When Your Dental Assistant Has ADHD…
A dental assistant’s job entails considerably more than just clinical evaluations; it includes all aspects of the dental clinic’s operations. This complete role involves basic patient consultations, front desk management, sterilization protocols, and even some fairly intriguing jobs. One such astonishing obligation is awakening dentists from their slumber via phone calls.
This job description has taken me by surprise! Previously, I had only explored occupations such as hotel housekeeping and guest wake-up services. I never imagined we’d have to call the dentist to come to work. However, it is important to note that this is not a regular occurrence.
I once saw a senior colleague playfully pulling a patient’s leg, claiming that the dentist was on his way to a remote place for a meeting. (Yet, deep down, we all knew that the dentist was probably safely ensconced in bed, happily ignoring our phone calls.)
I am also a dental assistant, and the most difficult component of my job at the moment is ‘judging what the dentist wants right now.’ This necessitates a high degree of situational awareness and the ability to adapt on the go. Unfortunately, I struggle with reading situations, and my mental process is pretty slow.
When I asked my senior colleagues about the most difficult aspect of their jobs, the majority said ‘familiarising themselves with dental instruments.’” That’s easy for me because I’ve already encountered and learned about them. Whether it’s remembering forgotten details, adjusting to new equipment, or even when doctors bring new technologies, I simply commit them to memory.”
However, guessing what the doctor is up to is a real challenge! I never know what the current scenario is. My senior colleagues always tell me, “If you memorize the procedures, you shouldn’t have any problems!”
The problem is not there! The trouble is that unexpected events arise from time to time: the dentist suddenly wants to use an instrument they’ve never used before, the patient’s condition changes or I encounter something new.
If my job performance were assessed based on memorizing procedures, I would surely receive an A++. However, unforeseen occurrences are not part of my mental flowchart. So, when presented with them, it’s easy to feel out of control. (This may require real-world experience and cannot be improved just by additional effort at home.)
Once, while assisting Dr. Lew during a consultation, he said, “I need the ‘kou kou’” (a tool used to loosen dentures.) Dr. Sean refers to it as a crown remover, while Dr. Lee might call it a knock-knock).
When I heard it as ‘gou gou’ (interpreted as ‘hook’ in Chinese), I wondered, “What does he need a hook for at this moment?” So I handed him the hook.
Dr. Lew was taken aback and exclaimed, “Hey!” Please do not play around…” (Thank goodness it wasn’t with Dr. Lee that day; otherwise, I could have been lectured till the conclusion of the workday.)
Sometimes I’m hesitant to ask the dentist questions because if I don’t know how to do anything and ask, they’ll react 99% of the time with, “How long have you been here, and you haven’t used this before?”
If I try to do it myself without asking and fail, the dentist will be furious, stating, “If you haven’t used it before, why didn’t you tell me?”. Currently, it appears that getting assistance from other senior colleagues is the safest option, but they are typically busy and may not have the time to assist us.
You may also come across angelic dentists. The last time I assisted Dr. Thalia, she told me, “You don’t have to keep standing; it’s fine. There is nothing to do right now; you may sit down. If I need anything, I’ll let you know.”
One time, Dr. Sean (everyone says he’s quite rigorous, but I find him decent) offered me hints like:
“Could you get the fine dental tip for me? (Periodontal Scaling Tip).”
“I need the transparent band.”
If I made a mistake, he would gently remind me to open the suction to ensure correct operation, as we had previously discussed.
I have previously earned praise from Dr. Lee, but I have forgotten why. Because, following his compliment, I’m continually worried that I’ll do something stupid and offend him.
Get Meredy’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
The assistants have shared their likes and dislikes for various dental procedures.
Vivi (a senior with ten years of experience): “I hate endo (Endodontics) because there’s so much preparation involved.”
Rosalyn (front desk assistant): “But I enjoy endo, you know? It’s as simple as assisting the dentist with suction and creating a caviton. Unlike OD (Operative Dentistry), where you have to use a variety of tools.
Jean (a specialist in microscopic endodontics): “Of course, implantation is the most demanding! Implants are incredibly tough, and we rarely come across them.”
Undine (a specialist in orthodontics): “My favorite is scaling! “There isn’t much to do during scaling.” “As for other procedures, it is up to the dentist. I enjoy doing Operative Dentistry with Dr. Alice since she takes care of everything herself. I adore performing root canal fillings (RCF) alongside Dr. Thalia.”
Recently, the clinic hired two additional full-time employees. One learned rapidly and seemed to handle everything nicely after two to three weeks. The other, however, is rumored to have a negative attitude.
I am extremely lucky to have a very positive attitude, which compensates for my normally delayed response and occasionally confused disposition.
Speaking of confusion, the last time I did something idiotic.
I walked to the second level while clutching a patient’s medical record. When I turned back to see why there was no one, I suddenly realized, “Ah!” “I forgot to bring the patient.” Luckily, no one saw it at the time.
Someone once asked me, “Meredy, don’t you find it embarrassing to be scolded by the doctor in front of the patient all the time?” “I think I would!” I said, “Well… I think it’s not too bad.” (Actually, I find it horrifying. The patients lying there, virtually immobilized, keep my mind engaged with concern and fear, leaving no place for embarrassment.
Furthermore, this might cause serious psychological trauma!
When I last visited a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, he adjusted my bones because my neck was causing me so much discomfort. Following the adjustment, he inquired, “Does it hurt now?”
I responded, “No.”
He insisted, “Really, doesn’t it hurt?”
I hesitated and replied, “Uh… no.” (It hadn’t been long, and I didn’t know if it would hurt again. But it wasn’t particularly painful at the time, so I answered no.)
The practitioner asked, “Really, it doesn’t hurt?”
I inquired, “…are you questioning me?”
He instantly told me, “No, I’m not doubting you! Do not be nervous! I just want to make sure you’re still in pain. If you do, I’ll have to try the next technique!!”
Even though I’ve been reprimanded by dentists regularly, senior colleagues have told me that getting scolded for the first three months is usual, particularly for part-time workers who work fewer shifts than full-time employees. However, they may also ask, “You’ve been here for two months; why haven’t you learned yet?” So I’m unsure about the current situation.
Although the job of a dental assistant is not ideal for me, I can learn a lot, and we frequently go out to have fun together. So I won’t change occupations just because they don’t suit me (unless the dentist can’t take it).
