From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

Most people would say we have five senses. But there is another sense you might not have heard of. It’s called chronoception, which is how we perceive and experience time. Some people see time as ever-present, not considering future consequences. Others dwell on the past. But not you. You are a planner and an achiever, aware that time waits for no one and that opportunities to broaden your career path are everywhere.

That’s one of the beautiful aspects about a career in dental assisting. It presents myriad chances to expand your earning potential, pave a course for lifelong learning, have diversity on the job everyday, help patients from all walks of life, and live an enriched life. Dental assisting is what you make of it.

Our cover story is an excellent example of an achiever. Carol K. Oeder demonstrates how a dental assistant with five children carved out a diverse career spanning 52 years—and counting. With a string of letters after her name attesting to her love for lifelong learning, Carol hopes her story inspires others to achieve their own goals.

It’s dental assistants like Carol whom we want to recognize for our 2014 Dental Assistant of the Year contest. Like previous years, our judges will have the difficult task of deciding who the winner is. Don’t miss your chance to be considered. Or if you know a colleague deserving of the honor, act now. The contest will be over before you know it.

And be sure to expand your learning with our infection control continuing education (CE) article by Eve Cuny. Even if you don’t need CE credit for your state, the article provides in-depth information on disinfection in the dental office.

Inside Dental Assisting looks forward to being your resource and inspiration all year long. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and support our sponsors. We couldn’t do it without them.

Sincerely,

Karen A. Auiler
kauiler@aegiscomm.com