November 2019--As the Editor in Chief for DrBicuspid.com and co-founder of IgniteDA, Kevin Henry is no stranger to the concerns of dental assistants. As he goes around the nation speaking to groups, many dental assistants ask him advice about career opportunities. Assistants wonder what it may be like to work in a group practice or DSO instead of a solo practice.
When dental assistants who are used to working with a solo practitioner ask if there are more career opportunities in multi-location dental groups or DSOs, I always say yes, absolutely. But it’s a different world.
Many dental assistants limit their opportunities by diminishing their self-worth. Dental assistants are essential, valuable team members. With empowerment, they can add tremendous value to all patient and team relationships. Everyone benefits in the industry when dental assistants are encouraged, empowered, and educated more.
Career advancement requires introspection with these questions in mind:
Career advancement as a leader in the dental practice requires willpower, commitment, and intentional effort to:
One action will lead to another, giving you courage, competence, and confidence. Perhaps, you will expand your duties as a dental assistant. Perhaps, you will be come a dedicated patient coordinator. Perhaps, you will become highly proficient doing in-house lab work. Perhaps, you will lead clinical team meetings. Perhaps, you’ll become a collaborative, restorative partner with one or more dentists. Perhaps, you will have responsibility for the location’s annual Hazard Chemicals and Bloodborne Pathogen training. Perhaps, you’ll become a trainer and mentor to new dental assistants… and so on. Each time you advance your personal development, you advance your true value to the business. And the journey of learning and mastery can be a lifelong one without end.
Of course, you can achieve much of this growth in a solo dental practice, too. At the end of the day, it boils down to two facts:
If dental assistants can remember that's the common denominator wherever they go, they will be well set for success.
Patient Prism Academy is a video library containing hundreds of videos that feature dental industry experts. This library has a section devoted to clinical team members and many dental practice leadership videos that touch upon the significance of the collaborative relationships dental assistants and hygienists have with the dentists they partner with every day.