Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.

Dental assistants hear all kinds of things in the dental office — some good, some bad, and some totally unexpected! But nothing is better than hearing appreciation from patients, teammates, and your boss. https://www.danb.org/news-blog/detail/blog/3-things-overheard-in-the-dental-office

We're thrilled to have Tanya on our board of directors!

Read about her and the other board members here: https://www.danb.org/news-blog/detail/news/danb-announces-new-board-of-directors-officers

Alumni Shoutout to Tanya Dorf Brunner, M.S. '97, who was recently elected to the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Board of Directors. DANB is the national certification board for dental assistants.

Ms. Brunner is one of DANB’s 10 board directors, elected from dental professionals from across the country. Congratulations, Tanya!

https://www.danb.org/about-danb

Most dental assistants can point to the positives of their careers, such as taking care of patients. But they can also agree on some changes they’d like to see in the profession.

December is here! ❄️

Dental assistants, how are you preparing for the busy month ahead?

The integrated community dental assisting program at Portland Community College is helping address workforce shortages in Oregon by offering a professional pathway to non-traditional students, who may be parents, caregivers, or new U.S. citizens.

As a dental assistant, there are probably a few questions you get asked frequently. Do any of these ring a bell? What would you add to the list?

This week and every week, we're thankful for dental assistants and everything they do to keep offices running and patients smiling. 💙

Have a wonderful, restful Thanksgiving! 🦃

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, what are some things dental assistants are grateful for? What would you add to the list? https://www.danb.org/news-blog/detail/blog/what-are-dental-assistants-thankful-for

Can you spot the infection control or safety issues in this picture? Share what you find in the comments! 👇

Keeping patients safe involves more than just wearing gloves and a mask — it requires a commitment to continuous learning and education. That’s one reason why infection control certification has proven valuable for many dental professionals.

One pillar of our strategic plan is championing the role of dental assistants. To further that goal, DANB and The DALE Foundation have developed a coalition of leading dental professionals and organizations that will highlight the integral role of dental assistants and amplify opportunities to recognize their value.

DANB and the DALE Foundation lead coalition to empower dental assistants Dental community joins together to promote the dental assisting profession.

Seeing patients smile can make all the hard work worthwhile. ❤️

For a dental practice to thrive, it needs more than a passionate, educated staff. It also needs a healthy, positive office culture — which starts with doctors and practice owners. When the dental team feels valued and respected, it benefits everyone.

We're having a rockin' time at the NNOHA - National Network for Oral Health Access Conference. Here’s our staff enjoying the opening night kickoff party! 🎸

From left to right:

• Laura Skarnulis, CEO of DANB and The DALE Foundation
• Janée Tamayo, DANB’s board chair
• Jen Hawley-Price, Chief Partnership and Engagement Officer of DANB and the DALE Foundation
• Vicki Brett, DALE Foundation president-elect
• Tony Garcia, DALE Foundation Relationships Manager

When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in 2021, thousands fled the country. Many Afghan refugees resettled in Arizona, creating an urgent need for support services to help individuals acclimate and find jobs. RICE - Refugees and Immigrants Community for Empowerment, located in Phoenix, stepped in to offer dental assisting education at no cost to newly resettled Afghan refugees.

The spooky season has come and gone, but don't worry — dental assistants are always equipped to deal with scary situations! 😄

Halloween may be over, but we still have a treat for you! 😍

We're excited to introduce our brand-new merchandise store with limited-edition apparel and accessories to commemorate the 75th anniversary of CDA certification!

https://danb.threadless.com/

Happy Halloween! 🎃🧛‍♀️👻

Jen Hawley Price, the Chief Partnership and Engagement Officer at DANB and The DALE Foundation, recently spoke at the National Health Science Conference on nontraditional careers in healthcare.

One key takeaway ➡️ career paths don't always look the same from person to person!

What has your career roadmap looked like? How did you arrive at your current position? 🗺️

Dental assistants: never forget how important you are to your practices! 💙

Let's all give a big congratulations to Alexandra, a brand-new CDA certificant! 🥳👏🎉

We’re so proud of our chairside assistant Alexandra for passing the Dental Assistant National Board exam. Passing the Certified Dental Assistant exam is a huge milestone! Congratulations, Alexandra!

There's no doubt that dental assisting is rewarding for many people, but it also comes with expected and unexpected challenges. Fortunately, dental assistants are well-equipped to handle what comes their way.

Recent changes for dental assistants‼️ New states have established expanded functions designations for dental assistants and others have created new pathways for dental assistants to meet state requirements. Read more about these changes in our latest report 👀 👇
https://www.danb.org/state-requirements/state-publications-and-services

Meet DANB’s new Board Chair Janée Tamayo. 👋 Here are few quick facts about Janée. Learn more about Janée and our other board members at the link below. 👇
https://www.danb.org/news-blog/detail/news/danb-announces-new-board-of-directors-officers

DANB believes in fostering a safe, inclusive oral healthcare environment for all, and we’re proud to partner with The American Institute of Dental Public Health to promote LGBTQIA+ Oral Health Week. This year’s theme is Solidarity in Action: From Allies to Accomplices. Learn more at the link below or follow The American Institute of Dental Public Health.
https://aidph.org/lgbtqia-oh-week/

Friday the 13th and Halloween in the same month? That got us thinking about something really spooky... 👻

Drop a GIF in the comments that shows what it would be like if a practice didn't have a dental assistant! 😱

📣 Say it louder for the people in the back: Dental assistants deserve respect!

Here's why. 👇

Why dental assistants deserve respect It’s important to show respect to dental assistants not just during Dental Assistants Recognition Week, but throughout the year. Here’s why.

As a dental assistant, it can be so rewarding to help others. But it's also important to take care of yourself. This , we want to remind all dental assistants to make time for yourself, connect with others, and do things that bring you joy. ❤️

Which famous duo would you compare to you and your dentist? 🦸‍♀️

That's right — passing a DANB exam is no small feat! Congratulations to these hard-working dental students!

Coming in 2024: DANB’s Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam in Spanish! 👀

➡️ “Inclusivity and accessibility are essential in oral healthcare,” says DANB CEO Laura Skarnulis. “We’ve engaged with the dental community and conducted research to explore dental workforce needs and identify solutions. Offering the RHS exam in Spanish is a crucial step to ensuring that current and aspiring dental assistants from diverse backgrounds have opportunities to excel in their careers and deliver high-quality care to patients.”

DANB RHS exam translated to Spanish The new exam offering supports DANB’s efforts to increase accessibility, promote inclusion, and advance workforce development.

One advantage of dental assisting is flexibility — you can work in many different specialties. Oral surgery is a highly impactful specialty that can not only provide career growth but also high satisfaction and powerful patient outcomes. What are some of the top benefits of being an oral surgery assistant?

3 impactful reasons to be an oral surgery assistant Examining some of the top benefits of being an oral surgery assistant.

Dental assistants do so much behind the scenes to keep their patients and teammates safe. In honor of Dental Infection Control Awareness Month, we want to spotlight some key infection control tasks dental assistants perform every day.

5 behind-the-scenes ways dental assistants keep patients safe Dental assistants are infection control specialists, but much of what they do happens behind the scenes. We spotlight some of the ways they keep patients and staff members safe.

Tomorrow is the first official day of fall — a season all about change and transition. 🍂

That got us thinking: How has being a dental assistant changed you?

Dental assistants work closely with everyone in the practice, including dental office managers. In honor of , we want to highlight how these two essential roles work together for the betterment of the whole dental office!

“Without strong communication between the front office, dental assistants, and dentist, we would be lacking in all areas of the office,” explains Lauren.

What would you add to the list?

The crucial relationship between dental assistants and office managers Dental assistants and office managers work closely with each other to keep the office running smoothly.

With so many responsibilities, it’s no wonder that many dental office managers feel like they need to know everything!

Learn a few ways to grow your knowledge and build your confidence at work in our new blog post from DANB - Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.:

https://ow.ly/XBZF50PL7IN