Dental assistants and dental hygienists are both important roles in the field of dentistry. They typically work together in the dental office, with hygienists performing assessments and treating patients while assistants work alongside hygienists and handle administrative duties.
Full Answer
What does a dental hygienist do?
As nutrition plays a role in oral health, the DHs also inform patients about the right diet to follow. As in the case of a DA, a DH's duties depend on the dental facility they work in and their state regulations. Another common factor is that DHs work closely with patients too, and so they must have sound interpersonal and communication skills.
What skills do dental assistants and Dental Hygienists need?
In order to effectively care for the needs of dental patients, both dental assistants and dental hygienists must possess specialized dental knowledge and certain skills including detail-orientedness, interpersonal skills, hand dexterity, and high verbal communication skills.
What is the employment outlook for a dental hygienist and dental assistant?
While a dental assistant does administrative and clinical work under a dentist's supervision, a dental hygienist can provide preventive dental care in an unsupervised capacity. The employment outlook for both is positive.
What education do you need to become a dental hygienist?
To work as a DH, you will need to have at least an associate degree from an accredited dental school. Some employers prefer candidates to have a bachelor's degree or a master's degree, so, if you get these, you will have more possibilities for career expansion.
What are the roles of the dentist the dental hygienist and the dental assistant?
Dental assistants perform a range of tasks related to patient care and administrative clinical work. Dental hygienists clean and polish patients' teeth, perform dental health examinations to check for oral diseases, and educate patients on best dental practices.
What are the roles of a dental hygienist?
Hygienists use a variety of tools and techniques to remove tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth, improving their patients' dental health by preventing cavities and tooth loss while simultaneously helping them achieve the bright, beautiful smile that they want, while helping the patient to maintain their overall health ...
What are the roles of 3 members of the clinical dental health team?
Dental assistant- directs patients, assists the dentist during procedures, and also can perform some procedures themselves. Dental hygienist- provides preventative, therapeutic, and educational services to patients. Business assistant- handles paperwork,appointment,& billing.
What are the 5 roles of dental assistant?
6 Dental Assistant Duties You Need to Know AboutHelping patients feel comfortable. ... Teaching patients about oral hygiene. ... Providing patients with follow-up instructions. ... Documenting dental care services. ... Taking and developing X-rays. ... Assist the dentist directly.
What is the primary role of a dental assistant?
Duties of a Dental Assistant Assisting with dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, and extractions. Taking & pouring dental impressions (molds of the mouth) Preparing patients for surgery. Operating equipment and monitors.
What are 10 responsibilities of a dentist?
What Dentists Do About this sectionRemove decay from teeth and fill cavities.Repair or remove damaged teeth.Place sealants or whitening agents on teeth.Administer anesthetics to keep patients from feeling pain during procedures.Prescribe antibiotics or other medications.More items...•
Who are the 4 members of the dental team?
Roles in the dental teamDental hygienist. You'll help children and adults look after their teeth and gums. ... Dental nurse. You'll support the dentist in all aspects of patients' dental care. ... Dental technician/dental technologist. ... Dental therapist. ... Dentist.
Who is the most important person in the dental team?
The most important person on your dental office team is the patient!Some dentists are so worried about their own in-office team that they almost forget about the patient. ... Start thinking of the patient as your most important team member.More items...•
What are some skills dental hygienist have?
10 Most Important Skills You Need as a Dental HygienistOral Communication. To treat patients, you will need to talk to them. ... Attention to Detail. ... Compassion. ... Problem Solving. ... Manual Dexterity. ... Conducting Initial Dental Assessments. ... Removing Deposits from Teeth. ... Applying Fluoride Treatments.More items...•
What is the difference between a dentist and a dental hygienist?
Basically, a dentist is a doctor. A hygienist is not. But hygienists can still do more than an assistant. The dentist examines and treats your teeth, the dental hygienist cleans your teeth and helps you prevent disease, and the dental assistant helps the dentist (and sometimes the hygienist.)
What is the difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist?
While a dental assistant does administrative and clinical work under a dentist's supervision, a dental hygienist can provide preventive dental care in an unsupervised capacity. The employment outlook for both is positive.
What does a dental assistant need to know?
They must be able to clearly and accurately explain the various dental treatments and procedures to the patients. They also need to have a compassionate attitude to deal well with patients of different ages and personalities, and, in many cases, to ease their anxiety about their dental treatment.
What do DAs do?
They also make teeth casts and expose and develop X-rays. DAs stand beside the dentist and the dental hygienist while they are examining and attending to the patient and hand them the tools and other dental materials they need and perform the suctioning.
What do dental dhs use?
For many of their dental procedures, DHs use hand tools, drills, ultrasonic equipment, and X-rays. Manual dexterity and being attentive to detail are essential traits for DHs. As they have to stand a lot while attending to patients, they must have adequate physical stamina, too.
What skills do dental DAs need?
As DAs have to deal directly with patients, it is essential to have decent interpersonal and communication skills to do well in this role. You should be able to interact with different personalities and correctly explain the treatment as well as the procedure to follow for dental preventive care.
What do DAs need to know?
Most DAs need to have a basic knowledge of dental medicine and equipment, and they'll have to order new supplies when needed. As part of their clinical duties, they prepare the treatment room, clean and sterilize the various tools and equipment, and assemble other dental materials.
How long does it take to become a dental assistant?
It is possible to complete training as a dental assistant in order to start a dental career in as few as eight months. On the other hand, you cannot become a dental hygienist without having at least an associate degree, and your career prospects may increase if you have a bachelor's degree or a master's degree.
What do dental hygienists do?
Dental hygienists advise patients on what types of oral health tools (e.g., toothbrushes and floss) are best for their individual needs, and educate patients on proper brushing and flossing homecare techniques to promote good oral health practices.
What is a dental assistant?
Definition. Dental assistants perform a range of tasks related to patient care and administrative clinical work. Dental hygienists clean and polish patients’ teeth, perform dental health examinations to check for oral diseases, and educate patients on best dental practices. Typical Responsibilities.
How to protect teeth from decay?
Remove plaque, tartar, and stains from patients’ teeth. Apply sealants and fluoride treatments to protect teeth from decay. Take and develop dental x-rays. Assess the oral health of patients and give health reports to dentists. Document patient records and prescribed treatment plans.
What are the skills required to be a dental assistant?
In order to effectively care for the needs of dental patients, both assistants and hygienists must possess specialized dental knowledge and demonstrate certain skills including hand dexterity, attention to detail, clear communication, and strong interpersonal skills.
How long does it take to become a dental assistant?
Education. On-the-job training in place of formal education is accepted in some states. Other states require students to complete a one or two-year dental assistant vocational program accredited by CODA. An associate’s degree in dental hygiene is typically required and takes approximately two years to complete.
What education do you need to become a dental assistant?
Dental assistant requirements vary the most; some states require no formal education in lieu of on-the-job training, while other states require students to graduate from a one- or two-year dental assistant vocational program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), an organization associated with the American Dental Association (ADA). Some states require dental assistants to earn nationally-recognized certification through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
How long does it take to get a dental hygiene degree?
An associate’s degree in dental hygiene is typically required and takes approximately two years to complete. More than 300 dental hygiene programs are accredited through CODA.
Dental Assistant: Administration Tasks and Preparing Tools and Equipment
Dental assistants are responsible for administrative tasks such as scheduling, billing, greeting patients, confirming appointments, setting up rooms for visits, and cleaning exam rooms. Dental assistants may also clean tools, handle dental records, and prepare x-ray machines.
Dental Hygienist: Responsible for More Direct Care With Patients
The dental hygienist works closely with patients doing many of the tasks that were once exclusively the responsibility of the dentist. Your dental hygienist is the person who cleans your teeth, conducts dental and periodontal exams, reviews your oral health history, checks vital signs, and takes x-rays.
What About Dentists?
Although dental hygienists can identify oral health conditions or issues, they can’t officially diagnose the problem. Dentists will diagnose oral health issues and also conduct oral cancer screenings.
