Ep 51: The Oral Preventive Assistant Debate: What Dental Assistants Actually Want

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In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Kevin Henry, a longtime advocate, speaker, and journalist for dental assistants, as we break down the new role being introduced in dentistry, the OPA (Oral Preventive Assistant). Together, we have a real and honest conversation about what this new position means for dental assistants, why it was created, and the real impact it could have on dental teams everywhere. 

Kevin and I break down not only the basics of what the OPA role is, but also how this position is intended to help with the workforce shortage of hygienists. We unpack how dental assistants truly feel about the OPA role and talk candidly about the lack of a strong national voice for assistants, the varied responses within that community, and the possible legal and financial gaps still unresolved when OPAs start to become the norm.

We discuss practical tips for assistants to advocate for themselves, the importance of communication among team members, and how both hygienists and assistants often share more struggles in common than they realize. 

At the end of the day, the message is clear: dental assistants are the backbone of our practices, and this new era in dentistry needs their voices and experiences front and center. This conversation is all about coming together as a profession because real change will only happen when every member of the dental team is valued and heard.

About Kevin: 

With more than 20 years in the dental publishing industry, Kevin Henry is the former group editorial director for Dental Products Report and managing editor for Dental Economics. Currently, he is the editor-in-chief for DrBicuspid.com. He has spoken to dental assistants throughout the world, in person and through the Dental Assistant Nation podcast series, reminding them of the important role they play every day in their practice. He is also certified as a DiSC trainer, helping dental practices learn how to understand each other better through personality assessments and training.

Connect with Kevin:

Website | Kevin Speaks Dental 

Instagram @DentalAssistantNation

Website| Dr. Bicuspid

Dental Assistant Nation [Apple Podcasts]

Dental Assistant Nation [Spotify]

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

Ep 35: How ADA’s Dental Access Model Act Will Impact Dentistry

To watch on YouTube, click here!

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