When you walk into a dentist’s office, there may be a few people who you do not recognize beyond the patient waiting area. Many dental offices are full of employees who each carry out a crucial part of the dental experience. Just because you are going to the dentist’s office, this doesn’t mean that you will only find dentists. You may find various team members of the dental office who are not specifically related to the dental process. To be more aware of your surroundings, here is a run down of the different dental team members in the office and how they contribute to the dental experience.
The first person you will probably come in contact with, whether you call ahead for an appointment or walk in, is the dental receptionist. This person is in charge of arranging the dentist’s schedule and greeting patients as they walk in. The dental receptionist also takes care of the necessary paperwork which is needed in order to assess the patient’s prior medical and dental history and the patient’s insurance information. The dental receptionist is one of the most stressful and crucial roles in the dental office team.

The Insurance dental worker often deals with paperwork and meetings with patients. Some financial options are available for patients who may not be insured. Therefore, the insurance worker will work with patients in order to finance their dental needs. If there are any unresolved problems with a patient’s insurance the insurance worker will normally take care of all unfinished business and make final decisions regarding issues with one’s dental insurance.

The dental assistant will often be working side by side with the dentist as an apprentice in order to learn the trade. The dental assistant most often prepares the patients by welcoming them into the room, accompanying the patient while waiting for the dentist, answering questions, preparing materials for the dentist and assisting the dentist in whatever he or she needs during the dental patient’s appointment. The dental assistant is the wing person for the dentist.

The dental hygienist is not a dentist. A dental hygienist usually performs varying tasks which range from taking x- ray photos of the patient’s teeth, to polishing and cleaning a patient’s teeth. Other tasks that a dental hygienist performs includes preparing for cavity work, including creating the cavity space and filling the tooth. A dental hygienists task duties are normally dictated by the state he or she is working in.

The dentist takes care of just about everything else that a patient needs done. He or she will examine the patient’s teeth, make diagnosis and perform all other types of dental procedures. Such dental procedures include filling cavities, creating crowns, fitting crowns, extracting teeth and much more. Depending on whether a dentist is a general practitioner or a specialist, his or her duties may differ. For example, some dentists perform dental surgery including root canals, wisdom teeth extractions and teeth implants.

Get to know your dental office team upon your next visit.

About The Author: Dr. H. Chehayeb, family dentist in WashingtonDC, is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University. He regularly upgrades his clinical skills by attending continuing education courses covering all areas of cosmetic and general dentistry. Visit his site at berkshirefamilydental.com
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An open, thriving and interesting career path is that of dental hygienist. With a degree from an accredited dental hygiene school and a license to practice in the state you are considering working in, you will be able to embark on a wonderful journey which will be prosperous and challenging. However, one important question to ask before dedicating yourself to this dental profession is what do dental hygienists do?
A dental hygienist is not a dentist. However, they are more like an apprentice to a dentist as they usually work side by side with a dentist. The main duties of a dental hygienist is to remove the hard or soft deposits of plaque that have formed on the patent’s teeth and look over the patient’s teeth to determine if there are any dental problems or possible diagnosis of a forming dental disease.

Another large part of being a dental hygienist is to help patient’s learn more about dental health and good oral hygiene. Many patients that walk into a dentist office do not know much about oral hygiene at all. However, there is a technique and a routine that is involved in good dental hygiene. Therefore, many dental hygienists take the time to explain to patients how to brush their teeth, the importance of flossing and how to floss, the purpose of mouthwash, how many times a day and when patients should brush their teeth, etc.

Since a dental hygienist performs a variety of diverse tasks, this means that they are skilled with multiple dental tools and instruments which are necessary to complete their job. When a dental hygienist performs a dental cleaning by removing plaque, he or she often uses a variety of ultrasonic devices and hand and rotary instruments in order to complete the task. These instruments are fundamental to removing hardened plaque, any stains and/or calculus that may have formed in order to give the teeth a clean and polished appearance.

In order to determine if there are any oral diseases forming, many dental hygienists use x ray machines in order to get a closer look at what is going on the patient’s mouth. They will also take these x rays for the dentists. While explaining about good oral health, a dental hygienist will also use model teeth, dental floss and toothbrushes to demonstrate to a patient how one should brush his or her teeth.

Depending on where you are thinking about practicing, some dental hygienists are able to administer different types of anesthetics before a patient submits to dental procedure such as filling a cavity. Once again, depending on the dental laws of the state, some dental hygienists are even allowed to prepare and fill cavities, periodontal dressings, perfecting restorations and more.

Dental hygienists have many important responsibilities within the walls of a dentist’s office. They are an invaluable part of a dental staff and do not just sit on the sidelines. Dental hygienists are active in their duties and are an indispensable member of any dental office staff.

About The Author: Dr. H. Chehayeb, family dentist in Washington DC, is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University. He regularly upgrades his clinical skills by attending continuing education courses covering all areas of cosmetic and general dentistry. Visit his site at http://berkshirefamilydental.com
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