Becoming an ultimate assistant involves more than just technical skills; it requires a blend of professionalism, preparedness, communication, and continuous learning. Here are ten tips to help you excel in your role and make a lasting impact on your patients and practice.
Come to Work Prepared with a Positive Attitude
Start each day with a positive attitude. It sets the tone for your interactions and helps you approach your tasks with enthusiasm. Your appearance also matters; ensure your hair and makeup are neat and professional, avoiding excessive makeup and jewelry. Looking well-kept shows that you care about your personal presentation and, by extension, your work and patients.
Be Prepared for the Day
The Ultimate Assistant is prepared for anything. You should review patient charts (ideally 48 hours prior to patient treatment) and prepare for potential challenges to ensure smooth procedures. Reviewing charts also enables you to know what your patients expectations are regarding treatment. We can only manage expectations when we know what they are. Chart prep will also give us the pertinent information we need to ensure our patient is as comfortable as possible during treatment, so they have a fantastic experience. Knowing your patient and their needs is 85% of the job; the remaining 15% is the technical aspect, the “dental stuff” we do every day. Excellent patient care and preparation enhance their experience, encouraging them to return and refer others.
Ask Questions of Your Doctor
Check lab cases if there is one and ensure they meet quality standards. If not, discuss it with your doctor. Clarify any clinical questions you have about procedures to ensure seamless treatment. Depending on procedure, do you have everything you need to complete treatment (i.e. implants—do you have impression coping or scanning appliance? So you have the analog to send to the lab if needed, etc….). Organize your workspace by pre-setting rooms for the next day, keeping backups, and knowing the location of all supplies to minimize disruptions. Your goal as an Ultimate Assistant is to never leave the room during treatment because you have prepared for anything!
Communicate with Your Patients
Engage with patients whenever you are alone with them. If you are in an operatory with a patient and you are waiting on your doctor, do NOT leave the patient sitting alone in the room. This is a prime opportunity for you to invest in your relationship with the patient. Get to know them better personally or take the time to answer any questions they may have, or discuss other treatment needs with them and educate them. This is crucial in building a relationship based on trust and communication fosters a positive experience and future treatment acceptance. Patients who feel personally connected to your practice are more likely to refer others.
Take Perfect Photographs
For new patients or existing patients with new needs, take clear, well-composed photographs. Understand the camera settings for different types of photos. Know what camera settings are ideal for intra-oral photographs and what settings are ideal for full-face photographs. Perfect photos help patients understand their treatment needs. The majority of people are visual learners. A recent study (2022) showed that individuals learning/understanding increase by 400% when a visual representation is used! That is incredible! A patient that is able to visualize the area of need is going to better understand why treatment is needed. The Ultimate Assistant will always go the extra mile by printing and highlighting areas of concern can enhance patient engagement as well as create urgency for treatment.
Follow Up
Follow up with patients to show you care about their well-being. A post-procedure call or a follow-up on treatment plans demonstrates your commitment to their care. This builds strong relationships and fosters patient loyalty.
Pursue Continuing Education
The Ultimate Assistant will adopt a “Forever Student” mentality and continuously seek to expand their knowledge. You should always be asking questions to fully understand the “why” of everything we do in our role as an assistant. You should also always be thinking of ways you can develop your skillset with new techniques and services that you can play a critical role in adding to the practice (Invisalign, OSA appliances, etc.). Find continuing education courses you would like to attend and develop a plan for how you could integrate it into your practice to bring value to the practice and patients. Present well-thought-out plans for integrating new skills to your doctor, showing your dedication to professional growth as well as practice growth.
Ask for Feedback
Seek feedback from your doctor, coworkers, and patients. Constructive criticism helps you improve and grow. Being open to feedback and willing to make changes is a key trait of an Ultimate Assistant.
Learn New Technology
Dentistry is introducing new technology every day. From digital scanners to CBCT, AI, TScan, BioPak, K-7, JVA, lasers…the technology is endless. Learn to use it! Take tutorials, watch YouTube videos, read about it and PRACTICE with it! Proficiency in utilizing new technology makes you invaluable to the practice and in using it to better educate patients on their treatment needs.
Cross-Train
If you truly want to be the Ultimate Assistant, you want to know how to do most anything within the walls of your dental practice. Learn how the front office takes new patient phone calls so you can help answer phones in time of need. Learn how insurance is billed out so you can assist in keeping collections and accounts current. Learn how to run the credit card of a patient and apply it to their account. Being cross trained to fill any role within the practice (outside of cleaning teeth!) brings a value that is immeasurable. It not only makes you the Ultimate Assistant, it makes you the Ultimate Teammate!
By following these tips, you can set yourself on the path to becoming the Ultimate Assistant. Your dedication to professionalism, preparedness, and continuous learning will make a significant difference in your career and in the lives of your patients.
Sherri Merritt
Dental Consultant & Trainer
