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    1. Front Office

    Know where you stand in the dental office and in the eyes of the dentist

    Nov. 16, 2012
    Dental Assisting Digest Editor Kevin Henry hears from dental assistants around the country about how important salary and respect are to them. In this issue of DAD, he explains why he thinks you need to have a performance evaluation every year so you can KNOW where you stand, which can make all the difference in job satisfaction.
    Kevin Henry, Cofounder, IgniteDA.net

    Hello from the Greater New York Dental Meeting! For the last 14 years, I have spent part of my Thanksgiving weekend in the Big Apple taking part in one of the greatest dental shows in the world. This is always a highlight of my year as New York during the holidays is truly a magical place. I’m a sucker for Christmas lights, and the sights around Rockefeller Plaza simply can’t be beat.

    This year, the Greater New York meeting was even more special as I was able to lead one of the ADAA roundtable discussions on Sunday morning. I always love sitting down with dental assistants and seeing what joys and frustrations they’re currently experiencing in their careers. It helps me know what editorial I should be planning, and how I can help alleviate some of the worries I hear about from you and your colleagues.

    One of the things I hear at numerous roundtables is the discussion about salary and respect in the dental office when it comes to the dental assistant. I hope you’ll read my article in this issue on why you need a performance evaluation and take what I say to heart. I think it’s very important you KNOW where you stand in the office and in the eyes of the dentist, not just where you THINK you stand. Having this information, and having the ability to fix whatever might need fixing, can be the difference between you enjoying your day or not.

    I wrote a blog shortly before Thanksgiving about how being thankful shouldn’t just be reserved for one day out of the year. There is so much that each of us have to be thankful for, and I know you and I take so much for granted, whether it’s our health, the well-being of our loved ones, or our daily jobs. We are blessed beyond measure, and I hope you’ll take a moment today, with Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, to once again count your blessings.

    One thing I’m thankful for is you ... our readers. I tell anyone who will listen that dental assistants are an amazing group of people and the backbone of the dental practice. Today and every day, I thank you for being exactly who you are ... a hard-working group of individuals who truly cares about your patients.

    Pause a moment, count your blessings, and read on ... this is your e-newsletter.

    About the Author

    Kevin Henry | Cofounder, IgniteDA.net

    With more than 20 years in the dental publishing industry, Kevin Henry is the former group editorial director for Dental Products Report and managing editor for Dental Economics. Currently, he is the editor-in-chief for DrBicuspid.com. He has spoken to dental assistants throughout the world, in person and through the Dental Assistant Nation podcast series, reminding them of the important role they play every day in their practice. He is also certified as a DiSC trainer, helping dental practices learn how to understand each other better through personality assessments and training.