There is a lot to take in while you are at dental assistant school, from the ins and outs of dental hygiene to snippets of successful business administration and pretty much everything in between. At the end of it, you (and pretty much everyone you talk to about your day-to-day experience) will have learned one thing: never say JUST a dental assistant. Keep reading to learn about why it’s time to eliminate this particular four-letter word from your vocabulary.
You Will/Do Play a Vital Role
Dentists usually get all the glory — but assistants, office managers, hygienists, and everyone else involved know it takes the whole team to ensure that the practice functions properly. In some form or fashion, dental assistants will wear pretty much every hat in the dental office at some point in their careers. Being able to move fluidly from the front desk to helping a patient feel relaxed after an oral procedure or dealing with a maintenance issue at the office takes a special talent. In fact, most dental practices simply could not get by without their dental assistant(s). Larger offices will have multiple people in the role of a dental assistant to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible.
The Power of Positivity in the Workplace
Whether you are introducing yourself to someone for the first time, describing your career to someone who you know rather well, or even dealing with a patient who doesn’t realize the integral role you have, prepare yourself to speak up. Rather than downplaying your role as a dental assistant (saying you’re “j*st an assistant”), work to communicate the importance of your position instead. Talk about all the different situations you may encounter throughout your day, or, even more powerful, tell a story about a time that you really made a difference at the office. At the end of it, this positive approach won’t just help others understand what you really do at the office, but it will help you believe it yourself. Because at the end of the day, no matter how you choose to spend your time, you are never JUST anything. You are you — and that is pretty wonderful!
Start Your Path to Dental Assisting
If you are interested in learning more about the dental assisting profession, including how you can get started with dental assisting school or ways to ensure that you have the tools for success, contact Dental Assistant Pro today. You deserve a career you truly love — and one that you will excel at!
