Dental Team and Appliances Overview

Members of Dental Care

• The patient is the central figure in a dental office.
• The term "dontics" relates to teeth.
• Key members include:
  • Dentist: General and specialist roles.
  • Dental Assistant: Clinical, expanded functions, and business roles.
  • Dental Hygienist.
  • Dental Laboratory Technician.

Dentist

• Legally responsible for patient care and supervises the dental team.
• Recognized as the leader of the dental team.
• Nine dental specialties include:
  • Dental Public Health
  • Endodontics
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Oral Pathology
  • Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Periodontics
  • Prosthodontics

Dental Technicians

• Perform laboratory work under a licensed dentist's prescription.
• Construct and repair prosthetic devices such as full and partial dentures.
• Create restorations including crowns, bridges, inlays, and veneers.

Chairside Dental Assistant

• Responsibilities entail charting, handling rubber dams, passing instruments, mixing dental materials, and suctioning.
• Plays a direct role in patient dental care, providing reassurance to anxious patients.

Dental Public Health

• Focuses on policy development at various government levels to control and prevent disease.
• Engages in community dental screenings to assess public oral health needs.
• Prioritizes community health initiatives over individual patient care.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

• A new specialty utilizing advanced imaging techniques for diagnosing jaw, head, and neck issues.
• Aids in identifying tumors, infectious diseases, trauma, and temporomandibular disorders.

Endodontics

• Involves understanding, diagnosing, preventing, and treating pulp diseases.
• Commonly associated with root canal procedures; specialists are called endodontists.

Orthodontics

• Focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing teeth misalignment and related structures.
• Specialists in this area are orthodontists.

Periodontics

• Deals with diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the supporting structures of teeth.
• Specialists are known as periodontists.

Pediatric Dentistry

• Provides oral healthcare for children from birth through adolescence.
• Pediatric dentists address dental issues exacerbated by emotional and behavioral challenges.

Prosthodontics

• Concerns the restoration and replacement of teeth with artificial devices like crowns, dentures, and bridges.
• Specialists are referred to as prosthodontists.

Dental Terms

• Removable Complete Denture
• Removable Partial Denture
• Fixed Bridge
• Fixed Crown
• Fixed Implant
• Fixed Orthodontics
• Invisalign (removable orthodontics)

Additional Concepts

• Bacterial plaque and dental caries are significant dental health concerns.
• Types of fillings include prepared lab fillings and direct fillings.
• Night guards and mamelons are notable dental appliances used for specific conditions.