Every day dental assistants across the country make going to the dentist a more pleasant experience. They're well trained in recordkeeping, sterilizing dental instruments, taking x rays, and other many other tasks dentists rely upon them to complete. However to be a successful dental assistant, you need both concrete and soft skills. These 3 soft skills are essential to providing quality patient care:

#1 Interpersonal Skills

A major role of a dental assistant is to interact with patients. They're expected to greet and converse with patients in a friendly manner. There are times when they need to show sensitivity toward patients that might be experiencing pain. In addition, many often have the opportunity to instruct patients on proper oral hygiene.

#2 Listening Skills

Listening closely to patients and co-workers is an important quality of a dental assistant. They need to follow directions from a dentist or dental hygienist, so they can interact with patients and perform tasks effectively. Dental assistants also need to listen carefully to patients as they relay important information regarding treatment, scheduling a visit or making a payment.

#3 Organizational Skills

An organized dental assistant can be a great asset to a dentist. They are often responsible for keeping the operatory tidy and clean for treatments and procedures. They should also have the right tools prepared for a dentist or dental hygienist to use when treating patients.

PCI's Dental Assisting Program

Porter and Chester Institute's Dental Assisting program provides graduates with the concrete and soft skills needed to become a dental assistant. Our hands-on career training can prepare you to get started in a new career in as few as 9 months! Call (800) 870-6789 today or click here to schedule a visit!