Dental assistants. What are the most important things the office will expect you to know?

In a few months I will be working as a dental assistant. My classes have gone by so quickly I feel like I haven't really spent as much time as I should had on certain areas, or know everything I should know to be ready for the real job..





What are the most important things the dentist will expect me to know when first starting off? Just little curious I am very nervous! (:

Dental assistants. What are the most important things the office will expect you to know?
I'm a dentist.





I can tell you what I expect from assistants.





Basically, it depends. If you've been through a dental assisting program, I'd expect you to know the following:





1. what materials/instruments are used to place amalgams


2. materials/instruments used to place composites.


3. a general idea of what root canals involve and what instruments are used.


4. a general idea of what instruments are used for extractions


5. how to properly set up and clean a room.


6. the difference between "clean" and "unclean" (this is a big problem with dental assistants....some of them don't know that items that touch the floor shouldn't be put back on the counter!!!).





Basically, the doctor with whom you'll be working will train you, as will the other assistants. But since you've been through a course, they will expect you to have some knowledge of what they're doing.
Reply:basically, prepare for the day, learn how to deal with Patients. Learn to use people skills to make problem patients feel more at easy, and most of all, learn the dentist's "quirks"......anticipate any special tools that he/she may prefer to use and try to be prepared for them before the patient is in the chair. You'll do fine, just give yourself some time.
Reply:What state are you in?





Reading charts (so you know what needs to be done) is important, as is taking xrays (if your state allows it), retraction, suction, instrumentation, mixing alginate, pouring models, infection control protocol, OSHA and HIPAA.... and the list goes on from there.





Dentists will have their own 'way' to do things, so whatever you learned in class, as far as procedures go, may need to be adjusted to suit your employer....





Don't be nervous! Be friendly to the patients and co-workers, leave your 'baggage' out of the office... and keep smiling!





Keep in mind, too, that 'seasoned' dental assistants weren't born with the knowledge they have... they learned it, just like you!





Good luck in your new profession!

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