Dental office organization is often seen as a prerequisite for success, especially the dental industry. Dental assistants in particular, are expected to be highly organized individuals as their job requires them to perform a wide range of tasks, from scheduling appointments to sterilizing equipment and working with dental inventory software. But is being organized a rule or a myth? Is it something that happens by accident or is it planned? And do dental assistants hope for success or plan for success?
Firstly, it's important to acknowledge that some people are naturally more organized than others. However, being organized is not just about being born with the right personality traits, it's also a skill that can be developed and honed over time. In fact, being organized is often the result of intentional planning and deliberate actions.
Dental assistants can benefit greatly from being organized. In a dental practice, there are many moving parts that need to work together in harmony to ensure a successful outcome of dental office organization. An unorganized dental assistant can lead to missed appointments, mismanaged schedules, and poor patient care. On the other hand, an organized dental assistant can help to create a smooth and efficient practice, which can lead to increased patient satisfaction and better overall outcomes. We asked a long-time dental assistant what her opinion is on this matter and here is what she had to say. “Being organized is without a doubt the rule. Being a dental assistant for 6 years means you see a lot of what does and doesn’t work in an office. Organization is one of them, and it is key to have! If you are not organized, everything else will start to fall apart and create this domino effect of one big messy disaster. Being prepared for the next day should always be done prior to the following morning, this means you were organized enough that it should make your morning a breeze instead of running around everywhere before the day starts.”
So, how can dental assistants become more organized? One of the key ways is to plan ahead. This means creating a schedule for each day, week, and month, and sticking to it as much as possible. It also means anticipating potential issues or challenges and having a plan in place to deal with them. Samantha, who has been a dental assistant for seven years, gave us some insight on office organization as well. After asking her if she thinks this is a rule or a myth here is what she had to say, “Being organized should be a general requirement of all dental assistants. The reason being is because without any organization in the office, it creates chaos and can lower productivity. If a DA is busy running around trying to find misplaced supplies, this takes away from Dr’s time with patients by making procedures fall behind. This can also lead to other issues such as compliance failure and overspending on supplies you may already have but just misplaced.”
Another important aspect of being organized is having a system in place for managing paperwork and other administrative tasks. This can include creating digital files for patient records, setting up a filing system for physical documents, and using software to manage appointments and other tasks.
In addition to these practical steps, it's also important for dental assistants to cultivate a mindset of organization. This means being proactive, taking ownership of tasks, and being willing to learn and adapt as needed.
Ultimately, success in dental office organization requires a combination of hope and planning. While hope can be a powerful motivator, it's not enough on its own. Dental assistants need to take intentional steps to plan and prepare for success, and being organized is a critical part of that process. We asked our friend Jillian on this matter, who has been in the dental field herself for quite some time. She responded “I think this can honestly depend on the individual and how they function, as well as circumstance. For me, being organized was a rule because it caused less stress and anxiety in my day to day. Not only that, if someone had to step in for me, in my mind if things were organized that person could find items easier. However, the big picture if someone did step-in assisting for me I still got texts asking where this or that was because the way I organize might not make sense to someone else. Organizing inventory or even your day by pre-setting up trays can be subjective to the person and might not always mean success. For example a patient can cancel or be added to your day that might throw your pre-set trays totally off, but if the DA working is flexible the success will carry over and does not matter whether they planned for it or not.”
In conclusion, being organized is not a myth but a skill and a rule that can be developed with intentional planning and deliberate actions. Dental assistants can benefit greatly from being organized, as it can lead to increased patient satisfaction and better overall outcomes. By planning ahead, creating systems for managing tasks and paperwork, and cultivating a mindset of organization, dental assistants can set themselves up for success in the sphere of dental office organization.