Ronda Holman found her passion for dental assisting while in the Air Force.
She assisted in oral surgery, general dentistry, and ended her four-year service as a prophy tech, the military’s version of a dental hygienist.
She married and spent 13 years traveling the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Each time Ronda relocated she got the opportunity to work in a new dental office, where she picked up pearls that have helped her become an expert in educating dental assistants.
Her interests are immediate denture/partial fabrication, CEREC technology, patient education, and striving for optimal chairside skills.
Ronda believes that every dental assistant has the potential to be a rock star assistant if given the right tools and guidance.
Buying a Dental Practice Is the Easy Part—Earning the Team’s Trust Is the Real Work
By: Ronda Holman Purchasing an existing dental practice offers a significant advantage: a team that already knows…
Meaningful Ways New Dentists Can Show Gratitude to Their Team During the Holidays
…Without Spending Much Money By: Ronda Holman The holiday season is a perfect opportunity for new dentists…
Did Your Dental Assistant Give You Expired Anesthetic Again?
If So, Here’s What We Need to Do By: Ronda Holman There’s nothing that sinks a dentist’s…
Blessing or Curse? The 4 O’Clock Dilemma
By: Ronda Holman It’s 3:55 p.m. on a Thursday. The 4 o’clock patient just canceled. You can almost…
That’s Not My Job: Why Clear Delegation Matters in Dentistry
By: Ronda Holman You’ve probably heard the old story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and…
How Dentists Can Be Patient with Their Dental Assistant as They’re Still Learning
By: Ronda Holman Every dentist remembers that awkward learning curve when they first started practicing — the…
3 Ways to Invest in Your Dental Assistant
By: Ronda Holman What Dentists Can Learn from Chef Tina in The Bear In the TV series…
Why Dental Teams Should Learn Together
By: Ronda Holman In the fast-paced world of dentistry, continuing education (CE) is essential, not just for…
What’s Keeping Your Dental Assistant from Becoming an EFDA?
By: Ronda Holman If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you had two pairs of hands during a…
Help! My Dental Assistant Keeps Giving My Patients Dirty Glasses
By: Ronda Holman It might seem like a small thing, but when a dental assistant hands a…
Learning to Talk Teeth: Why Communication is Your Most Important Skill in Dentistry
By: Michael Eid Dental school will teach you how to perform basic dentistry—but one thing that often gets overlooked is how to communicate with patients. The truth is, patients don’t just buy treatment; they buy trust. The way you talk to them will make or break whether they accept your recommendations. Listen First Most patients…
Chairside Air Abrasion: A Game-Changer in Modern Adhesive Dentistry
By: Dr. Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org, Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. The need for precise, clean tooth preparation methods has increased, especially in adhesive dentistry. One tool that has risen in popularity is chairside air abrasion. Once dismissed due to logistical headaches, this technique…
The Most Important Thing to Become Financially Independent
By: Dr. James Pitts Have you ever wondered what is the most important item in becoming financially independent in Dentistry? Certainly, there are many factors. High-Producing Practice? Some Dentists would think having a high-producing practice is the key. While producing a lot of revenue makes it easier to become wealthy, it is not the most…
Creating Success-Oriented Patient Relationships in Dentistry
By: Paul A. Henny, DDS This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Henny granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. The word “prescriptive” recently got stuck in my head. It made me think about the important distinction between a relationship that’s primarily focused on “giving directions or injunctions” versus mutually goal-oriented and collaborative. It’s…
Management of Congenitally Missing Teeth in Ectodermal Dysplasia
By: Daren Becker, DMD This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Becker granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Case Presentation A 16-year-old girl presented with the worst case of ectodermal dysplasia I had ever seen. She was missing all of her lower teeth except for her 12-year molars. She presented with a lower…
Don’t Guess Your Way Through Credentialing — Maximize ROI from Day One
By: Angela Holland Stepping into your first dental practice is like jumping into the deep end — exciting, but full of unknowns. You’re a clinician, not an insurance guru, and that’s okay. You don’t know what you don’t know, especially when it comes to strategic credentialing. But here’s the truth: a sloppy approach to insurance…
Lessons Learned From Listening to Different Preceptors as a D4
By: Michael Eid One of the hardest parts of dental school isn’t the hand skills or the exams — it’s treatment planning. One thing I’ve learned is that every preceptor has their own philosophy. At first, you want to take every word as gospel. But the deeper you get into clinic, the more you realize:…
Mentoring the Next Generation of Dentists: Your Legacy Matters
By: Edwin A. McDonald, DDS This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. McDonald granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. After over 40 years of offering relationship-based dentistry, I’ve learned that while the clinical aspects of dentistry continue to evolve, the core human needs remain the same. Patients still want to be heard, understood,…
Removing Saliva Contamination Effectively from Indirect Restorations
By: Dr. Lee Ann Brady, DMD This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org, Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. One of the most common and frustrating challenges with indirect restorations is achieving a strong bond after intraoral try-ins. Saliva contamination during this step is nearly unavoidable, yet even a small amount can…
Equal Pay vs. Fair Pay: What’s Best for Your Practice?
By: Garrett Wilson Compensation is one of the toughest decisions dental offices face. Limited access to reliable data, a lack of clear best practices, and the absence of a consistent structure can make it overwhelming. But one choice every practice must make is whether to follow an equal pay or a fair pay philosophy. Equal…