Visiting the dentist regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. Dental care is important because it: Helps prevent tooth decay. Protects against periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to tooth and bone loss.
Dress Professionally for the InterviewIf it's a working interview, you may be expected to wear scrubs. But if it's a meeting, wear business casual attire. Clothes should be clean, unwrinkled and be free of any holes or stains. When in doubt, opt for more conservative clothing.
Dental assistants care about helping others, and they love seeing patients' smiles transform. Along the way, assistants ease patients' anxieties and build trust. “Being a dental assistant is so much more than assisting! I love the variety of each day, patient, and every case!
“In my career, I am sure of one thing and that is I want to build a decent career in my current domain. My present job has shown me the path to move and attain what has been my long-term career objective. I have acquired necessary skills to some extent as well as have got accustomed to the corporate way of working.
I am a people person and love connecting with, and helping people on a personal level. Dentistry just made sense. What I love best about my job is the way a positive experience in the dental office can change someones life. From dental anxiety to confidence in their smile.
What I Love About Being a Dental Assistant
- Transforming Lives. Many dental assistants enter the profession because they derive great joy in helping patients.
- Being a Nurturing Presence. Compassion and empathy run deep in dental assistants.
- Developing Lifelong Relationships.
- Educating Patients.
- Performing An Array of Duties.
- Learning Every Day.
- Feeling Appreciated.
An energetic, enthusiastic greeting gets the appointment off to a great start. For new patients, step out from behind the counter and shake their hand. Show them around the reception area, pointing out any amenities, including WiFi, beverages and reading materials.
Compassion and honesty: A good dentist is also honest and compassionate. Dental problems can affect many areas of a person's life, and dentists need to be sensitive to the problems caused by poor dental health. Having a compassionate attitude will help patients feel at ease and more comfortable seeking help.
3 Highest Paying Dental Specialties to Pursue
- ORTHODONTIST. With the radical transformation in the way orthodontics are applied to patients these days, this is another specialty that keeps you at the center of innovation.
- ENDODONTIST. As an endodontist, you'll be at the forefront of preventative dental care.
- ORAL SURGEON.
Dental Front Desk Salaries
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|
| The Richards Group Dental Front Desk Receptionist salaries - 1 salaries reported | $18/hr |
| Tampa Family Health Centers Dental Front Desk Receptionist salaries - 1 salaries reported | $11/hr |
| St. Hope Foundation Dental Front Desk Receptionist salaries - 1 salaries reported | $44,476/yr |
A full time dental practice should have a minimum of 1600 active patients. The high end of the scale as to how many active patients a single dentist can handle is 2,300 patients.
Dental businesses generated a total income of $6.7 billion in the 2009–10 financial year. Medical specialists saw 78 patients a week, earning $271 200 of fee-for-service income. For GPs, the average fee-for-service income per practitioner was $181 600 for 124 patient contacts a week.
dental receptionist dress codeAlong with appropriate personal deportment or behavior, a dental receptionist is required to have a professional appearance. Some dental clinics provide their staff with a business and/or clinical attire. Only employees who are working directly with patients should wear surgical scrubs.
A dental receptionist is responsible for greeting and assisting patients the moment they enter a dental office. Receptionists make appointments for patients and maintain their accounts. They help coordinate the dentist's schedule and bill patients and their insurance companies.
Skills of a Great Dental ReceptionistGiven the varied duties of the job, a great dental receptionist is calm under pressure, can juggle competing priorities and enjoys communicating with patients. That translates to skills like time management, communication, data management, customer service and adaptability.
Dental assistants
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | Average |
|---|
| Starting | $20.00 | $24.68 |
| Overall | $24.00 | $29.29 |
| Top | $27.00 | $32.91 |
Dentist. Dentists are health professionals who diagnose and treat problems with their patients' teeth and mouth tissue. They may be general practitioners or specialize in an area of dentistry like orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics or pediatric dentistry, and many own their own practices.
Dental Assistant Responsibilities:Preparing patients for dental work. Helping with infection control by sterilizing and disinfecting instruments, setting up instrument trays, preparing materials, and assisting with dental procedures. Assisting dentists in managing medical and dental emergencies when necessary.
Review common questions you're likely to receive during the interview, and practice how you will respond.
- Interview Tips for Dental Assistant Jobs.
- Prepare for Questions About Previous Roles.
- Don't Speak Poorly About Other Dental Practices.
- Keep Your Tone Positive.
- Research the Dental Practice.
- Dress the Part.
Some examples of strengths you might mention include:
- Enthusiasm.
- Trustworthiness.
- Creativity.
- Discipline.
- Patience.
- Respectfulness.
- Determination.
- Dedication.
Introduce YourselfLet the reader get an idea for your personality and see you as a person, rather than just a name on a piece of paper. If you are currently working in another career, mention why you are switching to a dental assistant.
You can do the work and deliver exceptional results. You will fit in beautifully and be a great addition to the team. You possess a combination of skills and experience that make you stand out. Hiring you will make him look smart and make his life easier.
Where You See Your Career In Five Years? Answer : I see myself as a confident lead assistant. One that is often requested by patients due to my efficiency and ability to calm and educate patients.
Questions and Answers to Your Dental Assistant Interview
- Question 1: Tell me about yourself.
- Question 2: What do you enjoy the most about being a dental assistant?
- Question 3: Have you ever had to deal with an angry customer?
- Question 4: What computer applications are you familiar with?
- Question 5: Do you like working with patients or clerical duties?
The top dental assistant qualities:
- Good listener. Dental assistants are on the front lines with patients every day.
- Compassion. Patients are often nervous or scared.
- Being a people person. If you love meeting new people, dental assisting is for you!
- Perseverance.
- Strong Work Ethic.
- Dedication.
- Reliability.
- Organization.
A Simple Formula for Answering “Tell Me About Yourself”
- Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and perhaps a big recent accomplishment.
- Past: Tell the interviewer how you got there and/or mention previous experience that's relevant to the job and company you're applying for.
A dental assistant with no experience can find employment with a high school diploma if they find a dentist or clinic that is willing to provide on-the-job training. The qualifications that you need to perform specific dental tasks vary by state.
DANB's most recent salary survey confirms that DANB CDAs earn about $2 more per hour than non-certified dental assistants. DANB-certified assistants earn an average of $18.60 per hour compared to $16.59 for non-DANB certified assistants. There is also something to be said for job longevity.
Those considering dental assistant training should be aware of the classes required, the program's difficulty level and potential academic roadblocks. Though dental assistant training is fairly rigorous, most students do not find it very difficult.
There are no formal dental assistant education requirements. Some assistants have a high school diploma and only receive on-the-job training; however, postsecondary dental assisting programs offer more comprehensive career training.
Dental Assistant Program Length & Cost in California
| Type of Program | Length | Cost |
|---|
| Certificate / Diploma | 6 – 15 Months | $2,990 - $34,970 |
| Associate Degree | 2 Years | $8,750 - $53,540 |
In an entry-level dental job, most dental graduates usually start out as dental assistants. They provide different types of patient care, office duties, and laboratory duties. The new graduates are required to have good manual dexterity, work well with others, and must be consistent.
Jobs directly related to your
degree include:
Dental hygienist.
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
- Health improvement practitioner.
- Health service manager.
- Higher education lecturer.
- Medical sales representative.
- Primary school teacher.
- Science writer.
- Secondary school teacher.
- Teaching laboratory technician.
In the United States nine specialties are recognized by the American Dental Association: orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics; pediatric dentistry; periodontics; prosthodontics; oral and maxillofacial surgery; oral and maxillofacial pathology; endodontics; public health dentistry; and oral and maxillofacial
