Dental Careers

DENTIST Dentists diagnose and treat problems with a patient’s teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They provide advice and instruction on taking care of teeth and oral cavity. Dentists must be licensed in all states; requirements vary by state. To qualify for a license in most states, applicants must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical exams. The median annual wage for dentists was $149,310 in May 2012. $149,310 per year $71.79 per hour Employment of dentists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations.

HYGIENIST Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. Almost all dental hygienists work in dentists’ offices, which are clean and well lit. More than half of dental hygienists work part time. Dental hygienists typically need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. All states require dental hygienists to be licensed; requirements vary by state. The median annual wage for dental hygienists was $70,210 in May 2012. $33.75 per hour Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 33 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health to general health will continue to spur demand for preventative dental services, which are often provided by dental hygienists

DENTAL ASSISTANTS Dental assistants have many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work. Almost all dental assistants work in dentists' offices. Most work full time. There are several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass a state exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements. The median annual wage for dental assistants was $34,500 in May 2012. $16.59 per hour Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 25 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will likely continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services.

Teeth- There are 32 adult(permanent) teeth in the Oral Cavity Teeth- There are 32 adult(permanent) teeth in the Oral Cavity. They are divided into arches(maxillary, mandibular) and Quadrants ( UR, UL,LL,LR)

Numbers of teeth Midline

Crown is the portion of the tooth that is visible, the root is the portion that sits in the bone and gingiva(gum). Enamel is a hard protectant crown layer, dentin protects the pulp, cementum is the layer that protects the root section. The pulp is made up of nerve, blood and lymph tissue and is responsible for sending sensations as well as nourishing the tissue of the tooth.

Direction Mesial, Distal, Buccal/Facial, Lingual, Incisal/Occlusal

Occ filling DI filling DO filling

ACTIVITIES ORAL CAVITY EXAM Brushing Flossing Disclosing

ORAL CAVITY MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WASHED YOUR HANDS AND PLACED YOUR PPE ON. (GOWN, GLASSES, MASK, AND GLOVES) COUNT EACH TOOTH THAT IS PRESENT AND MARK A LINE THROUGH ANY TOOTH THAT IS NOT VISIBLE IF THERE IS AN AREA THAT HAS A CROWN OR A FILLING, COLOR JUST THAT AREA BLUE ON YOUR CHART IF THERE IS AN AREA THAT IS CHIPPED OR MIGHT BE A CAVITY, COLOR IT RED TEACH YOUR PATIENT HOW TO BRUSH AND FLOSS FLOSS YOUR PTS ENTIRE MOUTH.

Charting an oral cavity exam 1. Draw a black line through any teeth that are not visible 2. Color all areas of existing restorations in blue. 3. Color all areas of needed restorations in red.

Charting

BASS METHOD

FLOSSING

FLOSSING AND BRUSHING

DISCLOSING YOUR PT. 1. Make sure your patient is not allergic to red or blue dye. 2.Wash your hands and put PPE on. 3. Place disclosing solution in an accessible container. 4. Use Cotton swab to paint every surface of the pts. Teeth. 5. Have the Pt. swish and spit. 6. Chart all areas of plaque- New and old on Plaque record sheet including the % 7. Pt. education!!!

Plaque record index

Disclosing