7 Qualities of a Successful Dental Assistant

Dental assistants are an essential part of an effective dental team, often interacting the most with patients. Those interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant can benefit from learning what qualities these individuals often possess. This can help them find ways to refine these skills while completing a dental assistant program. This article looks at what dental assistants do and explores seven important qualities of a dental assistant.
 

What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

Dental assistants provide care to dental patients. They provide this care in many ways, and some of their duties are more obvious than others. However, all these tasks come together to support patients and their oral health needs. Some of these essential tasks include:

• Taking patient dental X-rays.
• Updating and filing patient records.
• Scheduling patient dental appointments.

These tasks are often associated with this role, but dental assistants perform more than just these three things. Other duties include sterilizing dental equipment, preparing instrument trays, providing postoperative care, instructing patients in proper dental hygiene, applying fluoride treatments to teeth, cleaning teeth, and ordering dental equipment and supplies. Some of these activities may involve direct patient care, with other tasks happening behind the scenes to support the dental clinic's efficient operations.
 

7 Qualities of a Dental Assistant

Dental assistants have many skills and qualities that help them excel in their roles and provide top-tier services to patients. Here are seven essential skills or qualities to refine while pursuing a career as a dental assistant.
 

Compassion and Empathy in Patient Care

Coming from a place of understanding and sympathizing with what a patient is going through can make a world of difference during a dental appointment. Not only does it improve the patient's experience, but it can also enhance the effectiveness of the appointment. Caring about the patient's mental, physical, and emotional well-being helps patients feel more comfortable and relaxed during the dental visit. This can make it easier to perform other duties, such as cleaning and polishing teeth or taking dental X-rays.
 

Attention to Detail and Precision in Dental Procedures

Dental assistants may be tasked with cleaning and polishing patient's teeth, which requires a certain level of attention to detail and precision. This ensures that not only do patients leave with clean teeth, but they also leave without their gums bleeding or sore from the cleaning. This skill set is also useful in other tasks, such as taking patient X-rays to ensure they capture the right image.

Effective Communication Skills With Patients and the Dental Team

Communication is essential in many career fields, and dental assistant roles are no different. This position has the added challenge of often communicating through a mask during dental procedures, which can affect how well patients can understand what the assistant is saying. Refining communication skills to be understood in a variety of situations reduces the chances of miscommunication and enhances the patient's experience.

Read more about how to become a dental assistant.
 

Adaptability and Problem-Solving Abilities in a Dental Office Setting

No day or patient is going to be the same as the last, making adaptability and problem-solving essential as dental assistants navigate their daily duties. For example, assistants may figure out a way to calm a nervous patient or discover another way to perform a task if some necessary supplies aren't available.

Read more about common Dental Assistant duties and work locations.
 

Organizational Skills and Time Management

Because dental clinics have many moving parts and operate around patient appointments, organization and effective time management are critical to maintaining productivity during the day. Organizational skills translate to more than having a tidy workspace when assisting patients. These skills can help keep dental supplies stocked and patient files orderly, among other things.

Time management can help arrange patient appointments more effectively, preventing other patients from waiting too long. It can also help assistants find the right time balance between helping patients, completing administrative tasks, and doing other assigned tasks. For example, if an assistant needs to complete three hours of administrative tasks by the end of the week, splitting that into more manageable time chunks and spreading them out during the week can help them meet that deadline more easily, leaving ample time for other patient-related tasks or additional duties.
 

Professionalism and Ethical Conduct

Every dental clinic expects a certain level of professionalism from its team members, including dental assistants. Ethical conduct is also an expectation for every person entering the field, as dental assistants directly contribute to the well-being of dental patients. This professionalism can also transform a patient's experience, as they're treated with respect during their dental appointment.
 

Teamwork and Collaboration in a Dental Practice

While certain tasks are done individually by a dental assistant, such as taking patient X-rays or cleaning a patient's teeth, there are still many ways that teamwork and collaboration can benefit them. Patient appointments consist of many parts, and some of these aspects require different individuals to come in during the appointment.

For example, while a dental assistant is cleaning and polishing a patient's teeth, the dental hygienist might come in to inspect the patient's teeth and discuss any dental concerns. This requires collaboration on the assistant's part, as hygienists might ask about the different conditions they may have encountered during the cleaning.

While each dental assistant might have a whole host of qualities at their disposal, there are a few essential skills and attributes to hone when pursuing a career as a dental assistant. Some skills, such as time management and attention to detail, can be acquired during coursework, while others, such as empathy and compassion, might take more time to learn.