1. Tell me about your organizational and administrative skills and experience?

Another fact of working as a dental assistant has to do with your administrative and organizational expertise. Aside from working chair side with patients, you may also be required to greet them as they come in the door, answer telephone calls, schedule appointments, restock supplies, and more. You will need to convince the interviewer that your skills are on target with the needs of the job. For example, "I have experience with answering telephones and I have learned and implemented several methods of filing and record keeping" would be a great answer, but only if you are prepared to elaborate on that experience.

2. Will you comfortable working with children and adults?

You will likely be required to work alongside a dentist, so your interviewer will ask you this question in order to gauge your comfort level. Although it is okay to express a preference for one over the other, you should be able to provide an answer that portrays your ability to work with either age group. "Although I especially love working with children and keeping them excited about good oral hygiene, I am just as comfortable working with adults" is a fantastic example answer. Although you may not be assigned to work primarily with children, your preferences will likely be noted if you are hired.

3. Which is the most important job of a dental assistant at a dental facility?

While I feel that every task that a dental assistant performs is important, making patients feel comfortable is probably the most important. This is because a patient who is at ease is easy to handle. Equally important is sterilizing instruments because infection control is vital to managing dental procedures effectively.

4. Tell me briefly do you pay attention to detail?

Yes I am very detail oriented. Like, when i was working within a previous job i was always told to keep my are clean. So what I would do was wipe down all cabinets with disinfectant make sure everything was in order,make sure all instruments were autoclaved and put in its original spot. I would also make sure the oplatory was set properly making sure their was nothing missing or out of order. Overall making sure the setting was perfect.

5. Can you handle criticism?

"I will be able to perform to the best of my ability under any circumstance and I am always thankful for constructive criticism" is a good answer, but you should follow up with a reason why constructive criticism is helpful to you. "I am always willing to learn from my mistakes and learn better, more efficient methods of getting the job done" will suffice.

6. Can you work under constant supervision?

Since you will only be allowed to perform direct patient care under the supervision of a dentist, you must be able to work while being watched and readily accept criticism.

7. Is oral health and hygiene important for you as a dental assistant?

It seem's like a silly question, but your interviewer has a very good reason to ask. If you are not passionate about your own oral health and hygiene, it is unlikely that you will be able to convey the importance of oral care to your patients. You may even choose to describe your oral care practices to your interviewer so that they can better understand your methods. You might answer with "Absolutely. I make sure to brush twice a day and after meals, and I see my own dentist at least twice per year." You may also be asked to explain why oral health is so important for overall physical health, as well.

8. Described about a tough patient you had to deal with?

I wouldn't say that I have had a "tough patient". I would say however I have had several circumstances in which I had to use my skills and training to figure out the needs of each patient and do my best to meet their needs to make the appointment run as smoothly as possible. That sometimes can be tough, but it is one of the challenges I enjoy most in this field, making the dental experience as pleasant as possible for the patient.

9. How will you react suppose if a patient complains that you didn't properly care for them during the last appointment?

I prepare a complaint form, I would do all I could to know what it was that make the patient unsatisfied and I do my best to fix the problem before the next visit.

10. What techniques you employ to keep an office organized?

Keeping a uplifting and positive attitude and use the teamwork technique. Always making sure everything is stocked and sterilized to make the day run smoothly.

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