Training New Dental Assistants in Your Practice
Dental assistants can be a wonderful addition to your dental practice. They can make the day run more smoothly and can make patients feel more at ease. It is important that your assistants are properly trained before they begin work. Some states do not require assistants to be licensed, so the training is left up to the employer. When you add a new member to your team, there are a few basic things that you must teach him or her. These include proper cleaning of surfaces, proper use of dental equipment and proper use of personal protective equipment.
Proper Cleaning of Surfaces
Infection control is of the utmost importance in a dental office. You must prevent germs from being passed from one patient to the next. Therefore, it is critical that you teach your assistant how to properly clean all surfaces that are used during dental treatment. You must train them on what cleaning materials are acceptable to use. You should stress how important cleanliness and infection control are in a dental office. This is an area that cannot be compromised.
Proper Use of Dental Equipment
Your assistant should know how to set up all dental equipment and properly maintain it. The equipment in your office is very expensive, and you need to know that it is taken care of. Show assistants warning signs of when high-speed handpiece repair is needed so that they will not continue to use malfunctioning equipment. Show them how to oil handpieces and how to clean dental burs. They must understand how to operate an autoclave or other sterilization equipment that you use.
Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment
It is very important that all of your employees know how to use personal protective equipment (PPE). Everyone should wear a mask, gloves, eyewear and clinical gown when performing patient treatment. Everyone must know the proper way to don these items and how to take them off without contaminating themselves.
Adding a new employee to your practice can be beneficial in many ways. Be sure that you train him or her so that he or she will feel more comfortable in the new environment. It is important that you review this important information before the assistant ever begins patient care. For those looking to add an employee to the practice, write down a list of critical skills and office policies that every employee needs to know.
