DENTAL AUXILIARIESDR. M. DHIVYA LAKSHMI

DEFINITION

A dental auxiliary can be defined as ‘A person who is given responsibilities by a dentist so that he or she can help the dentists render dental care, but who is not himself or herself qualified with a dental degree’.

- Slack (1960)

CLASSIFICATION - WHO1. NON OPERATING

AUXILIARY:A) CLINICAL: a person who

assists the dentist in his clinical work but does not carry out any independent procedures in the oral cavity.

B) LABORATORY: a person who assist the professional (dentist) by carrying out certain technical laboratory procedures.

CLASSIFICATION - WHO

2. OPERATING AUXILIARY:This is a person who not being a professional is permitted to carry out certain treatment procedures in the mouth under the direction and supervision of a professional.

REVISED CLASSIFICATION Slack GL, Burt BA (1981)

NON OPERATING AUXILIARIES Dental surgery assistant Dental secretary/ receptionist Dental laboratory technician Dental health educatorOPERATING AUXILIARIES School dental nurse (New Zealand type) Dental therapist Dental hygienist Expanded function dental auxiliariesNEW TYPES OF DENTAL MANPOWER Dental licentiate Dental aides Community dental health coordinator Oral preventive assistant Advanced dental hygiene practitioner

DENTAL SURGERY ASSISTANT 1885 – Dr. C. Edmund Kells

of New Orleans Woman as “lady in

attendance” Help dentist in business

office as well as chair. Perform non – technical

work that do not require any or much training

Dentist can concentrate & devote full attention to care of patient.

DUTIES

RECEPTION OF THE PATIENT

PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT FOR ANY

TREATMENT

DUTIES

Preparation and provision of all necessary facilities, such as mouthwashes, napkins.

DUTIES

STERILIZATION CARE PREPARATION OF INSTRUMENTS PATIENT

INSTRUCTIONS

DUTIES

MIXING MATERIALS

AFTER TREATMENT

PATIENT CARE

PREPARATION OF SURGERY FOR NEXT PATIENT

DUTIES

PRESENTATION OF DOCUMENTS

ASSISTANCE WITH X-RAY

AFTER CARE OF GA PATIENTS

DENTAL SECRETARY / RECEPTIONIST

Assists the dentist with his secretarial work and patient reception duties.

DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Is a non- operating auxiliary who fulfills the prescriptions provided by dentists regarding the extra oral construction and repair of oral appliances and bridge work.

DUTIES : Casting of models from

impressions made by the dentist.

Fabrication of dentures, splints, orthodontic appliances, inlays, crowns & special trays.

DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATOR

This is the person who instructs in the prevention of dental disease and who may also be permitted to apply preventive agents intra orally.

THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL DENTAL NURSE in 1921 first training school

for dental nurse – ‘Dominion Training School for Dental Nurses’ was opened in Wellington, New Zealand.

Sir Thomas Hunter, a founder of the New Zealand dental association and a pioneer in the establishment of a dental school in New Zealand.

Training – 2 years Assigned to school by

government Expected to provide care for

children at nearly 6 month interval

DUTIES

DUTIES

DUTIES

DUTIES

DENTAL THERAPIST This is an operating

auxiliary , who is permitted to carry out the prescription of a supervising dentist, certain specified preventive and treatment measures including the preparation of cavities and restoration of teeth.

They are like school dental nurse but their role is quite different, they are not permitted to diagnose and plan dental care. They are permitted to work based on the written treatment plan by the dentist.

Course duration – 2 years

DENTAL HYGIENIST A dental hygienist is an

operating auxiliary licensed and registered to practice dental hygiene under the laws of the appropriate state, province, territory or nation.

USUAL FUNCTIONS:ScalingFluoride app, Pit &

Fissure SealantsScreeningOral Hygiene Instruction

EXPANDED FUNCTION DENTAL AUXILIARY ( EFDA)

An EFDA is a dental assistant or a dental hygienist in some cases, Who has received further training in duties related to the direct treatment of patients, though still working under the direct supervision of a dentist.

In 1960, the American Dental Association advocated careful examination of the values of delegating to expanded functioning personnel those duties which were reversible (i.e., did not include the cutting of soft and hard tissues)

DENTAL ASSISTANT IN EXPANDED FUNCTION

DENTAL HYGIENIST IN EXPANDED FUNCTION

DUTIES

Retraction of gingiva Impressions for cast

restorations, space maintainers, orthodontic appliances.

Etching of teeth Determine root length &

filling of trial endodontic filling points

Pit & Fissure Sealants

Retraction of gingiva Impressions for cast

restorations, space maintainers, orthodontic appliances

Temporary stabilization Debridement of periodontal

surgical site Suture placement

DENTAL LICENTIATE A semi-independent

operator trained to perform Dental prophylaxis , cavity preparation n filling, Extractions under L.A, drainage of dental abscess & early recognition of more serious dental problems.

DENTAL AIDE Performs elementary

first-aid procedures including:

extraction of teeth under L.A, control of hemorrhage,

Recognition of dental disease which requires the transfer Of patient to dental office.

FRONTIER AUXILIARIES Include capable lay people,

nurses & former dental assistants with minimal training.

FUNCTIONS: Dental prophylaxis Dental Health Education Relief of pain Referral Fluoride Rinse programs Simple denture repairs