2020 Winning Dental Assistant
Kara Cornfield
Access Dental (AB)
Nominated for Excellence
Born and raised in the tight-knit community of Clarksburg, Ontario, Kara Cornfield had her sights set on success from an early age. She largely credits her competitive upbringing with two older brothers and active involvement in sports for her drive to succeed.
Upon obtaining her RDA certification in 2007, Kara practiced dental assisting in Ontario for a little over a year before moving to Grande Prairie. Shortly after, she accepted a position at Access Dental, where she has thrived ever since. “I moved to Alberta a very shy, quiet individual. The confidence I've gained in my role has been life changing. This practice shaped me into the proud, confident person I am today,” she said.
Kara finds helping people to be the most rewarding part of her job. “I love being able to give patients back the function they have lost or helping to enhance their smile,” she said.
While at times challenging, Kara believes earning a patient’s trust is essential to the delivery of optimal patient care. “It takes more than welcoming someone with a smile to make them comfortable. Each patient should be treated as an individual. Every one of them has unique needs, and in our field, it's important to not only meet their expectations, but to try and exceed them. Nothing should ever seem over the top or inconvenient to the dental assistant.”
A decade into her career, Kara remains passionate about her profession and the value it brings to a practice. “I believe a dental assistant's voice should be heard just as much as the dentist. A well-versed, knowledgeable dental assistant will only help a dentist's career for the better.”
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"Each patient should be treated as an individual. Every one of them has unique needs, and in our field, it's important to not only meet their expectations, but to try and exceed them."