Exit this survey What dental assistants think dentists should know 1. Default Section Question Title * 1. Based on your comments from previous surveys, Dental Assisting Digest has compiled the list of Top 10 things your dentist should know. We need your help in narrowing them down.Please place check mark beside your top 10 choices. It will be a difficult task, since many assistants want to say more than 10 things to their dentist employers.Look for the next issue of DAD for the final “10 Things Your Dentist Should Know.” A dental assistant is part of the team. A dentist should not humiliate employees in front of patients. A dentist should treat the staff with respect; many dental assistants feel that their employers treat them like they are "just an expense item.” Dental assistants should not be thought of as a janitor or maid. Say "thank you" when team members work hard, maybe even give them a reward. Keep it dental, don’t get too personal. Dental personnel need to be shown they are appreciated! A doctor and dental assistant should be on the same page when it comes to case presentation. The dentist needs to arrive to work ON TIME! Talk to your team to see where there might be problems. Realize when the dentist takes off to play golf, and the dentist works a 25 hour week, this cuts into patients getting into the office to be seen. This is NOT the team's fault. They can only fill what is available. Not all assistants are created the same. Patients lie. I'm working WITH you as much as I'm working FOR you. Compensate me well for my efforts. I help build your practice. Just listen to what we have to tell you when you come into the room. Reward us just like you want to be rewarded ... that's all we ask. Spend some money on CE courses as these will be worth it for the office. I wish you would educate patients rather than lecture them. Don't assume patients can't afford treatment. Inform the patients of their needs and let them decide. You might be surprised. I am proud of my assisting credentials and I wish you would show me the respect and pay they deserve. Done