Dental assistants are part of a dental care team and work under the direction of dentists. They perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. Dental assistants may perform a variety of tasks within a dental office, including both laboratory and office duties

Dental Assistant Certification in most states will regulate the duties that are allowed to be performing through licensed, registration or certification. Certification is an acknowledgment of a Dental Assistant’s qualifications and professional competence and may be an asset when one is seeking employment. Most assistants earn salaries equal to other health care personnel with similar training and experience such as medical assistants, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, veterinary technicians and pharmacy assistants. Dental assistants also report excellent career satisfaction.

Educational requirements and skills are usually learned on the job, although some receive training from Dental-Assisting programs offered by community and junior colleges, trade schools, technical institutes, or the Armed Forces. According to the American Dental Association, 87 percent of dentists offer reimbursement for continuing education courses taken by their assistants. Most educational programs take 12 months to complete. For annual recertification, individuals must earn continuing education credits.

Duties performed in this role may include, but are not limited to: operatory maintenance, oral evacuation, identification and transfer of dental instruments, matrix band assembly, anesthetic syringe assembly, fluoride application, exposure and processing of radiographs, and mixing dental materials. Duties include: filing, scanning, data entry and other various responsibilities. Duties of a dental assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. Assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. Assistants who perform specialized duties, such as radiological procedures, may have to complete the Radiation Health and Safety examination offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Individual states have adopted different standards for assistants who perform certain advanced duties.

Dental assistants should be distinguished from dental hygienists, who generally have a higher level of training and can perform simple dental procedures such as scaling and cleaning. They do not generally work on the patient’s teeth directly. Dental assistants must be a second pair of hands for a dentist; therefore, dentists look for people who are reliable, work well with others, and have good manual dexterity. Any with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials. Assistants held about 280,000 jobs in 2006. They will become certified by passing an examination that evaluates their knowledge.

Tags : Dental Assistant, Dentures, Fluoridation

Sedation dentistry is offered to patients a worry-free experience that leads to a beautiful smile. Below, we’ll describe the types of sedation offered, reasons to consider the process, and the best way to find an experienced sedation dentist.

Types Of Sedation Dentistry

Oral sedatives are usually in the form of pills and are often given to patients who exhibit very little anxiety. Patients are given the pills up to two hours before the procedure is performed. While they do have a sedative effect, it’s often minimal. On the other hand, those who have intense anxiety about dental procedures should take advantage of intravenous sedation. Given through an injection, its effect is usually immediate and patients rarely have a memory of the procedure. Nitrous oxide is another common form of sedative . It typically only gives the patient a tingling feeling and a general sense of well-being.

Reasons To Choose Sedation Dentistry

Millions of people avoid visiting their dentist and having a number of important procedures performed. Cavities go unchecked, tooth erosion is neglected, and gum disease is ignored. Sadly, the reason why these dental problems are allowed to persist (often, painfully) is because many people fear having dental work done. Intravenous sedation eliminates this fear. Patients can visit a trained dentist and have most types of procedures completed without having to endure any discomfort or pain.

Other people have a gag reflex when dentists perform work in their mouths. Sedation helps these patients to completely relax, allowing their dentists to perform work that is essential for good oral health. Still others want to have cosmetic dental work done, but they fear the pain involved. They, too, can benefit from being sedated intravenously.

Finding A Sedation Dentist

You should ask your dentist what type of sedation they commonly give to their patients. Also, inquire about their level of experience and the types of equipment they use to monitor patients while they’re sedated.

Raleigh Comprehensive and Cosmetic Dentistry offers you the option of being able to receive sedation treatment in the safe, comfortable environment of their offices. Sedation dentistry can be used for any and all dental procedures, ranging from a simple cleaning to in-office bleaching to root canals, implants, crowns, and veneers. There is no longer a need to become anxious about or postpone treatment. Not only does the time pass quickly, they can often accomplish more procedures in one visit than they would attempt for a patient who would not be receiving sedation.

Enjoying A Beautiful Smile

Prior to the availability of sedation dentistry, people either allowed their oral health to deteriorate or they tolerated a less-than-appealing smile. Their fear kept them away from their dentist’s office. Today, most procedures can be performed after the patient has received a sedative. The sedative works almost instantly and when they wake, the patient is unlikely to remember any portion of the treatment. If the fear of having dental work done has discouraged you from visiting your dentist, reconsider the importance of proper dental health. With the extra comfort of this dental technique, you can have the work you need performed easily and painlessly so you can enjoy a beautiful smile.

Tags : Dental Care, Dentist, Sedation Dentistry