When you mention to someone where you go for dental care, you likely tell them the name of the primary dentist you see, but there’s a good chance you don’t go into detail about their assistants that work around the office. If you’re not a dentist, there’s a good chance you don’t know exactly what is going on behind the scenes at the dental office you call home. Any dentist would probably tell you that they simply couldn’t do it without their dental assistants, and there’s a good reason why they appreciate them so much. With the first week of March being Dental Assistant Recognition week, there has never been a better time to learn about why your dental assistants are rock stars!
Why Should You be Thankful for Your Dental Assistants?
You may not know it, but your dental assistants are doing tons of things to prepare for your visit. Check out these reasons why they are so crucial to the functionality of a dental practice:
Preparation and Clean-Up
Before you arrive for your dental appointment, someone has to make sure the office space has been cleaned and sanitized after the previous patient has been there. This may look like setting out sterilized instruments for the hygienist and dentist to use during your cleaning and checkup, or it may be wiping down patient waiting areas and office surfaces. Prior to COVID-19, this was enough work as it was, but now due to extra sanitation requirements, it has become an even bigger task. The next time you walk into a clean and prepared dentist’s office, you can be thankful for the assistants who worked hard to make it that way for you.
Helping the Doctor During Cleanings and Procedures
If you’ve ever had a cavity filled or any other type of dental procedure done, you may have noticed someone else in scrubs standing next to your dentist. This is extremely helpful to your dentist because they need to be able to focus on treating you, and the assistant is there to hand them their tools, clean the tools, and help with suction. This allows the dentist to keep their eyes on your mouth, stay focused, and provide the highest level of treatment without distraction.
General Office Management
There’s much more that goes into keeping a dental practice afloat other than getting patients in and out with successful treatments. There are insurance claims to submit, payments to take, appointments to follow up with, and any other clerical thing that goes into keeping a business in order. Your dental assistants are often the ones who are responsible for these tasks, and you can be grateful to them for keeping everything at your dental home organized.
Bedside Manner
When you first walk through the doors of your dentist’s office, there is a good chance theirs is not the first face you’ll see. They’ll probably be busy assisting another patient, which is why dental assistants are so important. They will be there to greet you with a warm smile when you walk in, and it is often up to them to set the overall mood. They need to be trained to know how to talk to people who struggle with dental anxiety so that by the time they see the dentist for treatment, they are in a good headspace to receive it.
From first impressions to helping you get your insurance in order before and after your appointment, your dental assistants are the gas that keeps the car moving. The next time you visit your dentist, make sure to tell at least one assistant how much you appreciate all of the hard work that went into your successful appointment!
About the Practice
You won’t find a better dentist or team of dental assistants than the one at Sweeny Family Dental. Dr. Derek Funk is truly passionate about providing his patients with the highest level of care and educating them on the best ways to take good care of their smiles. He is highly experienced and brings years of experience and training to the table, and he makes it his top priority to ensure that you will know you are in the best of hands. Are you ready to schedule your next dental checkup? You can do so online or call (979) 401-2962.