Gloves Off: Dental assistants, you have to learn to earn!

April 26, 2022
Advanced education for dental assistants is critical. Dr. David Rice and Tija Hunter explain how to talk to your doctor about CE opportunities that can add value to the practice and your career.

In a previous episode of Gloves Off, we talked about how necessary education is for dental assistants. An important thing to remember is, the more you learn, the more you earn. It’s all about creating value in yourself. After all, you are the greatest asset you have, so the more you learn, the more you’ll grow. Get out there and take continuing education courses!

Advanced learning is a two-way street. As dentists, it’s our job to help our dental assistants get a great education, but dental assistants need to have some skin in the game too; it’s their career at stake.

In this episode, we’ll explore how to talk to your doctor about CE opportunities, as well as how to handle expanded functions and varying state regulations. Dental assistants are in a unique position to look for and learn about new products and services to take back to the practice.

Dental pros and dental patients, send us your questions! We’re talking about important topics that happen all day every day in the dental practice.

More Gloves Off videos:

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe to Through the Loupes.

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

Tija Hunter, CDA, EFDA

Tija Hunter, CDA, CDIA, CDIPC, CDSH, CDSO, EFDA, MADAA, is a member and former vice president of the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), where she holds the honor of Master. She is the director of the Dental Careers Institute, a dental assisting and dental continuing education program, and the author of seven continuing education study courses. She is an international speaker and a certified trainer in nitrous oxide in several states. She can be reached at [email protected].

Updated January 12, 2024