- INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Student Name:

Amanda Whitley

Printed Name of Person

Interviewed:
Role of Individual:

Period:

Brittany Barbaria

Place of Business:

___Mentor ___Other Professional #1

Radney and Scott Orthodontics

Business Address:

17201 Glenmount Park Dr.

Phone Number:

281-486-5081

Date of Interview:

11/13/15

_1__Other Professional #2

Type of Interview: __1_ In Person ___ Telephone* ___Email*

1. For someone working in your field, please describe the fantasies versus realities of the job.
(fantasy vs. reality)
People Think of dental assistants as someone who just passes stuff to a doctor, but its very hands
on and we must have a lot of education I orthodontics, because we have procedures such as changing
wires, and changing brackets making sure the patient is comfortable, we take steps as far as doing initial
records, theres a lot of hands on stuff.
2. What is your current educational level? What continuing education and training are required?
I have a high school diploma, over 40 hours of college courses, and did a 9 month program and
did 1 month externship to get dental hours so I could be a registered dental assistant.

3. Please describe the typical day to day activities of someone working in your field.
(day-to-day activities)
A typical day for us in the morning we gather around and discuss what we will be doing, we do
sterilization and start new patients in braces and appliances and take braces off all day.

4. How secure are you in your current position? What do you think is the future of your field?

I feel very secure choosing dentistry for myself as well as getting your regular dental licenses it
gives you other opportunities to specialize in dentistry and there are tons of job opportunities to start.
5. How has school prepared you for your job?
School taught me how to interact with people and socialize as well as in ortho, because you have
to have people trust you, the patient and their families.
6. What potential for growth is there in your field?
There are many job opportunities in each office, the office will always need an office manager, a lab
technician and of course the dental assistant.

7. What made you choose Orthodontics over general Dentistry?

In school I actually didnt learn a lot about ortho, I learned a lot in general about procedures, and
I learned how to take X-rays and some stuff that is in ortho, But mainly its because I really love working
n children and that is who we mostly work with, and I wanted to make a difference on somebody. This
was my first office and Ive stuck with it since. We did like a six week course and it really opened my
eyes. I found that ortho was very hands on and it gave me more of an opportunity to be able to work with
the patient.

8. What in your job is something that you did not learn in school?
In school I learned basics of general dentistry which are important and still used in orthodontics,
but I really didnt get hands on training until I came into this office. There are other things in ortho like
learning how to bend wires, and the different appliances, placing brackets. Everyday seems like a learning
experience because you will always come across different kinds of cases no matter how many years you
put into dentistry.
9. Is there any advice that you would give to a student looking into your job?
I think this is a great field to work in, there are many opportunities, I would definitely research before
doing this job. There will always jobs available in its field.
10. What is something that you take away from your job every day? (learning experience)
What I take every day with me is that I was able to make a difference, or help them with their fears of
coming to a dental office. It makes me happy that I was able to make a difference with some ones smile.
And it makes me happy to help with people insecurities with their smile. The best thing is making a
difference for somebody.