When it comes to finding a rewarding career that allows you to help people and make a difference, Dental Assisting is one of those career fields! If you wonder if you have what it takes to engage patients and co-workers alike successfully, we can help you find the encouragement you need to proceed with a good game plan.

At Sanger Education Dental Assisting School, and with Dr. Chad Latino and Traci Thrift at the helm, we have been helping students achieve just that for many years! Dr. Latino runs his successful dental practice accompanied by his skilled team. Together they can teach you all you need to know to break into the dental assisting field for your rewarding career.

Dental Assisting will teach you some important lessons. Learning office procedures, adapting your work style to fit the dentist’s needs, and adjusting to the individual patient’s needs often struggle with young dental assistants. Do you have the right mindset?

Don’t get Frustrated if you Struggle in the Beginning

There is a learning curve in any job, and in dental assisting, where things move at a breakneck pace, it can be frustrating if you start struggling. Dental assisting can be rough in the beginning – there are so many different instruments and procedures and concepts so foreign to someone just starting in the field. Give it a few months, and everything becomes second nature. Most procedures are repetitive, so you eventually begin to get the hang of things.

Don’t Just Know the How, Know the Why

Don’t think merely about completing your task; know the function behind what you are doing and where it fits into the larger context of helping patients maintain good oral health. Understanding how each procedure works helps in remembering how to assist the dentist.

Work on Speed and Quality, and Keep up With the Demand

Dental assisting can be a very fast-paced environment. Sometimes when patients are double-booked, or if an emergency patient walks in, you must do everything to work efficiently and quickly.

Be Approachable

Excellent interpersonal skills are a must in Dental Assisting. As part of a bigger team, you’ll need to be comfortable interacting with co-workers and patients to handle your day-to-day responsibilities. Interacting with dentists, co-workers, and patients smoothly while keeping stress to a minimum will set you above others in your field. Patients often experience pain or mental stress when they come in, so you’ll need to be sensitive to their emotional and physical needs. Being a good listener and understanding non-verbal communication is vital.

Keeping a dental practice running smoothly takes daily concentrated effort, so having a proactive work ethic will help your team members and patients achieve the best results. Being a strong team player is one of your best attributes when solving problems and making decisions. Contact us today or schedule a campus tour to learn more about Dental Assisting School in Waco, Texas!