Happy National Oral Health Month!

April is National Oral Health Month!

I would like to mark the month by celebrating the dental team that works together to provide such great care for their patients. As part of this team, individual dental staff contribute different skills, knowledge sets and responsibilities to provide the comprehensive care a patient receives. From the patient's first greeting at reception continued to the clinical area and beyond, let's discover the dental team..

Dental Receptionist

Whether you call, text, email or arrive at the office for treatment, the receptionist is the person patients encounter first, and is an invaluable liaison between patients and the rest of the dental care team. The receptionist keeps appointments moving smoothly and coordinates patients' treatment needs. The front desk staff is the indispensable glue that connects and organizes patients, clinical team, additional oral health providers as well as insurance companies.

The receptionist ensures each patient receives timely and attentive care.

Dental Assistant

Dental assistants are clinical staff that are trained and certified by the National Dental Assisting Examination Board and HARP certified. They are responsible for some of the most important tasks that keep patients safe before, during and after treatment. A dental assistant keeps instruments sterilized and disinfected, monitors sterilization, prepares materials, and assists during dental procedures. They can also take dental X-rays, dental impressions, and digital scans of teeth.

There are various levels of certification for dental assistants, allowing for expanded duties. Dental assistants are the dentist's extra pair of hands, while ensuring patient comfort and safety throughout the dental visit.

Dental Hygienist

A dental hygienist completes a dental hygiene diploma or bachelor program and continues to meet requirements regulated by the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario to allow them to practice. Their role is to help patients maintain their oral health especially the periodontal/gum health through preventive and therapeutic treatment. A dental hygienist's role can include taking dental x-rays, dental impressions and digital scans of teeth; scaling(cleaning) and polishing teeth; applying fluoride, sealants or certain medicines placed under the gums; recommending the best at-home routine to help patients maintain optimum oral health; teeth whitening; and helping to provide orthodontic and restorative services.

A dental hygienist has a key role in ensuring patients' overall oral health by helping to avoid issues such as gum disease, dental decay, and tooth loss. They are a great resource for how to maintain your best dental health at home.

Dental Technologist

A dental technologist is a highly skilled oral health professional who works behind the scenes in a dental laboratory to help create oral devices. The dental technologist takes the information provided by the dental office and creates custom artificial prosthesis to simulate nature and restore a patients' function or aesthetics.

A dental technologist fabricates full or partial dentures, crowns, bridges, implant related restorations, orthodontic appliances, and other specialty items.

Denturist

A Denturist is a dental health care professional who provides denture care directly to the public. Denturists treat patients who are missing a few teeth or all their teeth. They can design, construct, repair and alter removable dentures.

Dentist

Dentists are doctors that specialize in oral health. Dentists use their education and experience to identify the unique problems of each patient and provide care to help their patients reach optimum oral health. Dentists must be licenced and continue to meet requirements set out by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. They have the training and skills to examine, diagnose oral conditions, recommend and carry out treatment for various oral problems including restoring function and cosmetic treatments related to the mouth. Dentists help their patients understand, maintain, and restore their oral health.

In addition to the comprehensive care of a general dentist, a patient may need to see a dental specialist. Such specialists include orthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, oral medicine and pathologists, paediatric dentists, endodontists, periodontists, prosthodontists and dental anesthesiologists.

All members of the dental team have a key role in achieving the best oral health for patients. Oral Health Month is a wonderful time for oral health awareness and celebrating those that provide care. Personally, I am grateful to be surrounded by my knowledgeable and dedicated team members!

TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT OUR RICHMOND HILL DENTIST TODAY.