Who Works in a Dental Office?

You have probably been to a dental office many times. But have you stopped to wonder about all the different roles it takes to run a dental office? You most likely know your dentist and the dental hygienist. However, there are many other different careers and jobs that need to be filled for a fully functioning dental office. Let’s take a quick look at some of the various roles in dentistry and how they contribute to taking care of your dental health.

Careers in Dentistry

1. Dental Hygienist – a dental hygienist performs dental cleanings, examining patients for signs of oral diseases and provide preventative care under the supervision of a dentist. Additionally, they provide education on improving oral health.
2. Dental Assistant/Dental Oral Surgery Assistant – a dental assistant helps to provide hands-on assistance for the dental practitioner. Dental assistants perform work such as sterilizing equipment, preparing and developing X-rays, and taking impressions or molds of your teeth. They also guide you through your procedures and instructions for appropriate oral care. Dental assistants can also have more specialized duties such as a dental oral surgery assistant, where they assist an oral surgeon with surgery. Other more advanced skills include specializing in topical anesthetic, sealant applications, and fluoride applications.
3. Dental Laboratory Technician – dental laboratory technicians’ work involves manufacturing dental prosthetics. These include bridges, crowns, and dentures.
4. Dental Nurses – nurses also work in dental offices who assist dentists in completing a variety of oral care procedures.
5. Office Receptionist – office receptionists work in dental offices and are responsible for carrying out the office duties. These involves scheduling patient appointments, faxing dental documents, answering phone calls, and coordination of dentists’ schedule and billing or insurances for patients.
6. Office Manager – an office manager is responsible for managing the office and ensuring that all the office staff is trained and prepared. The office manager also makes the schedule for all the office staff.
7. Dentist – a dentist provides a wide range of dental services for continued oral health. They perform preventative dental procedures and examinations. General dentists can diagnose and treat, offer advanced dental treatments, and can become specialized in an area.
8. Orthodontist – orthodontists specialize in jaw alignment and teeth positioning by using oral appliances and strategic methods.
9. Periodontist – periodontists specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal diseases.
10. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon – an oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs surgical procedures on the mouth and jaw.

If you would like to schedule a visit with one of our dental professionals, give our California Dental Group team a call at (800) 407-0161. We would be happy to set up an appointment for you or answer any questions you may have about your dental and oral health.