computer screen or talking at reception to a patient, make sure to be discreet.
Quality #3: Observant
During your duties as a dental assistant, one small error can be a big issue. Make sure that procedures are adhered to and things like hazardous waste are disposed of using OSHA guidelines.
A good skill to master for better observation is active listening both verbally and through body language. If you view a patient in distress, make sure they feel comfortable and reassure them that they are doing a good job or that the procedure is almost done. You will learn much more from a patient by their body language, especially because they may not be able to speak clearly to tell you what they need.
Quality #4: Patience
Most procedures will take some time and it is important to be patient. You must wait until the patient is ready and fully anesthetized before proceeding with anything that will cause the patient any discomfort. It is also important to be patient with the dentist during a procedure as they may need your assistance to hold suction or maneuver dental instruments. You may have some downtime during a long dental procedure, but you must be alert and ready to act when you are needed.
Quality #5: Resourceful
Dental offices need to make a profit to keep helping patients and not wasting resources is an important part of keeping the dental office in business. Whether it is transferring paper records to computer databases to save on storage or identify a quicker process to check in patients, you must work with what you have to get the job done and keep the dental office running smoothly to continue to help patients with good dental health outcomes.
Quality #6: Self-Confident
Patients will be acutely aware when you doubt yourself. With goof self-confidence, you can increase the comfortable level of everyone around you. They will not have to worry that you are not sure about a procedure, they will let you work, and they can focus on their own duties instead. Patients will also trust that you are doing a good job and relax knowing that they are in good hands.
Quality #7: Methodical
There is a process to every procedure. It is important to follow that process to make sure the procedure is successful. Whether it is properly disinfecting dental instruments between patients to stop the spread of germs or to completely document a visit in the patient’s notes for the next appointment to reference, being methodical reduces the number of errors that occur. Less errors means better dental health outcomes for patients.
Being methodical also means following OSHA guidelines. These guidelines ensure safe and healthful working conditions for you and your patients. OSHA helps set and enforce standards through training, outreach, education, and assistance. Follow the OSHA guidelines methodically and you will promote a safe environment for colleagues and patients alike.
How Can You Master These Qualities?
An easy way to master the skills and qualities to become a successful dental assistant is by attending a vocational program in dental assisting. In less time than it takes to complete a 2-year or 4-year degree program, you can start learning and earning as a dental assistant. If you are unable to stay out of the workforce for a long period of time, regardless of the reason, a dental assisting program will have you earning in no time.
What are the Benefits of a Formal Education?
There are many benefits to getting a formal dental assistant education. From a complete curriculum to hands-on learning and everything in between, you work toward mastery of the qualities and skills you will need to start working on day one. Some of the many benefits of a formal education include:
A Complete Curriculum
Shadowing a dental assistant is a good way to learn what they do but it takes lecture and actual hands-on learning to prepare for this important role in a dental office. The vocational program prepares you with the knowledge and skills you will need to assist the dentist during a dental appointment. The curriculum builds upon itself, one lesson after another, until you have complete mastery of dental assisting.
Under the supervision of an instructor, you will learn how to manage patient charts, instruct in oral hygiene, obtain specimen, polish crowns, take and pour dental impressions, apply topical fluoride and anesthetics, remove sutures and much more as a dental assistant. During lecture and hands-on lab training, you will learn how to prepare patients for treatment, support the dentist during procedures, prepare dental trays, sterilize, and disinfect instruments, take X-rays, and obtain dental records. Mastering these tasks will build your confidence and allow patients to trust that you know what you are doing.
Hands-On Learning
In addition to classroom lectures, you will practice many of the duties that you will perform in a dental office. From updating patient records in dental software systems to preparing crowns, sealants, and instrument trays, you will get hands-on training in all procedures and tasks that you will encounter in a real dental office. You will also enjoy working in pairs with fellow classmates to practice all the procedures you learn during classroom lectures. Practice makes perfect, and you get a lot of practice in a dental assistant program.
Industry Experienced Instructors
We only hire industry experienced instructors to teach you how to be a dental assistant. They have worked in the industry and know what employers are looking for in new dental assistant candidates. And because we offer smaller class sizes, you get one-on-one attention from instructors to ask all the questions you may have about dental procedures and duties. Instructors can guide you through the curriculum, help you with hands-on training and be apart of your network when you graduate from Meridian College.
Career Services
One of the best benefits of attending a vocational school is the career services they offer. At Meridian College, we have strong ties with the community and help place graduates at dental offices in the local area. Our career services staff also helps you build a resume, prepare for interviews and network with employers to find the position you are passionate about. We strive to place you in an environment that matches your knowledge and skills, so you succeed from day one.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know which qualities make a good dental assistant, it is time to lay a foundation of qualities and skills to build upon throughout your career. This foundation comes with your completion of the dental assistant program at Meridian College. Get the right tools from an education that prepares you for your first day in a rewarding career as a dental assistant.
The Dental Assistant training program at Meridian College provides extensive hands-on training including a school externship at a dental office where you will assist the dentist in treating actual patients.
Meridian College also has dedicated school instructors, which offer you training in dental assisting that you can use to get an entry-level position at a dentist office or dental clinic. You get to work in real world situations and use your training from classroom lectures to further your skill during lab work in dental assisting.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a dental assistant.