3 Ways to Help Your Dental Assistants Succeed — and Stay!
Dental assistants are critical to the smooth operation of dental practices, providing essential support to dentists and ensuring patient care runs efficiently.
However, the demand for qualified dental assistants is high, and many practices face challenges in hiring. In fact, more than one-third of dental practices are looking to hire a dental assistant, and 85% said it has been extremely or very challenging to do so, according to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute.
Additionally, dental assistants enter the profession through a variety of pathways and backgrounds. Dental practices may hire dental assistants who have not completed a formal dental assisting program and could benefit from additional education and on-the-job training.
But with a few strategies, you can help your assistants grow with your practice and become strong players on the dental team.
1. Invest in Their Education
Providing education and training resources is crucial not only for preparing dental assistants to support the practice effectively, but also for fostering engagement and loyalty.
Research shows that employees who receive professional development opportunities are more likely to feel valued and committed to their workplace. According to a study by LinkedIn, 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development.
“We have great career opportunities that are not easily available in our region,” said Catie, a dental assistant in Michigan. She says that the clinic where she works pays for dental assistants to earn certification and state registration, including paid study and homework time. And this results in a team of dental assistants who are high-performing contributors who feel valued and appreciated at work.
If you’re ready to provide some educational offerings to your dental assistants, a great place to start is with resources in dental infection prevention and control. Dental assistants are typically responsible for daily infection control tasks, such as sterilizing instruments.
Proper training in infection control is essential, and structured education can greatly support in-office training sessions.
The DALE Foundation, the official affiliate of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), offers a variety of online resources for dental infection control — everything from free one-hour webinars to in-depth certificate programs.
These resources can be completed at any time, providing flexible and accessible training options for dental assistants. By encouraging continuing education, dental office managers can ensure that their assistants are well-equipped to effectively handle infection control procedures.
2. Offer Incentives
Helping your dental assistants succeed also requires showing them a path for career development. Managers can help assistants work toward credentials that will allow them to perform more functions that can help the practice be more productive and efficient.
Learn about the career paths and credentials available to dental assistants in your state by looking up your state’s dental assisting requirements.
DANB’s exams and certifications are recognized or required by most states and, most importantly, provide dental assistants with an increased sense of pride and confidence. By encouraging your assistants to earn credentials, you’ll position them to support your practice and to recognize dental assisting as the meaningful and rewarding career that it is.
Once these career goals are identified for dental assistants, managers should offer pay increases to reflect their assistant’s increased knowledge and expanded role. Pay is one of the most important factors for dental assistants when they are considering a new dental assisting position or deciding whether to stay with their current practice.
“As we are able to do more, the pay and respect should reflect that,” says Jessica, who has been working as a dental assistant for several years.
3. Advance Your Management Skills
For managers who are committed to supporting their dental assistants, consider advancing your own management skills along the way. Earning an AADOM Fellowship is one way to grow as a manager and gain additional knowledge to be even more effective for your team.
Completing the DALE Foundation’s Dental Office Management Bundle is one of the requirements to earn AADOM Fellowship. The bundle includes three courses on topics including human resources, accounts receivable, and financial reporting.
Throughout September, in honor of Dental Office Manager Appreciation Month, you can save 20% on the bundle.
By prioritizing the professional development of your dental assistants and yourself, you can cultivate a motivated and loyal team that will contribute to the overall success and reputation of the dental practice for years to come.
About Our Sponsor
Hanna Aronovich is the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the DALE Foundation.
