DA Time Management

DA Professional Skills

This module provides knowledge on how to practice effective time management skills as a dental assistant.

The dental assistant plays an important role in ensuring the dental office is running efficiently and on time. A dental assistant must understand how to manage their time effectively, so that job duties are completed accurately and on time. In this module, students will learn what time management is and why it is an important skill to have. They will learn different tools and techniques to improve their time management skills.

You’ll learn

time management in both the front and back office
techniques and tools for effective time management
strategies for fighting procrastination
the importance of delegating
much more (see Content Details for more specific information)

Introduction

Step 1 - Time management from a dental assistant's perspective

Step 1.1 - Front office time management for the dental assistant

Step 1.2 - Back office time management for the dental assistant

Step 2 - Techniques and tools of time management

Step 2.1 - Breaking down tasks

Step 2.2 - Prioritizing

Step 2.3 - Streamlining tasks

Step 3 - Procrastination

Step 3.1 - Reasons for procrastination

Step 3.2 - Strategies for fighting procrastination

Step 4 - Skills for improving efficiency

Step 4.1 - Creating a routine

Step 4.2 - Using office systems

Step 4.3 - Working with others

Step 4.4 - Multitasking

Step 5 - Preparing for the day

Step 6 - Time management during the workday

Step 6.1 - Managing patient communication

Step 6.2 - Managing colleague communication

Step 6.3 - Documentation

Step 7 - Anticipating dentists' needs

Step 7.1 - Ensure that all supplies are stocked and ready

Step 7.2 - Reviewing the schedule

Step 8 - Delegating tasks

Step 8.1 - The importance of delegating

Step 8.2 - Knowing when to ask for help

Demonstrate the importance of time management.
Demonstrate tools and techniques of time management.
Assess own time management abilities.
Implement processes for improving efficiency.
Prepare for the workday, recognizing and developing habits that provide best practices.
Manage the workday according to a plan.
Predict how to best support dentists.
Predict how to best support patients.
Define when to delegate tasks and ask for help.
Select what tasks can be multitasked.

The SIMTICS modules are all easy to use and web-based. This means they are available at any time as long as the learner has an internet connection. No special hardware or other equipment is required, other than a computer mouse for use in the simulations. Each of the SIMTICS modules covers one specific procedure or topic in detail. Each module contains:

an online simulation (available in Learn and Test modes)
descriptive text, which explains exactly how to perform that particular procedure including key terms and hyperlinks to references
2D images and a 3D model of applied anatomy for that particular topic
a step by step video demonstration by an expert
a quiz
a personal logbook that keeps track of all the modules the learner has studied and how long