THE DENTAL WORKFORCE

By Dr Nadia HasanDepartment of Community

Dentistry

Aims and objectives:

-Understanding: •organization of the dental profession •Role of dental auxiliaries

Profession: Dentistry

• Criteria:-specialized knowledge which is continuously updated

-Self-regulation

-Code of ethics for professional conduct

Organization of the dental profession

• Promote the art and science of dentistry

• Safeguard and defend interest and integrity of the dental profession

• Influence the policies of the government

Organization of the dental profession

-National dental organizations:

•American dental association•National dental association•Hispanic dental association•OTHERS•AMERICAN DENTAL HYGIENIST’S ASSOCIATION

Organization of the dental profession

• Pakistan dental association

• Pakistan dental hygienist association

Organization of the dental profession

• FDI: world dental federation!• Principal representative body for dentists

worldwide

• Aim: optimal oral health for all

The dental team

Dentist

• Legally entitled to do the following things independently:– Diagnosis– Treatment--Prescribing certain drugs– Employment and supervision of dental AUXILIARY

PERSONNEL

TYPES OF DENTAL PERSONNEL

• DENTISTSDENTISTS– A person who is permitted to practice dentistry

under the law of the relevant state, province, territory, or nation.

• DENTAL AUXILIARIESDENTAL AUXILIARIES– Dental auxiliaries is a generic term for all persons

who assist the dentist in treating patients.

DENTAL AUXILIARIES

-dental hygienist-dental assistant-dental therapist -dental laboratory technician-receptionist/secretary

The vision of a dental teamThe vision of a dental team

• The vision of a dental team is one of various people in dentistry with different roles, functions and periods of training, all working together to provide the best possible treatment of the patient.

The dental teamThe dental team

Classification of dental personnel

Depending on whether or not they carry out any intraoral procedures in the direct treatment of patients, auxiliaries can be classified as:

• OPERATING :dentist, dental hygienist, dental therapist

• NON-OPERATING: dental assistant, secretary

SUPERVISION

• All auxiliaries, with rare exception, operate under varying degrees of supervision by a dentist.

DENTAL HYGIENISTS

• Dental hygienists are licensed dental auxiliaries who specialize in preventive dental care; typically not limited to focusing on preventive techniques.

• Local dental regulations: 1 year certificate course from a registered dental institute

Dental hygienist

-Can work in:• private practice•Community health center•Dental hospital•Regional clinic

Potential Duties of a dental hygienist

• Scaling and polishing teeth • Topical fluoride application• Application of fissure sealants• Restricted administration of local anesthesia• taking radiographs

In a hospital setting:

Aid in the establishment of a good oral hygiene regime in patients:

-After surgery and advanced orthodontic treatment -medically compromised patients

DENTAL ASSISTANT

• Meeting and installing patients in dental chair • Reassurance of patient• Arrangement of instruments• Holding and passing instruments• Tissue retraction and suctioning to achieve

better vision of the operating field.• Mixing materials• FOUR HANDED DENTISTRYFOUR HANDED DENTISTRY

DUTIES OF A DENTAL ASSISTANT(continued)

• Maintenance of patient records

• After appointment; cleaning and disinfection of surgery and sterilization of all instruments

DENTAL THERAPISTS

• Dental therapists are licensed dental auxiliaries in some countries, who specialize in treating children’s teeth and oral hygiene.

• Local dental regulations determine the duties therapists are able to perform.

DENTAL THERAPIST

• A licensed dentist must examine the patient andIndicate clearly in writing the course oftreatment a dental therapist must carry out!

DUTIES OF A DENTAL THERAPISTDUTIES OF A DENTAL THERAPIST

• intra and extra oral assessment • scaling and polishing • applying materials to teeth such as fluoride

and fissure sealants • taking dental radiographs • providing dental health education on a one to

one basis or in a group situation

DUTIES OF A DENTAL THERAPIST(CONTINUED)

• undertaking routine restorations in both deciduous and permanent teeth, on adults and children

• extracting deciduous teeth

Extraction of retained deciduous teeth

EXTENDED DUTIES OF A DENTAL THERAPIST

• undertaking the pulp therapy treatment of deciduous teeth.

• placing preformed crowns on deciduous teeth.

• administering inferior dental nerve block

analgesia under the supervision of a dentist.

EXTENDED DUTIES OF A DENTAL THERAPIST

•taking impressions. •treating patients under local anesthesia under direct supervision of a dentist

DENTAL TECHNICIANS

• Dental technicians are dental auxiliaries who fabricates dental appliances such as removable prosthesis including dentures, any fixed restorative work such as crown and bridges for the dental operator to insert

RECEPTIONIST/SECRETARY

• Meeting and reassuring patients• Taking appointments• Attending all incoming telephone calls• Taking payments• Record maintenance• Dealing with paperwork

How to develop a successful

dental team???

Some keys to successful Some keys to successful management:management:

• Good communication:

• Regular staff meetings• Handbook of procedures within the practice

KeysKeys to successful managementto successful management• Delegate tasks:Delegate tasks:• Less stress; more time for demanding tasks• Motivation:more job satisfaction for auxiliary

staff -

Keys to successful managementKeys to successful management

-Staff training:-Staff training:•Development of patient management skills ofReception and nursing staff-Contribution of staff to update manual of procedures-In-house training days

Benefits of good managementBenefits of good management

• stress

• efficiency

• job satisfaction– for the entire dental • team

Thank you