ASHLEY HUBERS
ENDO MASTERY PRACTICE COACH
Ideally, once a doctor begins a treatment, they can maintain their clinical focus until the treatment is completed. The assistant supports the doctor by anticipating their needs during the procedure. Interruptions and distractions are avoided if everything the doctor needs is at hand in a predictable way, minimizing the need for the doctor to look up from the microscope while waiting for the assistant or searching for an instrument.
An organized approach to tray setups helps assistants ensure that everything is in place before the doctor starts treatment. Here are some guidelines to improve treatment room efficiency and tray setups:
- Tray setups should be for each procedures type (root canal, retreatment, surgical, etc.)
- Determine the items, order, placement and orientation of each item on the doctor tray so that time isn’t wasted hunting for something. It should always be consistently in the same place for the doctor.
- On the assistant tray, determine the items, order, placement and orientation of each item based on the doctor’s treatment steps. Ensure items are arranged so it is easy to hand something to the doctor in the way they prefer so they don’t have to look up.
- If there are multiple doctors in the practice, tray setups will be different for each doctor to match their treatment steps and clinical preferences.
- Document or photograph standardized tray setups so that all assistants in the practice are consistently organized for the doctor.
- Have sufficient tray setups on hand at the start of the day for the doctor’s full schedule.
- In addition to being prepped with the right tray setup, assistants should have the bur loaded in the handpiece for the doctor. That means understanding what burs are needed for different procedures and teeth they are working on.
- Also, don’t forget to have apico/retrofill/surgical tray setups readily on hand in the event that the procedure changes during a patient treatment. This ensures that the doctor’s clinical flow is not interrupted while waiting for the assistant to retrieve one.
Remember, the objective is that neither the doctor nor the dental assistant needs to get up and leave the treatment room once a procedure begins. Tray setups (and a properly stocked operatory) keep appointments moving smoothly and efficiently.