Preparing for a dental assistant job interview? There are some common questions you’ll want to study beforehand. One way to impress hiring managers is by having excellent answers to your dental assistant interview questions. After all, if you’re prepared and know your stuff, there’s no denying you’re right for the job!
Questions range from dental assistant-specific to generic, but you want the right answer at the front of your mind no matter what you get asked. Here are some of the most common dental assistant interview questions you’re likely to come across.
Tell me about your dental assistant experience.
Worked as a dental assistant before? Great! Explain your previous positions, who you worked for, and how you felt you could grow during your time there.
If you’ve never worked in this role before, no worries! What hiring managers really want to know about is your experience. Share where you held internships and what your dental assistant training program was like. If they can see you invested the time to better yourself and get an education, that’s still considered worthwhile experience.
What made you want to become a dental assistant?
This is your story! It’s all about how you decided to take that big career step into the dental field and what you hope to achieve by continuing that journey. Whether it was following in a parent’s footsteps or a joy of learning about dentistry, let them know what inspires you.
Always think of questions like these as an opportunity for the hiring manager to get to know you as a person. Not just as a potential dental assistant.
Describe your previous administrative experience.
By now, you probably know that being a dental assistant entails a lot of administrative work. If you’ve had a job as a receptionist, or got the chance to gain some experience through your internship, share what administrative skills you’ve gained in the past.
Answering phones, data entry, taking messages, and organizing files are all important factors to this role. Highlight any relevant customer service experience since that goes hand and hand with the dental office’s administrative needs.
What is your oral care routine?
Not exactly your typical interview question, but likely one you’re asked if you’re trying to become a dental assistant. If you don’t know how to take care of your own health, you might have trouble advocating oral care benefits to your patients.
From taking care of your gums to brushing your teeth twice daily, let them know how you pay extra attention to your pearly whites.
How do you handle dealing with frustrated or angry patients?
It happens all the time. A frustrated patient that’s likely not feeling well comes through the door, and you have to deal with them. But how do you handle it?
Having great customer service skills and staying calm in the face of a storm are attributes that help angry patients. Describe a time when you’ve dealt with this and list the actions you took to resolve, or calm, the problem.
Becoming a dental assistant is a big deal. It’s a stepping stone towards bigger career opportunities and a chance to level up your career. Make sure to put your best foot forward by practicing your answers to these common questions.
