What does each position do? How do we work together to support our patients?
When you "go to the dentist" chances are you won't just be seeing the dentist. There are many wonderful professionals who support your oral health and work alongside the Doctors. At Blairmore Dental Centre our goal is to create an environment where staff love to come to work and patients are supported by a strong and collaborative team. Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Shire are grateful to have an awesome team of aides, assistants, hygienists, and administrative staff working with them and caring for you. Continue reading to learn more about each of the positions and how they work together at the clinic.
Dental Aide
The newest position at Blairmore Dental Centre is a dental aide. We are excited about how this role will work with the rest of the team in supporting your health. Dental Aides work alongside Dental Assistants and Dentists in preparing operatories and patients for treatment, performing some chair side assisting, and completing tasks post-appointment. They also support the front end staff in answering phones and patient questions, booking appointments and processing insurance information.
Dental Assistant
Dental Assistants are the professionals who work most closely alongside your Dentist while doing your check-ups and treatments. They support the Dentist before, during, and after patient treatments with other responsibilities including disinfecting the treatment rooms and sterilizing equipment, preparing materials for the lab, and ordering supplies. Dental assistants have a key role in patient education and helping you feel comfortable during your appointment. You will also often see them working in the front end with the administrative assistants answering phone calls, treatment planning and answering your questions. Dental assistants receive classroom and practical training through a Registered Dental Assistant Program.
“We love being dental assistants because we get to help people feel more comfortable in the dental office setting. We get to multi-task and organize and work in a fast-paced environment that is never the same from day-to-day.”
Dental Assistants working in the clinic
Dental Hygienist
When you have a cleaning at the dentist it is your Dental Hygienist who does this for you. Some of the responsibilities of the dental hygienists at Blairmore Dental Centre include reviewing your health history and assessing your oral health conditions, dental cleanings (including the removal of tartar, stains, plaque, and application of topical fluoride), and educating patients on proper oral health. They work collaboratively with all staff to answer your questions and help you feel comfortable being in a dental environment. Dental Hygienists receive classroom and practical training through a Dental Hygiene program.
“We love being dental hygienists because we enjoy helping patients lead healthier lifestyles and supporting them with education on their oral and overall health and wellbeing. We enjoy working with diverse patients and supporting the dental practice and dental team.”
Administrative Assistant
Our administrative staff are the people that you usually talk to on the phone to answer your questions and book your appointments. They welcome you to the clinic and make sure everything is set up for your appointment. They know the ins and outs of the computer systems and insurance process and are responsible for making sure the front end runs smoothly. Our administrative team come from diverse backgrounds with varied experience and have a huge role in supporting everyone in the clinic.
“The best part of being a dental administrator is working with an amazing team every day and meeting new people in our diverse community.”
Front end work by our Administrative Assistants
Dentists
The role of the Dentist consists of many different aspects, not just the repair, removal or replacement of teeth. They will review your medical history, make assessments of your entire oral-facial complex, and address any concerns or problems that you might have. The dentist will examine your oral environment and assess your teeth, tongue, throat, jaw, tissues, etc; diagnosing and developing a treatment plan to address any dental health issues you may have.
Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Shire will work with you to understand your concerns and develop a treatment plan that best suits your needs, all the while trying to help make you as comfortable as possible.
“I enjoy being a dentist and helping people resolve their pain and dental problems. I work to create a positive atmosphere and try to change the perception of dentistry that some people may have of it being scary and intimidating. I work with a great team. No two days are ever the same and at Blairmore Dental Centre we are always thinking about how we can improve the clinic and we can develop new skills to further support our patients.”