Melinda Wilkes Scholarship Winner: Lauren Ponga
Congratulations to Lauren Ponga of the Veterinary Technician program. She is the recipient of the September 2019 Melinda Wilkes Scholarship Award! The scholarship is based on demonstrated scholastic achievement and potential for success in the students chosen field of work.
READ MOREWhat is Pet Dental Health Month?
How to care for your pet’s dental health this month and beyond According to the American Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of households in the U.S. own a pet, or about 90.5 million families. Just like us, these furry friends need the proper care to ensure a long and healthy life. Sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), February is regarded as Pet Dental Health Month, which is a reminder for pet owners to evaluate their furry friend’s dental hygiene. Unlike us, pets cannot clean their teeth with daily brushing and flossing. However, pet owners can
READ MOREDental Assisting — What I’ve Learned
Dental assisting will teach you some important lessons. Learning office procedures, adapting your work style to fit the dentist’s needs, and adjusting to the needs of the individual patient is often something young dental assistants struggle with. Melissa Ibarra has been a dental assistant for eight years and says young and aspiring dental assistants often struggle with how to best make those adjustments and for finding the maximum level of success right out of the gate. Here are her top pieces of advice: Don’t get frustrated if you struggle in the beginning: In any job, there is a learning curve,
READ MOREVeterinary Terminology Cheat Sheet
Veterinary Terminology Veterinary science, like any other field of medicine, has a vast amount of its own unique terms. It’s important when attending veterinary assistant school to learn the basic terminology to more effectively communicate in a veterinary office. Like other medical terminology, veterinary terms are best learned by breaking them down into their component parts. Veterinary terminology has three basic parts (not all of which are used in every word): the prefix, root, and suffix. Common Veterinary Terminology Terms Defined Contralateral. Prefix: Contra- (against). Root: lateral (side). Meaning: Affecting the opposite side. Endoscope. Prefix: Endo- (inner). Root: scope. Meaning:
READ MORE8 Surprising Stats About the Veterinary Industry
Digging Deeper into the Veterinary Medicine Everyone who owns a pet will at some point need to go to a vet clinic for something. The veterinary industry is a $50.2 billion industry in the United States. With how large the industry is, there are many things you probably didn’t know about the industry. Here are several statistics about the veterinary industry that might surprise you. 1. 67% of Households in the U.S. Have a Pet This means that as a veterinarian technician, you will likely have the opportunity to interact with over half of the people in your area, or
READ MORETop 5 Tips for Dental Assistants
A visit to the dentist can make people nervous and/or uncomfortable. Patients don’t want to sit in a chair getting dental work done; it’s not what you would call fun. Plus, there is the thought of feeling pain throughout the procedure. So patients may feel both uncomfortable and fearful. It is important for a dental assistant to calm the patient and make them feel more comfortable before the work begins. Here are the Top 5 Tips for dental assistants to make their patients feel more comfortable. Create a friendly environment for all the patients. Greet patients with a smile and
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