A clinical dental technologist as described in the Dental technicians act is a person who has undergone training in treating patients requiring complete artificial dentures and is registered under the medical, dental, and supplementary health service professions act, 1974 (Act, 1979)
Clinical dental technology is a subsection of dentistry. The scope of practice involves the dental technicians scope of practice as well as a clinical dental technologist can fabricate and fit complete full dentures and partial dentures. They can also take impressions and undertake other non-invasive clinical procedures to construct complete and partial immediate dentures as well as for over dentures.
The clinical dental technologist also fits and repairs maxillofacial prostheses in collaboration with a dental specialist or medical practitioner. The clinical dental technologist will also examine the patients oral tissue to ensure that the mouth is free from disease and/or abnormalities. The clinical dental technologist is also responsible of educating the patient on how to maintain good oral health and the maintenance and cleaning of the prostheses. (technology, 2018)
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With the rise in cost of quality health care in South Africa the individuals who are poverty stricken are forced to go to government hospitals and clinics for dental care. South Africa’s elderly population is also estimated to be on the rise at 8.1% (StatsSA, 2017) and this population will most likely be in need of dentures and will have to most likely go to government hospitals or clinics to get their dentures which would not be of the same quality as the dentures purchased from the more expensive private
Some people tend to believe that a dentist is all about pulling teeth, filling gaps, and drilling holes in a mouth. That may be true, but this is more about the person that treats a patient prior to a dentist drilling into a mouth. Dental Hygienists provide more than just the basic examination. They also give advice on how to properly brush and floss, the types of foods to avoid, and give examples of what teeth could look like if not taken care of correctly. A dental hygienist provides preventive, therapeutic, restorative and educational interventions to promote optimal oral health.
An orthodontist’s job is to identify the underlying problem of the teeth, identify the cause and proceed with the treatment based on his identifications. There are certain steps
1)Why do you want to be a Dental Assistant? I love people and that is why I want to become a Dental assistant. Being a huge people person and I'm always willing to learn, adapting is essential to this line of work and that is why I will be a perfect fit for the dental assistant program. Getting to know the patients and spending time with them is one of the reasons I am really looking forward to my future as a DA. I am an empathetic person and easily relate to others. This will really help me to be able to provide my patients with the best possible care. Originally I had planned on applying to Manhattan Area Technical College for their Dental Hygienist program. They require that all applicants have a minimum of forty hours experience shadowing
It’s been a long time since the last narrative and a lot has changed. The internship with the dental hygienist failed miserably. After three sessions, my mentor just stopped communicating and cut all ties with me. I attempted to email her multiple times but I remained unheard. So, I had to find a way to troubleshoot and look for another mentor and place to intern at.
Dentistry as a profession over the years has evolved rapidly in light of new scientific evidence. Rapidly evolving science and technology have implemented changes within dentistry as evidenced by new standards and guidelines being produced by nationally recognised associations including National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in Scotland, in provision of new scientific evidence. The latest standards and guidelines produced, endorse everyday clinical practice through evidence based dentistry (REF). All dental professionals as part of continued professional development are expected to keep to date on relevant guidelines and knowledge related to their practice (REF). This is supported by the General Dental Council who state all clinicians must maintain their professional knowledge and competence throughout their working career (REF).
Assisting the dentist in everything from patient relations to a wide variety of dental treatments and procedures.
As we grow up, we are often asked what we want to be. Many people say careers such as a doctor or an actor. When I grow up, I want to be a dental hygienist. When I tell people this they often think i’m crazy for wanting to “work in someone’s mouth”. Dental hygiene is appealing to me. It is a big part of personal hygiene and keeping yourself healthy. One of the first things a person notices about you is your smile and I want to help people perfect theirs. I know that being a dental hygienist will not be the easiest thing in the world but there are some benefits. You don’t have to work full time if you don’t want to. Also as stated by Jenny Lewellen, “Overtime is not expected” (Lewellen). Hygienists also get a good salary. “The median annual wage for
A dental hygienist is a very important role in any dental office. As stated by a dental assistant, “Dental hygienists work closely with the dentist as well as hands on with the patients. They assist dentists with operative procedures such as fillings and extractions, and making molds of patients teeth” (Wilson, Jennifer). A large part of their job is teaching patients proper dental care to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth. This includes proper brushing and flossing techniques. According to the job out look, a day as a dental hygienist can include taking x-rays, cleaning and scaling teeth, charting treatment plans, putting sealants on teeth, taking impressions of teeth and completing information about the patient’s oral and medical history (Summary). In some states dental hygienist are allowed to give local anesthetic and place and remove sutures (Delivering Local Anesthetic). According to advantages of becoming a dental hygienist, hygienists spend more hands on time with the patients than the dentist does. These are some of the instruments that dental hygienists use on a daily basis: toothbrush, scaler, mirror, ultrasonic scaler, explorer, suction, computer, salvia ejector, rubber cap polisher, dental models, x-ray machine and probe. The dental hygienist uses a toothbrush to remove soft plaque from the teeth. Plaque is a soft coating on the teeth that contain bacteria. The bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease. The amount of plaque on the teeth gives the hygienist an idea of how well the daily brushing and flossing of the patient’s teeth are completed on a regular basis. The scaler is used to remove hardened plaque or calculus from the teeth. The mirror is used to look closely at the surfaces of the teeth a...
Dental hygienist jobs have become one of the fastest growing occupations, with the growing population and increase in the elderly, the need for dental hygienists has become much greater. In the typical dentists office dental hygienists have many responsibilities, which include but aren't limited to teaching clients how important it is to maintain good oral hygiene and instructing them on the principles of preventive oral care. Dental Hygienists also help demonstrate to patients, typically younger, how to brush and floss their teeth correctly, how to select the correct type of toothbrush for their teeth and analyze patients' diets and counsel them on how to eat right to maintain good dental and gum health. While dental hygienists duties may vary from state to state due to state laws, most typically perform the same tasks which include examining the teeth and gums for any disease or abnormalities, taking medical and dental histories, and charting the condition of the client's teeth. Hygienists also clean, polish, inspect for cavities and loose fillings, look for cracks in teeth and remove plaque and tartar from teeth. They also remove hard and soft deposits from teeth and apply sealants to teeth. They administer anesthetics, take and develop X-rays, mix dental cements, and prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic test for the dentist to
A nurse is someone that is trained to manage patient health on individual and population levels. There are many different education levels for nurses, including licensed practical nurse and registered nurse, which requires an associates degree, midwife, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist, which requires a masters degree. Some places nurses may be employed in hospitals, physicians offices, nursing homes and schools. A dental hygienist and nurse may work together when providing dental care to patients in nursing homes or hospitals. A dental hygienist could help a nurse by teaching them how to provide proper dental care to patients. I enjoyed learning how to transfer patients from a wheelchair to a dental chair. There are many patients that
Healthcare is a necessity to sustain society. Dentistry is an area of healthcare that I feel extremely passionate about because access to proper dental care is limited, especially in the underserved communities. As an African American, I want to become a dentist and healthcare provider in the hopes of helping patients and adding to the diversification of the field. With a growing minority population in the United States, it has become apparent that there is a shortage of black dentists. This is problematic because underrepresented minorities are in great need of access to culturally connected dentists who understand their clinical needs as much as their lives and their challenges. I believe that when the profession includes a range of ethnicities
The career I have chosen for my future is to become a registered dental hygienist. It wasn’t until I actually learned what dental hygienists do that influenced my interest from medical to dentistry. The first honest reason I was gravitated to dental hygiene was because of the salary. I didn’t really know what Dental Hygienist actually did until I did some research.
It's important for any high school student to have an idea or plan of what they want to pursue in the near future. Most students want to go into the medical field, become a professional athlete, a lawyer, etc. Many talk about becoming a dentist, but not a dental assistant. Simply because they feel like it's not that big of a title of being a dental assistant as compared to a dentist. Little do they know dental assistants play a big role as well in the office. A dental assistant does many tasks and duties that help benefit the dentist and also the patients.
They then should look over the charts at the patient’s situation with their teeth and see what medical treatment they need. They then bring the patient in and perform the treatment. Lastly, they charge the patient for the certain treatments, like the cleaning, and then for say a filling, they will charge them separately, and then the patient will leave. Soon after, they will start all over again. Furthermore, there are a lot of skills required to be a Dental Hygienist, but yet simple ones.
... three quarters of all public expenditures for dental care in Canada is associated with treatment in a private dental facilities, where public insurance is billed as a third-party payer (9). However, only 30% of dentists deal with public insurance (8). The delivery method causes problems between dental service providers and public insurance. Public vs. private setting for dental care is also important to consider due to the disparity that exist with oral health and its access. Low-income and high-risk children (i.e. Aboriginal children) are unable to acquire dental care suffering medically and socially since they cannot afford the cost. Additionally seniors, individuals in long-term care, the homeless etc. are also in this category. Thus, sometimes delivering would be more appropriate in private dental setting, while in others, a public setting would be more ideal.