By Josephine Reid
Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties, and often work chair-side as dentists examine and treat patients. They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair. This among other reasons make it necessary for dental assistants to wear uniform scrubs.Professional and consistent uniform scrubs throughout the office raises the patients’ perceptions, no matter what your rank is in the office. This ensures customers that they have selected a professional and organized practice. Patients’ trust in the cleanliness and professionalism. This improves patient retention and compliance, thus improving practices success. It builds team spirit and pride in the dental professionalism. It decreases any concerns or confusion about what the doctor wants staff to wear.
This also decreases the amount of time the doctor spends worrying about whether and how to correct a staff member’s dress issue. It decreases staff judgments about another team member’s appearance and the tension that causes. This way assistants never waste time worrying about their appearance, because they are more confident that they are prepared to impress everyone you meet. Wearing uniform scrubs is also attractive to prospective team members who share your self-respect and professionalism themselves.
For reasons similar to those in hospitals, dental assistants wear uniform scrubs; for the fact of them being lightweight, easy to clean, comfortable and durable enough for everyday wear. Depending on the type of dental practice, assistants can get blood, acrylic, water and more on their clothing, making uniform scrubs a must.
It is also crucial to remain sanitary with the constant exposure to germs, and with uniform scrubs it is much easier wipe messes clean and keep spills from directly absorbing into assistants' clothing. It is also an OSHA requirement that the proper garments are worn in dental offices. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more commonly known by its acronym OSHA, is responsible for protecting worker health and safety in the United States. Congress created OSHA in 1971 following its passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for workers by enforcing workplace laws and standards.
