One of our favorite things about March is that there is a Dental Assistant Recognition Week. It’s true! And we are lucky to have an amazing team of Dental Assistants committed to excellent patient care at FDA. The theme of this year’s Recognition Week was “Today’s Dental Assistants–Polished, Poised, and Professional,” and we couldn’t think of a better way to describe Mary, Melissa, Mirela, and our newest staff member, Pat. Let’s meet our four fabulous Dental Assistants and learn a little bit more about what a dental assistant does!
When you visit FDA, you may notice lots of people doing different jobs. You might not realize the difference between some roles. For instance, do you know the difference between a Dental Hygienist and a Dental Assistant?
When you come to the office for a procedure with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos, Assistants are sitting chairside working directly with the dentists. They are the bridge between the patient and the dentist and are focused on patient comfort and understanding. They need to know every step in each procedure so they can always be one step ahead of the dentist. Each procedure and each dentist is different, so it is crucial that the Assistant is familiar with all the tools and materials and the order the dentist will need them. Beyond sitting chairside, Dental Assistants also take impressions, perform in-office whitening procedures, conduct lab work, and make temporary crowns. Also, all of FDA’s Dental Assistants have their radiology certification, so they may have taken your last set of X-rays.
FDA’s Fab Four
Mary has worked in the dental field since 1995, many of those years with us. For Mary, the dental care is excellent at FDA in part because of the encouragement and support that staff members receive to take continuing education classes. “We’re constantly improving our knowledge,” she explains. “These courses help us to communicate well together, which is very important. Our motto is, ‘Have fun while doing great work!’ It’s all about working as a team to do the best for our patients and keep them relaxed. Everyone here helps each other.”
Melissa has been in the dental field since 2003 and is a chairside assistant along with handling whitening procedures, fabrication of crowns, and laboratory duties. She has a passion for helping people, which is what led her to dentistry. “I love waking up each morning knowing that I am going to help someone today,” Melissa says. “Sometimes, we are able to change a person’s life, and that is powerful.”
Mirela has worked in the dental field since 2003, joining the Falmouth Dental Arts team in May 2017. She has worked in pediatric dentistry for most of this time, which lends her a unique perspective on dentistry. “Anyone can be afraid of going to the dentist – not just children,” she shares. “That’s why we do everything we can here at FDA to make patients feel comfortable and relaxed while they’re in our chairs.” She also provides language support for the team with her fluency in Albanian and Greek.
Pat was a member of A Perfect Smile before and joined FDA earlier this month. We are excited to have her on the team! APS patients will recognize her and the wonderful care she provides. Please help us welcome Pat to the FDA family!
We are so grateful for all the amazing work and excellent patient care these women provide. We strive to provide the best oral health care to our patients and couldn’t do that without our Dental Assistants. We are lucky to have them as part of our team. Next time you see them at the office, say hello…and if you are in need of a visit to our office, give us a call at 207.781.5900. We look forward to seeing you!
**Image courtesy of www.adaausa.org