knowing who works at the office of the dentist
TRANSCRIPT
Knowing who works at the office of the dentist
One should understand that the dentistry profession is just not limited to the dentists. They will have
staff members who often spend most of the time with patients, trying to educate them on the different
requirements and answering to all their queries. When the patients visit any oral care facility, they are
able to see four major positions present in the oral care profession. They are dental assistants, dental
therapists, oral hygienists and dental technicians. Dental assistant position will need a minimum
education level, even though every state requires for this work in the industry may differ. Dental
assistants are known to perform precisely what their title tends to suggest, which is to assist the
dentists. Laying out the tools, sterilizing equipments, passing tools, suctioning during procedures, taking
x-rays, all are considered to be part of duties of the dental assistants employed with gold coast dental.
What do the professionals do?
Licensing is necessary for becoming a dental hygienist. The licensed dental hygienist is also known as
oral hygienist. The dental hygienists are regarded to be specialists in the domain of preventive oral care.
Such professionals do take x-rays, clean gums and teeth, scaling as well as root planning which is
required for the periodontal disease patients, to give patient fluoride, to apply dental sealants, to
educate patients in regards to home care for gums and teeth. The patients will need to spend a majority
of the time in the dental office under the supervision of the oral hygienist. These professionals will
follow 5 step care procedure, which includes diagnosis, assessment, planning, evaluation and
implementation. The scope of what the oral hygienist will be permitted to undertake is limited or
expanded by state or local governmental regulations.
Who are dental therapists?
These are professionals, who are well trained especially in oral hygiene that is quite specific to children’s
gums and teeth. Often they assist pediatric dentists having scaling, taking x-rays, cleaning, examining
child’s gums and teeth, providing local anesthesia, restoring primary teeth, applying sealants,
conducting pulpotomies, etc. The precise duties that come under dental therapists’ scope are
determined by the regulations at state and local levels. Dentists for whom therapist works can limit the
scope of duties latter.
Dentistry has definitely come a very long way. Nowadays, one can visit the dental office to avail full
dental implants at affordable costs, without the expenses becoming a burden for them. Doing some
research can also help them to know more about the dentist office and how efficient the professionals
are.