Dental Assistant/Dentist/Dentistry

Dental Assistant / Dentist / Dentistry

Introduction: 

Dentistry is a part of medical science that deals with the problems that affect mouths such as soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity, gums, and teeth. It studies about the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis and the treatment of disorders and settings of tissues and diseases that affect the mouth. The profession of dentistry also takes cares of dental care and correction of teeth. Graduates who specialize in this field are known as dentists.

Dentists utilize the range of measures and techniques in treating their patients such as fitting artificial replacements, filling, extracting teeth, scaling and a crowning of teeth and treating gum diseases. Dentistry problems related to jaws or any invasive oral procedure are normally taken care by oral surgeons. Dental surgeons make laser surgery, implants, trauma surgery, tissue grafts in order to correct them. Dentists also instruct patients about oral hygiene and ways to maintain a healthy tooth as well as prevent dental problems. Hence there is a lot of scope for this profession in India.

Nature of Work: 

Dental assistants typically do the following:

• Ensure that patients are comfortable in the dental chair 
• Prepare patients and the work area for treatments and procedures 
• Sterilize dental instruments
• Help dentists by handing them instruments during procedures 
• Keep patients’ mouths dry by using suction hoses and other equipment 
• Instruct patients in proper oral hygiene 
• Process x rays and complete lab tasks, under the direction of a dentist
• Keep records of dental treatments 
• Schedule patient appointments 
• Work with patients on billing and payment

Assistants who perform lab tasks, such as taking impressions of a patient’s teeth, work under the direction of a dentist. They may prepare materials for dental impressions or to create temporary crowns.

All dental assistants complete certain tasks, such as helping dentists with procedures and keeping patient records. Dental assistants are allowed to perform the following procedures in some states:

• Coronal polishing 
• Sealant application 
• Fluoride application 
• Topical anesthetic application

Coronal polishing, which means removing soft deposits such as plaque, gives teeth a cleaner appearance. In sealant application, a dental assistant paints a thin, plastic substance over teeth that seals out food particles and acid-producing bacteria to keep teeth from developing cavities. Fluoride application, in which fluoride is put directly on the teeth, is another anti-cavity measure. Some dental assistants may be qualified to apply a topical anesthetic to an area of a patient’s mouth, temporarily numbing the area to help prepare a patient for procedures.

Each state regulates the scope of practice for dental assistants.

Personality: 

• The first quality that a good dentist should have is the ability to feel rewarded by helping others. The primary responsibility of any good dentist is to help people protect their teeth and to alleviate the pain and problems that oral diseases and disorders can cause. A dentist must not only be interested in the money that he or she receives for services but also in helping other people. The ability to feel rewarded by helping others is important because an individual who simply wants to become a dentist for the money will not only make a lousy dentist but will also be less likely to actually find the patients and money that he or she is looking for. 
• The second quality that a good dentist should have is a confident and reassuring demeanor. Most patients are uncomfortable or, in some cases, outright terrified by the very idea of going to the dentist. This discomfort or fear is typically a result of the fact that people have a natural dislike for procedures that are performed in their mouths, and possibly also a result of the long-standing but incorrect belief that the field of dentistry is more nonsense than science (this belief is related to the superstitions on which the field was based for thousands of years but which no longer apply). However, a dentist with a confident and reassuring demeanor will typically be able to assuage some of an individual's fears and make the individual feel more safe and comfortable in his or her office. 
• The third quality that a good dentist should have is a set of good interpersonal skills. A dentist is required not only to comfort and distract an individual while he or she is working, but also to explain the oral problems that an individual may be experiencing, what procedures he or she is performing to correct the problems, and what techniques an individual can use to avoid the problems in the future. 
• The fourth quality that a good dentist should have is a willingness and ability to follow a textbook approach. A dentist has to follow a specific set of practices and procedures to protect and/or repair an individual's teeth, and any deviation from this set of practices and procedures will not only put a patient at risk but will also increase the likelihood that the dentist will be sued. 
• The fifth quality that a good dentist should have is the ability to be exacting in his or her work and the ability to pay attention to detail. A dentist is constantly required to identify extremely small problems that are very easy for an individual to miss and must be able to know how to correct each problem. 
• The sixth and final quality that a good dentist should have is a good sense of coordination and manual dexterity. This is quite possibly one of the most important qualities because a dentist is constantly required to make incredibly precise movements to remove and/or correct the detected issues; a single slip may cause permanent damage to an individual's mouth or teeth.

Professional courses, Duration and Eligibility Criteria: 

List of Courses:

• Certificate Course in Dental Hygienist 
• Certificate Course in Dental Mechanic
• Certificate Course in Esthetic Dentistry 
• Diploma in Dental Assistance 
• Diploma in Dental Technician 
• Diploma in Dental Material & Oral Hygiene 
• Bachelor of Dental Surgery 
• Master of Dental Surgery 
• Master of Dental Surgery in Community Dentistry 
• Master of Dental Surgery in Public Health Dentistry 
• Doctor of Philosophy in Orthodontics 
• Doctor of Philosophy in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontic

UG: 

For taking admission into this course a student should have completed his/her two years intermediate, HSC or equivalent course, with science subjects such as physics, chemistry, maths and biology from a recognized university. The duration for this course is 4 years.

PG: 

For taking admission into this course a student must have completed his/her BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degree from a recognized University. The duration for this course is 2 years.

Some specializations under dentistry are:

• Pedodontics 
• Endodontic 
• Orthodontics
• Periodontics 
• Oral Pathology 
• Prosthodontics 
• Cosmetic Dentistry 
• Oral surgery 
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology

Career Prospects:

Dentistry is one of the recognized professional careers and is among the top career choices made by students in India. This profession is very demanding and remunerative. Graduates can start their career as practitioners in community hospitals, government hospitals, nursing homes and in industries. Service sectors such as railways, defense services, and ordnance factories also can employ dentists for hospitals.

The majority of the job opportunities for a graduate in this field are available in a research institute, colleges, universities, and teaching hospitals. Trained private practitioners can set up their own dental clinic which could help them to gain the confidence and revenue. Graduates who are interested in social service field can join NGOs. Besides, lots of job opportunities are available in foreign countries for Indian dentists in the countries like Australia, UK, and US.

Remuneration:

Graduates in this field can earn good remuneration. Graduates working as a trainee in government hospital can earn the initial salary of around Rs. 6000 every month with allowances. As in private hospitals per month, it could be around Rs. 3,500 – 4,000. Post-graduate professionals can earn around Rs. 7,000 upwards. A dental surgeon can earn good amount of money by their own practice. A consultant charges from Rs 250 onwards for cosmetic filling or routine check-up. This may increase up to Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 depending upon the nature of the dental problem. A well-experienced dentist can earn around Rs 30,000 to Rs 1, 00,000 or more per month.

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