When you start your dental assistant classes, you will have access to information about the profession you choose to have in the future. You’ll be familiar with the jargon used, learn how to properly chart and thoroughly sanitize instruments. By the time you finish your program, you’ll be able to independently prepare a treatment wrong and even communicate with patients confidently. Yes, you will be equipped to do all the tasks required of you when you finally start working as a dental assistant.
But as they say, there are things to learn beyond the four walls of the classroom. For instance, here are five things that you might not know about being a dental assistant:
1. You Can Keep a Healthy Work/Life Balance
Most dental offices follow a typical 8-5 operational schedule on weekdays, but some do open earlier than usual and close later, too. It’s totally up to you whether you’ll choose to apply only to dental offices that operate on regular work hours or not. But know that if you choose a job that requires long hours, you may get higher pay, but you won’t have as much time to spend with your loved ones.
2. You Can Easily Build Rapport with Patients
Very few medical professions allow you to see patients regularly because most dental insurance companies recommend that individuals visit the dental office at least twice a year for general checkups and cleanings. Because of that, dental assistants get to see old patients and build rapport with them. This is not something that other medical practitioners can do.
3. You Get to Educate Patients
As a dental assistant, you have the opportunity to teach kids and even older patients about the importance of maintaining a good oral health routine. You can teach young ones the proper way to brush and floss. You can also share tips with parents who want to encourage their kids to stay on top of their dental care routines.
4. Your Performance Contribute to the Whole Patient Experience
When a person decides on the dental office that they want to go back to, it’s not just the dentist’s credentials and performance that they liked. Their interaction with you, how you treated and made them feel comfortable during their first visit – all of these are considered by patients. If you have made their last visit to the dentist fun and memorable, they are more likely to revisit your clinic, but if they had a bad experience, then you can bet that they’ll look for another dental office.
5. Your Dental Office Team Will Be Like a New Family to You
It can be nerve-wracking to be a new member of a team that has already been together for a while or an addition to a new group in general. However, you should know that working in a dental office also gives you the opportunity to build lasting relationships with colleagues who will be like a family to you. This is especially the case if you work in a small practice with only a few staff members.
Conclusion
As you can see, a dental assistant’s job matters, and it does come with benefits that not everyone in the medical field gets to enjoy. That’s why you should make it a point to do well in your dental assistant classes so you’ll have the best opportunities waiting for you after you finish your program.
If you haven’t started yet and you are looking for a certified dental assistant program in or near Schaumburg, IL, Northwest Suburban College is the right choice for you. We offer healthcare career training programs, including a great one for those aspiring to be dental assistants in the future. Contact us today to learn more about our programs!
