EPD4K Flashcards
Tell me about yourself
So currently I am a student I am majoring in biomedical sciences apart of the pre dental club. I have a part-time job during the weekend at a local farm where we serve the Socorro community and I also volunteer at El Paso Children’s Hospital. I have a long history with working for kids for running 7 years now. My first position with kids, I was a soccer coach and since then I fell in love with it, in addition I was group camp leader from my church. These positions really helped me professionally especially in regards to working with kids, I love being enthusiastic being fun with it you know and in the future I hope to continue to do that while advancing in the dental field, hoping to advance into dentistry and go to dental school. I am passionate about dentistry especially pediatric dentistry since I have an a lot of my background and education in pediatrics and I just hope to continue that.
What computer programs are you familiar with
Dentrix was the program used at my externship, you know it is a lot to process and take in but with a little refresher I know I get can get the hang of it and master it.
Why do you want to work for our dental practice
I have heard great things from a friend of mine that works at the other location in coragoza. Knowing your values are to provide and promise exceptional care to all children and I know that I can be an example to that because I have that same belief as well. I follow that belief in everything I do. I am drawn to the energy of the office and the team and I hope that I can contribute to it by being compassionate and willingness for collaboration and prioritize patient care.
How do you ensure that the office equipment is properly sterilized and cleared for the next patent?
When I do start I make note of how the dr I will be working with how they like the room set up. I make sure that as soon as the patient leaves the room I sterilize equipment with the proper procedures and sterilize all the surfaces, and put the new barriers on. With my externship I got patient exposure but I also a lot of the time performed sterilization practices. I would turn over the chairs I would sterilize equipment by rinsing instruments putting them in the ultrasonic, package then put it in the autoclave put them back in the right place once sterilized then the whole Cycle again. I was joking with my family that I could clean everything now, at that office that’s the majority of what I was doing of course because I was a student at the time.
What qualities do you think a dental assistant should have
Of course all the technical procedures. I think they should be compassionate have strong communication skills and attention to detail be professional and adaptable and also just have genuine commitment to patient care and safety I know I had to definitely practice on these skills.With strong communication skills and you have to explain the procedure you have to explain any problems in the most professional way and with that be adaptable to The doctor that you’re working with, to everyone you are working with and the patients this really shows that compassion and commitment to patient care.
How do you think is the best way to prepare a patient
So for me and I first of course greet the patient warmly and review their medical history take any necessary vitals and explain the treatment or why they’re here in a simple manner and address questions and concerns and always prioritize their safety and during the procedure continue to establish that informed consent
What do you do in a disagreement of treatment plan between you and the doctor
So first I want to understand the reason in the different perspective second I want to express really express my thoughts and express my concerns and suggest the other option I am thinking
but besides all that we have to establish the goal and the goal should be and is hopefully too make the best decision for the patient and ultimately I want to be able to provide a safe environment to be open and honest and encourage collaborative discussion that will succeed in giving the best care to our patients
So how do you manage a stressful patient
We learned about this a lot especially at El Paso Pediatric Dental assisting school that was a big thing of course in pediatrics so first I want establish the goal. I wanna establish that goal which for me is effectively and efficiently perform treatment for the child while instilling positive attitude.
Next which is one of my favorites is tell show do I love to talk about what we will be working on and what we will be doing and of course saying in the language that they of course can feel comfortable with and to just have fun with it.
All this in hopes to show that dentistry for kids can be the childs dental home and basically establish that trust between us the child and their family.
Any questions you have for me
Yes actually I do you have Few I hope you don’t mind.
First I’d like to ask what benefits y’all have to offer as far as CE credits?
Also how flexible are y’all in terms of work schedules and hours?
What opportunities are there for professional growth?
 And you know I’ve volunteered and shadowed at many dental offices. some of them I ran into places where they don’t necessarily take a formal lunch
Break so do the employees here do y’all prioritize a break for your employees? 
