Training dental assistants in the office is an unavoidable, universally common practice that offers both opportunities and challenges for dental practices, assistants, and patients. While formal dental assistant schools provide foundational knowledge, the real-world experience gained through in-office training is often essential for developing skilled professionals. This post explores the pros and cons of on-the-job dental assistant training, considering factors such as hands-on learning, patient comfort, supervision needs, and the ongoing coaching required to create exceptional assistants. By examining these aspects, I aim to provide a comprehensive look at how in-office training shapes the dental assistant profession and impacts the patient experience.
Read MoreMissed appointments can be a common frustration for medical practices, especially dental offices. While most patients understand the importance of showing up for their scheduled visits, a small number of patients—often referred to as serial offenders—routinely fail to attend, even when they claim to be in pain. This not only disrupts the practice's schedule and finances but can also negatively affect the patient's health. In this post, we’ll explore how missed appointments impact dental practices, examine how the Pareto Principle applies to this issue, and discuss strategies to help reduce no-shows, including my own "same day only" designation for habitual offenders.
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