5 Things Employers Are Looking for in New Dental Assistants

If you’re looking for a start in the dental industry, becoming a dental assistant is a wise career choice. You’ll be tackling tasks necessary to running a dental office, like helping patients feel at ease and supporting the dentist during procedures. Also, the dental assistant field is growing, so it’s a safe bet for job security. Dental offices are looking for specific things when they hire new assistants, so here are five things to be sure you have.

Compassion

The first thing that every dentist looks for when finding a new dental assistant is whether or not they’re compassionate. Many patients have a fear of the dentist and need to be given comfort. A dental assistant should be able to help assure the patient that there is nothing to worry about. You should also be understanding of this fear and discomfort in order to be effective.

Great Listening

A good dental assistant is one that always listens. Patients often have concerns about their condition or an upcoming operation and need someone to talk to. Because dental assistants are often the first person the patients meet with, you need to be able to listen and respond to them easily. It’s important for dental patients to know that they’re being heard and cared for. Knowing that the staff cares about their needs and doesn’t think of them as another number benefits both them and your dental business.

Reliability

It’s important for your new dental assistant to be, trustworthy and reliable. If you aren’t reliable, you could leave your dental office could potentially be in shambles. A reliable dental assistant is someone who has completed medical assistant programs, always gets the job done efficiently, and takes pride in their job.

Good Work Ethic

No matter what the job is, it’s important that a dental assistant shows and maintains a good work ethic. The best dental assistants are constantly motivated to work, maintain their focus at all times and make sure that every task is completed on time.

Multitasking

Last, but not least, every dental assistant must be good at multitasking. With so many patients and multiple tasks for each of them that must be done quickly, some people can get overwhelmed. Because of this, it is all the more important to ensure that all potential assistants can multitask.

Working in a dental office can be difficult, but if you can be a dependable assistant, you can go far in the field. If you have these five traits and are willing to cultivate them, this could be the perfect industry for you.