2018 Buyers Guide

GET REAL INSIGHT INTO HOW OTHERS FEEL ABOUT THEIR CAREER!

The spotlight feature is a great way to see how your responsibilities compare to that of Dental Assistants in other offices. It is also a great way to see how your peers feel within their role and why they love Dental Assisting. To better judge work performance, flip to the next page to take our DA self-evaluation as well! This issue features Jennifer H from Southeastern Wisconsin. Jennifer has been working as a Dental Assistant for the past three years and is currently employed at two different offices! Q: Why did you become a DA? A: I enjoy working with people and I knew I wanted to do something within the health care field. I coupled that thought with the love I have for teeth and discovered the field of Dental Assisting. I get satisfaction out of making people happy and putting a healthy smile on their face. Q: For someone entering the field or already in it, what qualities do you think make a good DA? A: One of the most important qualities I believe is to have compassion towards people. People from all over will come into your office and while some have had a great day, others may have had a bad day, and you need to be able to adapt and have compassion for everyone that walks through the doors. Another big one would be critical thinking in cases of having to help think outside of the box and provide new ideas to your dentists. The ability to anticipate the doctor’s needs and figure out how to fulfill them is important as well. This will show them that you can think on your feet and that you are an important aspect to the team. A few other top qualities I think will help someone succeed is the ability to multitask and the ability to be organized and help your doctor stay organized. Q: Best aspect of your career? A: I would have to say the patients. Being able to change someones smile or improve their overall oral health makes me the happiest. I have even had some patients cry in the chair because they are so happy with their treatment and how it turned out. Seeing how I can directly impact someone’s life in such a meaningful way makes me love the career I am in. Q: Alright, well there must be something you don’t particularly like or would like to see changed? A: Within the career itself, I would say there really isn’t much I dislike. Office-wise, there are a few petty interactions between co- workers but that is to be expected at any job. But overall, I love the extra responsibilities I am given by my doctor and am happy I work with someone who allows me to go beyond what some doctors may allow their DAs. Q: Sometimes we hear that DAs feel undervalued and not respected by either their doctors or hygienists, do you feel that way? A: No, just the opposite actually. I feel very valued and respected at both of the offices I work at. Both doctors will tell patients how much they appreciate me as their DA and as a person. I do not

think that any one at either of my offices looks down on me or my skills. I believe that everyone I work with sees the hard work and dedication I put into my career and I am rewarded with their respect. I can see how if you do the bare minimum and do not provide value to the office that either the doctor and / or the hygienists may lack respect for you. Q: How involved within the office are you?What responsibilities do you have? A: I am responsible for buying products and then restocking the office, scheduling appointments, working with the insurance companies, organizing and cleaning the office and patient care. I work alongside the doctor and help design ceric crowns and temporary crowns. I also chart for the hygienist and help them with instruments. As mentioned before, my doctors give me a lot of responsibilities that some DAs may not get. Q: Salary wise, do you believe you are paid a below average, fair/average or above average salary compared to the work you are asked to perform? A: For myself, I believe I am paid a fair wage based on everything I am responsible for and how much value I believe I bring to my doctors’ practice. On the ends of the spectrum I have heard other DAs saying that they make about $13 an hour to others who are making $23 an hour, those being the lowest and highest I have heard. If you believe you are making less than you think you deserve, make sure you talk to your boss and lay out specific examples of why you should be earning more based on your performance. If you are earning towards the lower end of the salary range, ask yourself what else you can do in order to make more, i.e. ask for more responsibility or become more efficient. I think there are always ways to improve your salary within this career field. Q: What skills have you acquired or strengthened since becoming a DA three years ago? A: I think I have picked up a better sense of understanding. As mentioned before, people of all different backgrounds come into the office and you have to learn to be patient and understanding to everyone as to not offend someone. I also have a better appreciation for the need of continuing education. The health care field is constantly innovating and in order to keep up I am constantly ready magazines, new paper and online articles, something I never imagined I would be doing in a career choice after I graduated from school. Q: Any advice for people just starting their career or questioning if they made the right choice? A: Do not pick this career if you are not all in. By that I mean do not just do it for a paycheck, you will probably be disappointed. Make sure you are doing this because you love helping people and making others better. Dental Assistants have the opportunity to touch so many people’s lives in a positive way as long as they enjoy what they are doing. People who have chosen this career for money or for an “easy” career are going to be in for a shock.

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