Dental Assistants - Overworked, Unappreciated and Underpaid - No More, Not Today!!!

Does this ring a bell to anyone?  OF COURSE IT DOES!!!  A recent article in Dentistry iQ by Mark Hartley addresses the inferiority many assistants feel on a daily basis; however, according to a recent survey done by the Dental Assisting Digest, 73% of dental assistants would still recommend their profession as a career.  Why is this?  Statistically this does not add up, but it is because we love what we do that we continue to endure and accept things as they are.  So I ask this - Who is ready for a change?  How can we turn assistants inferiority into superiority?  It's time to ruffle some feathers.  Assistants let's get ready to RUMmmmmmble!  It is our time to be recognized for the greatness we can and do bring to our practices.

With the increase of dental practices adopting digital dentistry as the platform of the modern dental practice assistants have many new opportunities to "turn suction into production".  No longer is the suction our main tool.  We now have 2D and 3D digital x-rays, digital files with practice management software, digital impression systems, cad/cam in-office milling systems, Invisalign, bleaching, treatment planning, selling dentistry, social media in advertising, digital business development solutions...etc, none of which was taught to me in school 15 years ago and ALL of which bring revenue into the dental practice - a suction does not!

Think about this for a moment.  Dental assistants have been salary capped for years because we were overhead.  Dental assistants could not generate revenue in the dental practice with a suction tip like the hygienist or doctors could with their instruments, therefor the office could not afford a large increase simply because we didn't have the opportunity to bring in the production needed to cover our increase - NOT because we didn't merit the increase, but times have changed!  So I ask you - have you changed with these times?  What are you doing in the digital age to generate revenue in your dental practice?  Doctors - what opportunities do you offer to educate your assistants to become revenue generators in your practice?  The dentist/assistant team is changing.  The dentist is the golfer and his or her assistant is the caddy.  Each person benefits from the other and can only be as good as the other.  What are you doing as a dentist/assistant team to adopt the digital age and start delegating to your digital NINJA (assistant) to "turn suction into production" and turn the inferiority of the dental assistant profession into superiority in your practice?  Increased production = increased revenue = opportunity for increased merit!

Read the article below - Read the comments of the surveyed states - It is time to make a change!

http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2013/09/dental-assistants-believe-certification-issues-affect-salaries.html

Join the NINJA movement - No I'm Not Just any Assistant - and help bring superiority to our awesome profession.  Assisting is NOT just a stepping stone in the dental industry - it is a career!  Like Ninja Dentistry on Facebook, follow on Twitter @NinjaDentistry and visit ninjadentistry.com

Gotta love gogo wi-fi!!!  Totally allows the inner NINJA in me to thrive!  Not to mention my partner in crime, Dr. Alex Touchstone to create an exciting presentation for our Canadian friends that I can see him creating two rows in front of me. :) You know that in digital dentistry delegation to the assistant is the ultimate way to practice for efficiency and profitabliltiy.  I have a couple sayings to clearly define the team that operates NINJA style - like a golfer and the caddy or a pilot and the co-pilot.  These teams can not operate without one another...just like a dentist and their assistant.  That's when it dawned on me...Alex is really a pilot!  So that officially makes me an unofficial NINJA "co-pilot" this weekend!!!  Whoop whoop!  Cheers to that...I am heading to Canada so had a bloody on the plane to start prepping myself so I can keep up with these folks the next two days :)

Looking forward to a great LIVE patient course on stage tomorrow at 2pm at the PDC.  Thank you Henry Schein Canada, Ivoclar Vivadent and Isolite for sponsoring this event.  Alex and I look forward to seeing and meeting future digital clinicians tomorrow and helping them take the inevitable step into digital dentistry!  Once they see the ease of use and how much fun we have, not to mention the efficiency, esthetics and control factor with no compromise to fit, form or function...C'mon maaaaaan!  It's a no brainer!

Get ready CAD CAM NINJA Kim O' Blenis - your fellow NINJAs, Mama Liz and I will be landing shortly!  Watch out Vancouver - NINJA Dentistry is ready to rock the PDC!

How to Recognize a NINJA

Whoop Whoop It's Dental Assistants week!  Don't forget to recognize the awesome backbones of the practice - us!!! Look at the tagline- "Embracing the Changes of the Profession." That's exactly what NINJAs do! We embrace it, master it and rock the production out of it :)

I had a doctor recently ask me how he can find a NINJA assistant.  In fact, on a weekly basis I am asked this very question.  So in leu of "Recognition Week" dentists - here is how to recognize a potential NINJA - it is not what the assistant knows, rather who the assistant is.

A NINJA is:
Hardworking, Organized, Dedicated, Confident, Punctual, Studious, Caring, Energetic, Creative, A Thinker, An Achiever, A Leader, A Team Player, Competitive with themselves, Intrinsically motivated, Takes pride in themselves and in their work, A difference maker, Looking for opportunity and advancement and finally a NINJA is a mind reader - meaning we know what our doctors next step is before they know it!  All of these characteristics make up a NINJA.

14 years ago I knew little about dentistry.  I did not get the first job I interviewed for because I had never made a temporary crown - bummer for that office, right?!?!   It was the doctor that saw within me what I believed in myself.  He told me at the interview, 'I'm only as good as my assistant Angela."  He set the bar then and there.  I knew his expectations.  I was eager to learn and eager for an opportunity and I wanted to make him proud.  I was going to be the best assistant he had ever had - a NINJA - and make him the best dentist he ever was!

This, doctors, is what you look for within an assistant.  Someone that doesn't back down to a challenge, but embraces the opportunities presented and executes them.  Because it is the doctor that ultimately molds the assistant into a NINJA.  It is the doctor that provides education and opportunity.  So pick the right personality and develop their inner NINJA - you won't regret it - NINJAs strive to be the BEST!

During Assistants Recognition Week I must recognize the dental professionals that molded me into who I am today.  Thank you to:  Dr. Walter Hunt, Luanne Rynders, Dr. Brent Fredrickson, Dr. Pat Kingston, Dr. Trisha Lyke Rieck, Dr. Greg Smith, Dr. Terry Yacovitch, Dr. Alex Touchstone, Dr. Ed Suh, Lee Culp CDT, Jimmy Fincher CDT, Diane Mazzarella and finally to the dentist that inspires me and pushes me beyond my imagination and who I could not imagine my life without, Dr. Gary Severance.  You have all changed my life and I couldn't be more appreciative.

So although it is Assistants week NINJAs, thank your doctors for believing in you, challenging you and giving you the opportunities you deserve to be the best you can be!  We are Freakin' NINJAs!!!

Imagine...

I'm at 30,000 ft with my laptop out, responding to emails, tracking social media and blogging - most would call that quite the multi-tasker -  I call it NINJA mode.  It's not just a job title, it's a lifestyle!  :)

Reflecting over my dental assistant career I am in awe over the many people that have helped pave this path that I am on.  Many of them I'm sure don't even know the impact they have had on me.  Are you one of these people?  Do you inspire, empower and lead people to be the best they can be?  Do you look at a situation and think how can I make this better and guide individuals to make lemonade out of lemons?  Are you a difference maker?

Clearly I'm feeling humbled and appreciative that my dreams are becoming a reality - Imagine...

17 years ago I started my first dental job as a patient coordinator at a pedo practice in MN while attending night school to complete my dental assistant certification and registration.  Today I am flying into Chicago to present in front of hundreds of dental professionals tomorrow morning!  The path has definitely had it's challenges, but without these challenges I would not be where I am today.  Embrace the challenge - who knows, you might just surprise yourself.  You'll never know until you try - Imagine...

Time to land!  See ya in Chicago - come say Hi tomorrow after the LIVE patient course 9:30am-12:30am.

Ninja Dentistry is headed to Chicago Midwinter

Spread the word - can't wait to meet future NINJAs!  

Ninja Dentistry is headed to Chicago Midwinter!  Are you ready to advance your dental assistant career and turn suction into production?

Come check out Ninja action at the LIVE Patient stage on Friday, Feb. 21st @ 9:30am.  I am honored to join visionary clinician, Dr. Alex Touchstone and renowned technician, Lee Culp utilizing digital technology to the extreme.