Dentists can’t do it alone

Most visits to the dentist’s office include very little time with the

actual doctor of dentistry whose name is on the door you walk through.

In fact, most patients spend the majority of their time during these

visits with a hygienist, which is just one indication of how dentistry

is more about a team than merely an individual



Individuals who practice good oral health visit dentists twice a year -

one cleaning every six months. But during those two visits, how much

time do they actually spend with an actual dentist?



In most cases, very little.



Dentists themselves are trained in nearly every aspect of dentistry, if

not all, by the time they are licensed to practice. Depending on your

individual needs, your actual dentist may be capable of performing every

task necessary in maintaining the health of your teeth. Yet due to the

complex nature of the human mouth, its teeth and the practice of keeping

them healthy, your dentist is not alone in addressing the needs of your

teeth.



In fact, dentistry is broken down into a number of sub-categories. Many

of these are centered around practices and responsibilities that are

handled by specialists who work with or under dentists and are known as

dental auxiliaries. Between these various auxiliaries, all of a given

individual’s oral health needs are covered and immediately available

within a network of referrals.



Most patients spend the majority of their time during a typical cleaning

with a dental hygienist. The hygienist focuses on preventative care of

teeth including the patient’s oral hygiene, which often involves

cleaning the mouth and discussing home care with patients during each

visit. They are often the first person you see when you arrive and the

one most individuals spend the most time with while in the office.



Dental assistants are often common in most practices and can perform

some of the duties undertaken by hygienists and vice vera. Most

assistants focus on helping the dentist by passing and collecting

instruments and devices, applying suction or water during treatment,

sterilizing or collecting equipment and maintaining records.



Dental technicians are those who create appliances and devices used to

compensate for a lost, missing or damaged tooth. This can include making

removable prostheses such as dentures as well as constructing and

fitting permanent units such as crowns and bridges.



Dental therapists exist only in some countries and focus solely on

treating children’s teeth. In areas where such therapists are licensed

to practice, they are seen under a prescription from a licensed

dentistry professional and examine and treat children only.



Other professional employees may exist and work within a practice, but

the regulations of the oral health profession license individuals to

work within a patient’s mouth only under one of these groups. These

professionals are tasked with creating a network of resources amongst

themselves to make their own specialized services and that of their

colleagues available to each and every patient.



Dentists are responsible for covering a wide spectrum of topics and

concerns with their patients, but because they are part of a vast

network of professionals whose knowledge and experience they can rely on

as much as their own, they are the ultimate resource for your oral care

needs.