© 2009 delmar, cengage learning chapter 18 dental assistant skills

© 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Chapter 18

Dental Assistant Skills


Career Highlights

• Dental assistants are valuable members of the dental health care field

• Education requirements

• Certification obtained through the Dental Assisting National Board

• Duties performed follow state regulations

• Required skills


18:1 Identifying the Structures and Tissues of a Tooth

• Odontology: study of the anatomy, growth, and diseases of the teeth

• Teeth are accessory organs of thedigestive tract

• Aid in mastication (chewing) of food


Two Sets of Teeth

• Dentitions: sets of teeth

• Primary or deciduous dentition

• Permanent or succedaneous dentition


The Tooth

• Crown—visible in the mouth

• Root—below the gum line

• Cervix—where the crown meets the root

• Apex—tip of the root


Tissues of the Tooth

• Enamel—covers the crown

• Cementum—covers the outside of the root

• Dentin—located under the enamel and cementum of the root

• Pulp—in the inner area of the tooth


Periodontium

• Structures that surround and support teeth

• Alveolar process or ridge—surrounds the roots and has sockets

• Periodontal ligament—supports the tooth in the socket

• Gingiva or gums—surrounds the cervix


Dental Care

• Disease can affect the teeth and supporting structures

• Dental care – Preventing and treating dental disease

– Preserving and prolonging the life of the teeth


18:2 Identifying the Teeth

• Incisors—front and center of the mouth

• Cuspids—at angles of lips

• Bicuspids—before the molars

• Molars—back of the mouth


Primary or Deciduous Teeth

• First set of teeth—called “baby” teeth

• 20 teeth

• Naming of teeth


Permanent or Succedaneous Teeth

• Second or permanent set of teeth

• 32 teeth

• Naming of teeth


18:3 Identifying TeethUsing Numbering Systems

• Universal National Numbering System– Identified by using letters A to T

• Federation Dentaire International System– Two-digit code and 4 quadrants


18:4 Identifying the Surfaces of the Teeth

• Anterior (toward the front) teeth

• Posterior (toward the back) teeth

• Crown surfaces

• Suggested abbreviations

(continues)


Identifying the Surfaces of the Teeth(continued)

• Line angles—form where two crown surfaces meet

• Point angles—form where three crown surfaces meet

• Abbreviations for line angles and point angles of anterior teeth

• Abbreviations for line angles and point angles of posterior teeth


18:5 Charting Conditions of the Teeth

• Conditions of the teeth are often charted on dental charts or insurance forms

• Forms, symbols used, abbreviations, and other factors vary

• Dental charts are legal records

• Dental charts

• Anatomic diagrams

(continues)


Charting Conditions of the Teeth(continued)

• Geometric diagrams

• Surfaces of teeth

• Charting guidelines

• Common symbols for anatomic or geometric diagrams

• Recording treatments or services

• Use of computerized dental charting


18:6 Operating and MaintainingDental Equipment

• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for operation of equipment

• Infection control

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Covers for dental equipment(continues)


Operating and MaintainingDental Equipment

(continued)

• Dental light

• Dental chair

• Air compressor

• Oral-evacuation system

• Assistant’s cart

• Tri-flow or air-water syringe

• Saliva ejector (continues)


Operating and MaintainingDental Equipment

(continued)

• High-velocity oral evacuator

• Cuspidor

• Doctor’s cart

• Low-speed hand piece– Contra angle for cutting and polishing

– Prophylaxis angle for holding cups, etc.

• High-speed handpiece (ultraspeed)


Summary

• Responsibilities for care and maintenance of dental equipment will vary

• Dental assistant should learn exactly what maintenance is expected as a part of the job

• Read specific manufacturer’s instructions for equipment you will handle


18:7 Identifying Dental Instruments and Preparing Dental Trays

• Methods for setting up dental trays

• Organization of trays

• Main parts of a dental hand instrument

• Standard instruments

• Guidelines for preparing dental trays

• Examples of tray set-ups

• Basic principles for preparing dental trays


18:8 Positioning a Patientin the Dental Chair

• Designed to position patient comfortably while providing doctor and assistant easy access to oral cavity

• Headrests• Supine position• Explanation of all chair movements• Protective drape and safety glasses• Positioning of light• Principles of seating patient in dental chair


18:9 Demonstrating Brushing and Flossing Techniques

• Using correct brushing and flossing techniques is essential in prevention of dental disease

• May be responsible for teaching patients

• Correct brushing and flossing is one method of prophylactic care

(continues)


Demonstrating Brushing andFlossing Techniques

(continued)

• Purposes

• Demonstrations

• Bass method

• Five surfaces on each tooth

• Toothbrushes

• Toothpastes or dentifrices

• Dental floss


Summary

• Correct brushing and flossing provides prophylactic care

• Give thorough explanation to all patients

• Be sure patient understands procedures

• Asking patient to demonstrate procedures is a good way to determine if all points have been learned


18:10 Taking Impressionsand Pouring Molds

• Impression– Negative film reproduction of a tooth, several teeth,

or a dental arch

– Taken to form a model of the area for restoration treatment that will take place outside of the mouth

– Common materials used to take impressions


Alginate

• Hydrocolloid impression material that cannot be returned to its original state

• Advantages• Disadvantages• Alginate powder—follow manufacturer’s

recommended directions• Principles for taking alginate impression• Storage of alginate material


Rubber Base or Polysulfide

• Elastomeric impression material that is elastic and rubbery in nature

• Three types are available

• Can be used in any type of dental impression

• Not as subject to dimension changes as alginate

(continues)


Rubber Base or Polysulfide(continued)

• Models should be poured promptly if possible

• Disadvantages

• Basic principles of preparing rubber base


Silicones

• Polysiloxane or polyvinylsiloxane

• Available in different material qualities

• Supplied in two tubes—base and catalyst

• Advantages

• Disadvantages


Gypsum Products

• Two main products to form models– Plaster

– Stone

• Principles for the use of gypsum

• Follow standard precautions for infection control when taking impressions and pouring models


18:11 Making Custom Trays

• Impression trays that are made to fit patient’s mouth

• Materials used to produce trays

• Acrylic resins are self-curing or light-curing

• Types of custom trays

• Clean and replace all equipment


18:12 Maintaining and Loading an Anesthetic Aspirating Syringe

• Anesthesia is used for pain control

• Types of anesthesia– General anesthesia

– Analgesia

– Local anesthesia

– Topical anesthesia


Injections

• Two main kinds of injections for used for local anesthesia– Block

– Infiltration

• Types of medications

• Anesthetic carpules (cartridges)

• Aspirating syringes

• Follow standard precautions


18:13 Mixing Dental Cements and Bases

• Cements and bases used in variety of dental procedures

• Terminology

• Types of products

• Basic principles of mixing cements and bases


18:14 Preparing Restorative Materials

• Restoration: process of replacing a diseased portion of a tooth or a lost tooth by artificial means

• May include filling material, crowns, bridge, denture, partial denture, or implant

• Dental caries or decay


Amalgam

• Restorative material used mostly on posterior teeth

• Contains four main metals– Silver

– Tin

– Copper

– Zinc

(continues)


Amalgam(continued)

• Mercury when added to other metals forms amalgam

• Must be handled with care due to toxicity

• Use protective clothing

• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations


Composite

• Restorative material used primarily for the repair of anterior teeth– Self-curing (chemical-curing)

– Light-curing

• Various shades to blend with teeth

• Follow manufacturer’s instructions


18:15 Developing and MountingDental X-Rays

• Dental X-rays or radiographs– Radiolucents

– Radiopaque

• Types of dental radiographs

• Developing films

• Mounting X-rays


Summary

• The dental assistant acquires many skills

• Use of these skills enables the dental assistant to perform or assist with many procedures in the dental care setting

• Following procedures the assistant is often responsible for cleaning and care of equipment used

© 2009 delmar, cengage learning chapter 18 dental assistant skills

Documents

teeth teeth

teeth naming of teeth

identifying teeth

teeth conditions

deciduous teeth

succedaneous teeth

teeth primary

teeth posterior