Have you dreamed of a career where you can help others improve both their health and even their confidence? If so, a dental assisting career may be perfect for you! Dental Assistants work daily alongside dentists, hygienists, and other members of the dental healthcare team. Have you wondered if you have the right characteristics to be successful? We came up with a list of some of the important traits for a Dental Assistant to have. Check them out to see if you have what it takes!
1. Patience
Some people are not only uncomfortable with going to the dentist, some are downright terrified. It’s important to keep this in mind as you work with both children and adults that come into your practice. By being patient with their anxiety and questions, you may be changing their future experiences and expectations of the dentist for the better. Often, the Dental Assistant is the first person a patient comes into contact with in the office. If you are patient and understanding, you have the ability to set the tone for the rest of their visit!
2. Professionalism
As with many other career paths, especially those in healthcare, professionalism is extremely important. Not only is it important, but it is also necessary as you will be dealing with a variety of people and sensitive information. Also recognize that everything you do reflects upon you, but also upon the dental practice you work for and dental assisting as a whole. Because your entire practice is counting on you, it’s important that you arrive on time, neatly dressed, and ready to work with a smile!
3. Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills
As mentioned previously, you as a dental assistant may be the first person that a patient sees in the office. The rest of your team is counting on you to communicate important information clearly while also relating with the patient and being understanding of any anxiety or pain they may be experiencing. Just doing the clinical aspects of your job well won’t necessarily inspire confidence in your office, you also have to help the rest of the team create a positive and understanding environment.
In addition to working directly with patients, you must also be able to communicate clearly with dentists and hygienists about patient needs and questions. Both hygienists and dentists may be relaying detailed instructions to you that you will need to turn around and communicate clearly and correctly to your patient.
4. Attention to Detail
Throughout your dental assistant training program, you will be given opportunities to learn about and practice various duties that will likely be commonplace in your dental assisting career. You should also receive a lot of information that will prove helpful. Using that information, you will be equipped to ensure patient safety by paying careful attention to various details in their medical history as well as in the dentist and hygienist instructions.
5. Organization
In addition to paying close attention to details, you will also need to keep that information, data, and history safe and organized. As a dental assistant, you may have a variety of duties outside of patient interaction including infection control, conforming to HIPAA and OSHA regulations, and radiation safety. You may also need to answer phones, help assess and maintain inventory, and a variety of other tasks depending on the size and type of practice in which you work. Keeping your workspace neat, clean, and organized as well as keeping patient charts, histories, and instructions carefully arranged will help you to avoid situations that could put your patient and yourself in danger.
6. A Strong Stomach
This may seem like a strange trait, but in a dental assisting career, you will daily be up close and personal with your patients and their mouths. If blood or drool are too much for you to handle, a career as a dental assistant may not be ideal for you.* However, some people are also able to develop a stronger stomach, and you’ll never know how it affects you until you try!
*At Ross, we also offer training for healthcare careers that lack much of the demand for clinical patient care in our Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration program and our Pharmacy Technician program!
7. Passion
At the end of the day, after all the paperwork and spit, dental assisting may be the perfect career for you if you are passionate about helping your patients to live healthier, happier, and more confident lives. There is something deeply rewarding about taking care of daily pain for a patient or even helping someone regain the confidence to smile again. As a dental assistant on a team that is all focused on and excited about helping patients live improved lives, passion is necessary to help motivate yourself and your team!
Dental Assistant Training at Ross
This list of characteristics doesn’t cover every important trait for a Dental Assistant, but it may be a good starting point as you consider your dental assisting career. If you feel that you lack in a personality trait we mentioned, don’t worry! You can improve your skills and your abilities in every area we listed! If you are interested in pursuing training for a career as a Dental Assistant, check out the Dental Assistant program at Ross Medical Education Center! We would love to help you develop your skills and equip you to achieve your goals!