Traits of a Successful Dental Assistant
Thinking about becoming a dental assistant? If you have some of these personality traits, dental assisting may be a good career path for you! Dental assisting is a very rewarding career that fits into many different lifestyles. Think you have what it takes to be a dental assistant? Learn more about what can help you be successful below.
- A People Person—dental assistants are usually the ones to greet patients and show them to their room. They are also the one who the patient interacts with the most. It’s important for dental assistants to have a friendly demeanor and actively listen to customers and their concerns. Most patients gain their impression of the dental office by their interaction with the dental assistant.
- Strong Work Ethic—dental assistants can work long hours. It’s very helpful to have a strong drive to keep you going. Your hours will vary based on the office you work in; you may have shorter or more flexible hours. But no matter your hours, you will likely spend a decent amount of time on your feet. A strong work ethic will help you enjoy it!
- Organization—many dental assistants perform office organizational tasks. You may do some work at reception, or with taking down and organizing patient’s information. Dental assistants often have to keep track of multiple patients at a time. Having some organizational skills will certainly come in handy.
- Multitasking—dental assistants have a multitude of tasks and often have a lot going on. Dental assistants need to be able to keep track of multiple people and multiple tasks at a time. If you aren’t a good multitasker, it can get overwhelming.
- Reliability—this is a big one for most jobs. If dental assistants don’t show up, the office might fall apart. There are multiple people counting on a you-you need to show up.
- Compassion—as dental assistants are assisting in procedures; patients can be nervous or even in some pain. A dental assistant can be a very calming presence. Help patients get through some tough or uncomfortable procedure by showing them some compassion.
- Good Listener—dental assistants spend a lot of time with patients. Whether they are taking down their information, giving them advice, or just lending an ear to hear about their day, being a good listener is very important. Dental assistants spend a lot of time listening to patients every day.
- Strong Communication Skills—dental assistants spend a lot of the day communicating. You’ll be dealing with patients of all ages, other dental staff, and dentists. Dental assistants also educate patients on dental hygiene. Being able to properly communicate with patients and with other dental staff is key.
- Professional Demeanor—dental assistants often determine patient satisfaction. You may not always be dealing with kind and professional patients, being about to keep a professional demeanor will go a long way.