5 Habits Of Highly Effective Dental Assistants

Being a dental assistant is a great career, especially if you manage to find a really nice dentist’s office as your employer. But you do need to make sure you have the necessary skills and temperament to take on the job.

If you are confused about what type of career you want to go into, here is a site where the jobs of a dental assistant vs dental hygienist are analyzed and compared. It should help you figure out what profession would suit you, if you are torn between the two options. And now we can take a look at the five habits of a highly effective dental assistant.

1. Proactive

A dental assistant does not always need to be told what to do. They understand how the office operates, and they are often one step ahead in terms of the work they are doing. When a dentist notices their assistant being proactive and solving issues before they are even spotted by others, they know this assistant is a valuable one.

2. Communication

Being communicative with your boss and fellow colleagues is very important, because there are multiple people who must work together to make an office run in a smooth way. You are not a superhero, which means you need everyone’s help to get the job done.

3. Understand First, Then Explain

Getting into arguments at work is normal, and even the best assistants are going to get into conflicts from time to time. However, the key to avoiding constant conflict is to try and understand someone else before you try to make yourself understood. Listen to them, hear what they are saying, and then explain your point of view. It will help avoid misunderstandings and it creates respect between the conflicting parties.

4. Start with an End in Mind

Sometimes we can only put one foot in front of the other and do our best. But when you are working as a dental assistant, you have to start thinking about how your career is going to end. In other words, you should know where you want to be in five, ten or fifteen years. Do you want to do this for the next 20 years? Or is a dental assistant career one step towards a path to some other profession?

5. Putting Yourself First

Being a dental assistant means that your feelings and desires are not the number one priority at your work setting. You are serving at the pleasure of the dentist, and you want to make sure their office is running in a smooth and efficient way. However, a dental assistant who wants to succeed in the career for the long-term has to learn how to say no. If you are asked to work crazy hours, or they constantly make you do tasks that are not in your job description, you have to learn how to stand up for yourself. It may hurt in the moment, but it is the way you can ensure you do not get burned out after a few years in the job.