When you go to the dentist, you probably aren’t usually thinking about just how much work your dental assistant puts into your experience. However, they do a lot more than you probably know around the practice just to ensure that your experience is as positive as possible. Since the first week of March is Dental Assistant Recognition Week, this is a great time to learn more about the different job responsibilities of your dental assistant so you know how much you should appreciate them each time you come into the office.
Preparation and Take Down
Before you even get to the treatment room at the dental practice, your dental assistant has already been working hard to make sure that the space is ready for you. There are all sorts of strict cleaning protocols that are in place to make sure that you are in a clean and safe place to receive dental treatment. Your dental assistant cleans anything that was left over from the previous session and sets out all of the sterilized instruments that will be used during your appointment. When you leave the practice, this starts up all over again.
Patient Counselling
Dental anxiety is extremely common. Many patients deal with it when they come to the dental office. Some people even have dental phobia which makes it difficult for them to seek the essential dental care they need. The dental assistant helps to make patients feel more calm and comfortable during the duration of their treatment. Their skills with patients can make the difference between a quick, easy treatment and an anxiety inducing experience.
Assisting the Dentist
In general, a dental assistant is the one who begins your appointment by leading you to the treatment room and discussing all of your needs. Throughout your appointment, they help out your dentist by handling the dental instruments and controlling both the rinsing and suctioning tools. They are also the ones who typically take impressions of teeth and provide post-care instructions for patients after having a treatment or procedure.
Office Management
While the dental assistant is usually the one you are talking to when you are at the practice, their abilities and responsibilities expand much further than just face-to-face interactions. They are also constantly working behind the scenes to keep the practice running smoothly. This includes ordering supplies, scheduling appointments, and other administrative tasks. They are some of the best multitaskers in the entire office!
Next time you go to the dentist, don’t forget to show your dental assistant some love. Nothing would be possible without all of their hard work!
About the Author
At White Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, you have not one, but two skilled dentists providing quality care to patients in the Goode, VA area. Both Dr. Brandon White and Dr. Julia White earned their Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees from the Medical College of Virginia. They work with an excellent team of dental assistants who help them get the job done. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (540) 587-5707.