Anticipating

What is one of the most important words regarding dentistry that comes to mind?  You go through school for Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting or Dental Office Management and all of that never really teaches you this one word until you are in the dental workforce. Anticipation!  You anticipate what the patient wants next, does the doctor want a small spoon or a large spoon and the Doctor thinks "should I discuss the most important treatment or the whole treatment plan?”  Many of us can anticipate just by watching one another’s gestures and that includes the patient as well. If I see a patient and they are making a fist I would say “are you ok?''  If I saw a patient that kept squinting their eyes I would say “Do you need glasses?”  Anticipation is one of the biggest reasons you may or may not be an A plus team member.  By the point someone may walk over to tell you they need something in a dental office it could be too late.  You may have taken 5 minutes away from them to be on time. You say “wow Claudia that is harsh” but, you know what?  It is real!  You may have done a working interview but the women or gentleman before you got the job because they were on it and anticipating.  In the dental world anticipating is the equivalent of money. So think of it this way; when you hesitate you lose time and money. So, maybe just learning to anticipate could actually further your career. Take time to learn, love and know your craft. Anticipate what is next!