A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Lead Dental Assistant

Imagine this. You’ve been working as a dental assistant for quite some time, and aspire to lead your dental team now. Well, that’s a fantastic plan to grow your career! However, before you start off your journey, remember to learn and understand a lead dental assistant’s roles and responsibilities so that you can plan your career growth and acquire the skills to excel in the leading position.

While a dental assistant certification is a requirement, there are a myriad of other things that you have to take care of. Let’s delve deep into this article and understand the procedure to become a lead dental assistant.

Job Role of a Lead Dental Assistant

Let’s just start with the basics to keep things clear and transparent.

A lead dental assistant has to perform all the duties that a dental assistant performs. However, that’s not all! Here are some of the additional KRAs that a lead dental assistant has to execute-

● Offer training and mentorship to dental assistants.

● Supervise other assistants' work and coordinate with them to maintain a smooth workflow.

● Work directly with the dentist and help them with complex procedures to provide efficient patient care.

● Schedule and assign duties to dental staff.

● Manage the day-to-day operations of a dental office, including administrative duties, and ensure the inventory of the dental office remains stocked with enough supplies.

● Responsible for maintaining and implementing strict hygiene standards at the dental office.

Lead Dental Assistant vs Dental Assistant- What’s the Difference?

At this point, many of you may think that if a lead DA performs similar roles to that of a DA, what’s the difference between them?

Well, the difference lies in the experience, certifications, and responsibilities of the professionals. Here are a few points that can help you understand the distinction-

● A lead Dental Assistant has more experience in handling patients in a real-time dental setting than regular dental assistants. Although state-wise regulations may vary, most states require a minimum of 2 years of experience as a Dental Assistant before they can think of moving forward as a lead.

● You need to have a license as a practicing Dental Assistant in California. Along with that, you also need an additional Dental Assistant Certificate as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) to apply as a lead DA at a dental office.

● Since a lead Dental Assistant has additional duties and responsibilities than that of a regular Dental Assistant, their salary structure is usually higher. If you compare the pay scale, a lead DA’s pay scale is approximately between 10- 50% higher than that of a regular DA.

● Likewise, a lead Dental Assistant also enjoys certain benefits because of their experience, and added responsibilities. Some of the benefits include medical insurance, disability insurance, retirement benefits, and life insurance.

Qualifications to Become A Dental Assistant

Now that you are aware of the differences and the role of a lead dental assistant, let’s take a look at the minimum qualification standards required to achieve this goal in California-

● Pass and perform well on the certified dental assistant exam administered by the California Dental Board.

● Acquire certification and training from reputed California Dental Assistant Schools like MDS Dental Assisting Academy.

● License to practice as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA).

● At least 15 months of work experience as a Registered Dental Assistant in California in a dental office setting. (Experience requirements may vary on a state-wise basis).

● Excellent communication and management skills to manage the whole team working in a dental office, as well as the patients.

● Delegate tasks effectively and efficiently to maintain a smooth and seamless workflow.

● Exceptional problem-solving skills.

Added to these, you might have to take up some more responsibilities as your position demands. For instance, as a lead Dental Assistant, you are the main person who communicates with the patients. This implies that you must answer patient calls, schedule their appointments, and provide them with the necessary information about their appointment and issues.

Along with it, as a lead DA, you must also have an empathetic approach towards the patients, and be kind and understanding while listening to their issues. You must understand their reactions and approach them accordingly.

Some employees also tend to look at how proactive you are, and how effectively you can manage tough situations. This reflects your management as well as communication skills and also portrays how reliable you are as a lead DA.

To Conclude

A lead Dental Assistant is a rewarding position. However, just chairside assisting skills won’t suffice for you to reach that position. You must also possess strong administrative, management, and communication skills to acquire the qualities of an expert lead. Hence, the first baby step you need to take is to enroll in the best dental assistant programs, and start building a strong foundation for your future.