Even the most nervous patients visiting Kess Orthodontics in Solon, Ohio, can feel at ease with AMT-certified orthodontic assistant Janie Zlocki, RDA, at their side.
Even the most nervous patients visiting Kess Orthodontics in Solon, Ohio, can feel at ease with AMT-certified orthodontic assistant Janie Zlocki, RDA, at their side.
Janie handles a variety of tasks, including booking appointments, cleaning and sterilizing the lab and equipment, and talking with patients to get them ready for their procedures. By taking the time to learn about patients, Janie can determine how to make them feel comfortable. If she notices a patient is more anxious than usual, she walks them through the procedure and shows them exactly what she is going to do to help them relax.
Janie says the most rewarding part of her job is seeing how excited the patients get when they find out it is time to get their braces off, and she enjoys helping them boost their confidence. “A smile can go a long way,” she says.
Janie was an outstanding student during her RDA training program and involved in many fundraisers, including the “Tooth Fairy Program,” which promotes children’s dental health to more than 450 preschool children.
“Janie is one of the most skilled and focused students I have ever encountered,” says Lisa Theodore, dental assisting instructor at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center. “She excels in chair-side assisting and preparing set-up trays. She is versatile in the dental laboratory, and she processes X-rays with the greatest of ease. Janie is also very organized and has a caring personality and helpful attitude.”
Janie says her AMT certification has helped her “learn to be a well-rounded dental assistant and be able to assess a situation and be ready to assist.” She is currently studying to be a dentist and says the flexibility at Kess Orthodontics allows her to continue her education while still being able to regularly practice her dental skills.
When she isn’t working or studying to be a dentist, Janie rounds out her time by training in CrossFit and running. She is currently training for her first half marathon.
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