Dental Assisting

Critical conversations: How to ditch team battles and win

Aug. 28, 2024

Communication between the dentist and dental assistant is essential to be able to provide the best care for patients. Join us in Gloves Off as we talk about how to choose the right times to have a good conversation.

David R. Rice, DDS, Chief editor

Kevin Henry, Cofounder, IgniteDA.net

It turns out that the dentist-dental assistant relationship isn’t all roses, rainbows, and unicorns all the time. There are a lot of dentists and dental assistants who aren’t on the same page and who aren’t talking to each other.

Here’s a scenario:

“I’ve been an assistant for 31 years and I was told in school don’t ever tell the dentist what to do. But if I see a cavity or an overhang or something going on, how do I best let the doctor know, or do I just stay silent?”

Dentists, are you empowering your dental assistants?

Assistants, do you have the courage to speak up when appropriate?

Join us in this episode of Gloves Off as we talk about how to choose the right times to have a good conversation with all personalities involved.

Background image credit: overearth / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

More Gloves Off videos:

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Editor’s note: This video first appeared in Clinical Insights newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.

About the Author

David R. Rice, DDS | Chief editor

Founder of the nation’s largest student and new-dentist community, igniteDDS, David R. Rice, DDS, travels the world speaking, writing, and connecting today’s top young dentists with tomorrow’s most successful dental practices. He is the editorial director of DentistryIQ and leads a team-centered restorative and implant practice in East Amherst, New York. With 27 years of practice in the books, Dr. Rice is trained at the Pankey Institute, the Dawson Academy, Spear Education, and most prolifically at the school of hard knocks. Contact him at [email protected].

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.