Dental Healthcare Team Chapter 2

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary responsibility of an Administrative Assistant in a dental office?

Coordinating financial arrangements with patients and handling insurance claims (correct)

Processing and managing bio-hazardous waste

Assisting the dentist during procedures

Preparing patients for treatment and readying set up for procedure

What is the term for a dental assistant who prepares patients for treatment, readies set up for procedure, assists during and keeps patients informed and comfortable?

Circulating Assistant

Sterilization Assistant

Office Chair-side Assistant (correct)

Administrative Assistant

What is the basis for informed consent in dentistry?

Patient Confidentiality

Ethical Standards

Patient Autonomy (correct)

Code of Conduct

What is the term for a dental assistant who moves from room to room, assisting the dentist during procedures?

Circulating Assistant Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the moral discipline concerned with good and bad, right and wrong, includes values, high standards of conduct, and personal obligations?

Ethics Signup and view all the answers

Why should dental assistants avoid tattoos and body piercings?

To maintain a professional appearance Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of a dentist in relation to a patient's care?

Legally responsible for the care of the patient Signup and view all the answers

What type of dental practice setting is associated with national and local agencies?

Government agency group practice Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical duration of education for a dental assistant?

1-2 years Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of a registered dental hygienist?

Performing oral health assessments and educating patients Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a professional dental assistant?

Having a positive approach in everything Signup and view all the answers

What type of dental specialist has pursued additional training in dental anesthesiology?

Dental anesthesiologist Signup and view all the answers

What is a responsibility of a dentist in relation to the dental team?

Providing legally required supervision for the dental team Signup and view all the answers

What is a type of dental practice setting that provides training for healthcare professionals?

Not-for-profit group practice Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical duration of education for a dental laboratory technician?

2 years Signup and view all the answers

What is a responsibility of a registered dental hygienist?

Preforming dental prophylaxis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of the principle of Nonmaleficence in dentistry?

Refraining from harming patients and delegating care to auxiliary personnel Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Advisory Opinions on Autonomy in dentistry?

To provide guidance on patient involvement in treatment plans Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of a dental assistant to the public and community?

Respecting human rights and environmental protections Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of the principle of Veracity in dentistry?

To tell the truth in the best interest of the patient Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the CDAA Code of Ethics?

To outline the responsibilities of dental assistants to patients, the public, and the profession Signup and view all the answers

What is the category of crime that includes insurance fraud or drug abuse in dentistry?

Felony Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of licensure in the field of dentistry?

To protect the public from incompetent and unqualified practitioners Signup and view all the answers

Which type of supervision requires the dentist to be physically present in the operatory during the procedure?

Direct supervision Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the discontinuation of care after treatment has begun, but before it has been completed?

Abandonment Signup and view all the answers

What is the legal duty of a patient to a dentist?

To pay a reasonable and agreed-on fee for services Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a legally binding agreement between two or more parties?

Contract Signup and view all the answers

What is the standard of care that a dentist is legally obligated to provide to patients?

The level of care at which the average provider with similar training and experience would practice in the same area Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key element in establishing a malpractice suit?

Damages Signup and view all the answers

What is the doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur in relation to malpractice lawsuits?

The thing speaks for itself Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for statements made spontaneously by anyone part of the dental team at the time of an alleged negligent act?

Res gestae statements Signup and view all the answers

What is the preferred means of obtaining and documenting a patient's consent to and understanding of a course of treatment?

Written consent Signup and view all the answers

What should be included in informed consent forms?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of documenting a patient's failure to keep appointments or last-minute cancellations?

To protect the practice from legal recourse Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for when a patient's actions or lack of actions negatively affect the treatment outcome?

Contributory negligence Signup and view all the answers

Who owns patient records and radiographs?

The dentist Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary intent of reporting abuse and neglect?

To protect the victim Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for abuse or control over an individual within the same household?

Domestic abuse Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Qualities of a Dental Assistant

Dedication: Take proactive steps for knowledge enhancement and professional growth.
Attitude: Foster a positive work environment by avoiding gossip and making collaborative efforts.
Responsibility and Initiative: Understand job expectations; support colleagues, learn new skills, and be punctual.
Teamwork: Emphasize collaborative efforts in the dental practice (Together Everyone Achieves More).

Roles of a Dental Assistant

Chair-side Assistant: Prepares patients for treatment, assists during procedures, ensures patient comfort.
Circulating Assistant: Acts as a floater, primarily in specialized offices to support complex procedures.
Sterilization Assistant: Processes instruments safely and manages bio-hazardous waste.
Administrative Assistant: Manages patient scheduling, phone communication, financial arrangements, and insurance claims.

Professional Appearance Standards

Maintain good health, grooming, and appropriate clinical attire.
Adhere to infection control protocols, keep uniforms clean, and maintain a tidy appearance.

Ethics and Code of Conduct in Dentistry

Principles of Ethics: Involve moral discipline, values, and high standards in patient interactions.
Patient Autonomy: Respect patients' choices and maintain their confidentiality concerning healthcare decisions.

The Dental Healthcare Team

Dentists assess, diagnose, and create treatment plans while also supervising the dental team including assistants, hygienists, and lab technicians.
Dental Specialties: Include areas like orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery.

Types of Dental Practice Settings

Transition from solo practices to group practices, involving various ownership structures for better healthcare delivery.

Roles and Responsibilities of Dental Assistants

Conduct patient assessments, assist in emergencies, perform radiographic procedures, manage infection control, and maintain patient records.

Characteristics of a Professional Dental Assistant

Exhibit professionalism, positive attitudes, and commitment to ethical standards like nonmaleficence (do no harm) and beneficence (doing good).

Legal Aspects in Dentistry

Statutory Law: Classification of offenses – felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions.
Malpractice: Professional negligence must fulfill four criteria: duty of care, dereliction, direct cause, and damages.

Types of Consent: Include implied, written, and informed refusal where patients make decisions based on provided risks and benefits.
Documentation: Accurate records are essential for informed consent, especially for extensive or risky procedures.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Dental professionals are mandated reporters and must report any reasonable suspicion of abuse in various forms, including child and elder abuse.

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Description

This quiz covers the roles and responsibilities of the dental healthcare team, including dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dental laboratory technicians.