News

Overheard In The Dental Office

Overheard In The Dental Office
from Dental Assistant Life

Dental assistants see and hear all kinds of things in the dental office. Sometimes you hear positive feedback from your employer, your teammates and — best of all — your patients. This can make you feel like you’re on cloud nine. Other times, you hear some frustrating, negative comments that can put a damper on your workday. You occasionally even hear some unusual things from patients that can leave you feeling downright surprised. Did they just say that?

“Patients will tell you nearly anything — and a lot of the time it’s too much information,” Jessica F. shares.

What are some of the other common things that are often overheard in the dental office? Read on to find out. Do you recognize any of the items listed here?


1. ‘I Don’t Need X-Rays, Do I?’

While dental assistants usually report hearing positive comments in the dental office, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes frustrated or apprehensive patients may challenge the need for certain procedures. For instance, some question whether they need x-rays.

“My pet peeve is when patients say, ‘I don’t think I need x-rays; I just had them done,’” shares Tamara F. “And then you see that they haven’t had any in years, and you have to explain that the doctor needs them. Some talk about how they think we are just trying to bill the insurance company for more money, as if it’s all part of our ‘master plan.’”

“This is so true,” echoes Kimmie M. “I’ve heard patients say, ‘I had x-rays taken the last time I was here’ — and that was three years ago.”

Read full article on Dental Assistant Life.