Sam The RDA

Patient:
"Can you just glue it back on?" 🦷😌

Me after looking at the crown:

👁️👄👁️

Unfortunately... no.

Sometimes the crown or bridge isn't the problem.

Sometimes the tooth underneath has fractured, decayed, or broken down and there's simply nothing stable left to reattach it to.

At that point, we're talking about a very different conversation than "just glue it back on." 😭

RDA Reality 🦷😂

Being an RDA means having 99 tabs open in your brain...

and somehow remembering exactly where the dentist left off mid procedure.

Meanwhile you're also thinking about:

🦷 The next setup
🦷 The lab case
🦷 The sterilizer cycle
🦷 The patient waiting
🦷 The supply order
🦷 Lunch... maybe

Dental assistants truly are masters of organized chaos. 😅

Organization is not optional in this job 🦷
It is survival

If you are disorganized it shows fast in a clinic

Stay ahead by

• Setting up properly
• Restocking early
• Keeping things consistent

When your setup is solid your day runs smoother

👉 Organization reduces stress and mistakes

"I'm in charge of thinking of things before people know they need them." 🦷

– Every dental assistant ever 😭

Need suction?
Already there.

Need the next instrument?
Already in my hand.

Need the patient's bib changed, the room turned over, the tray setup, the lab case checked, and the treatment room stocked?

Already thinking about it.

Half of dental assisting is staying 3 steps ahead of everyone else 👏

Me:

sees one tiny piece of information

Also me:

🏃‍♂️💨 jumping to conclusions

without a warm up.

without stretching.

straight into the olympics. 😂

Steri is not basic it is foundational 🦷

This is where everything starts

You learn
• Instruments
• Procedure flow
• Clinic rhythm

If you rush past steri you miss the foundation

Strong understanding here makes everything else easier

👉 Strong steri equals strong assistant

Trying not to stare at people's teeth during a conversation 🦷😭

Them:
telling a completely normal story

Me:
👀 "Interesting..."

Also me:
👀 "Is that a crown?"
👀 "Looks like a class II composite..."
👀 "I wonder if they wear their retainer..."

The dental brain never turns off 😂

Dentistry is not about memorizing everything 🦷
It is about recognizing patterns

Pay attention to

• What comes first
• What comes next
• What your dentist consistently asks for

Once you see the patterns
You stop reacting and start anticipating

That is where your speed and confidence come from

👉 Anticipation equals speed

Toothbrush: 🦷
"I brush away plaque and help keep your teeth clean."

Mouthwash: 😌
"I help freshen your breath."

Floss: 😈
"..."

Toothbrush:
"What do you do?"

Floss:
"I clean between the teeth."

Also floss:
"I could probably win a fight if I had to."

😭😭😭

Watch out for floss... it's a little unhinged.

(All jokes aside, flossing daily helps remove plaque and food debris from places your toothbrush can't reach.)

RDA Affirmation 💙🦷

I deserve rest, even on the busiest days.

I am not selfish for taking time for myself.

Recharging my energy allows me to give from a full cup.

As RDAs, we're often focused on everyone else.

The patient who needs reassurance.

The dentist who needs support.

The team that relies on us.

But you matter too.

Rest is not a reward you earn after exhaustion.

It's part of staying healthy, resilient, and able to continue caring for others.

Take your break.

Drink your water.

Protect your peace.

You deserve it. 💙