Episode 337: The importance of advocacy in dental assisting

Dental Assistant Nation

In this episode, Kevin Henry interviews dental hygienist Cris Duval about the lifeguard approach to patient care. Duval emphasizes the importance of dental assistants in improving patient outcomes and increasing practice profitability. She encourages dental assistants to decide who they want to be for their patients and to ask quality questions that uncover patient values and motivations. Duval also emphasizes the need for dental assistants to speak up if they see something concerning in a patient's mouth. She shares her upcoming book, 'The Lifeguard Approach: Why Compassion Necessitates Life-Saving Screenings,' and provides her contact information for further resources. Podcast takeaways Dental assistants play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and increasing practice profitability. Dental assistants should decide who they want to be for their patients and ask quality questions that uncover patient values and motivations. It is important for dental assistants to stay educated about the oral systemic link and communicate this information to patients. Dental assistants should speak up if they see something concerning in a patient's mouth. Learn more at https://www.thelifeguardapproach.com/meet-cris-duval