Dentistry is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of problems associated with the hard and soft tissues of the
mouth. The dental care team is dedicated to promoting optimal oral health by
educating the public about good oral hygiene and nutrition.
The dentist examines the teeth, mouth, and associated
tissues; diagnoses and treats diseases; restores defective teeth and tissue,
and replaces missing teeth. Dental hygienists, dental laboratory technicians,
and dental assistants play a major supporting role in these functions. Today,
the roles of dental hygienists and dental assistants are expanding in order
to increase the dentist’s productive capacity.
In this field, many opportunities are available in
community health, private industry, research, dental product sales, private
practice, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), the Peace Corps, or the
military. Career opportunities are available for individuals with one year of
post-high school training to several years of post-college education.
Dental Assistant
Dental Assistants aid dentists at the chairside during examination and treatment of
patients. They may perform laboratory procedures, such as assisting in the
construction of dentures and models of the teeth and mouth, and clerical duties.
Work Activities
* Obtaining and recording a
patient’s medical history
* Sterilizing and
disinfecting instruments and equipment
* Preparing patients for
dental treatment
* Arranging dental
instruments, materials, and medications on chairside trays
* Assisting the dentist
during a dental examination
* Keeping a patient’s mouth
dry by using a suction system
* Mixing and preparing
materials, such as fillings and cements
* Assisting during oral
surgery
* Performing laboratory
procedures, such as pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts
* Providing oral hygiene
education, such as instructing patients on a plaque control program
* Maintaining patient
treatment records, scheduling appointments, and collecting fees for services
Work Settings
Dental Assistants work under
the supervision of a dentist. They may work with a dental hygienist or a dental
laboratory technician. Employment may include working in private dental offices,
public health clinics, dental schools, the armed forces, hospitals, or nursing
homes. Almost one-third of Dental Assistants work on a part-time basis.
Special Requirements
Dental Assistants in
Arkansas are not required to be licensed or certified, unless their job requires
that they take, develop, and mount X-rays, which requires passing an X-ray
certification examination. They may be trained on the job or in formal one- or
two-year programs.
Dental Hygienists are preventive oral health professionals licensed in dental hygiene who
provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services supporting total
health through the promotion of optimal oral health. As part of a dental team,
Dental Hygienists are responsible for providing treatment that helps to
prevent oral diseases, such as dental caries (cavities) and periodontal
disease (gum disease), and for educating the patient. They are knowledgeable
especially about the preventive aspects of dental disease.
Both associate and
bachelor’s degree programs are offered. Graduate education at the master’s and
doctoral degree levels provides additional opportunities for career
advancement and for work in research, teaching, or administration.
Work Activities
* Examining the teeth and
oral structures, including the soft tissue
* Removing calculus,
stain, and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from above and below the gum line.
* Applying
caries-preventive agents, such as fluorides and fissure sealants, to the teeth
* Teaching plaque control
and developing individualized oral hygiene programs for home care
* Exposing, processing,
and interpreting dental X-rays
* Placing temporary
fillings and periodontal dressings, removing sutures, and polishing and
recontouring amalgam fillings
* Educating individual
patients, the general public, and special population groups (e.g., geriatric,
or mentally or physically handicapped populations) about the importance of
good oral hygiene habits
* Designing and
implementing community dental health programs
Work Settings
Dental Hygienists may work
in such practice settings as private dental offices and dental clinics;
federal, state, and local health departments or associated institutions; or
hospitals and nursing homes. They may work for school districts, departments
of education, or educational programs that teach dentistry, dental hygiene,
and dental assisting.
Special Requirements
A Dental Hygienist must be
licensed and is eligible for licensure after graduation from an educational
program accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental
Accreditation, and after successfully completing both a written National Board
of Dental Hygiene Examination and a clinical examination.
Dentists—Doctors of
Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctors of Dental Medicine (DDM)-examine
and treat patients who have diseases, injuries, or malformations of the teeth,
gums, and mouth. They instruct patients about good oral health practices so that
the patients can prevent gum disease and tooth loss.
Work Activities
* Diagnosing oral conditions
* Planning treatment to
restore and maintain optimal oral health
* Administering anesthetics
* Locating and filling
cavities
* Treating diseased gums
* Removing teeth that cannot
be treated
* Replacing missing teeth
* Administering and
prescribing antibiotics to prevent infection during and after dental procedures
* Fitting and providing
dentures
* Teaching preventive care
of teeth and gums
Career Specialties
Some Dentists teach
or perform research at schools of dentistry, as well as practice in clinics
there. Others specialize in specific areas of dentistry, including the
following:
Orthodontists
prevent, diagnose, and correct irregularities that occur in the position of the
teeth and in the development of the jaws by using fixed or removable appliances.
Oral Surgeons perform surgical operations on the mouth and jaws to remove
teeth and tumors or other abnormal growths, and to correct abnormalities in the
jaw or other oral structures.
Periodontists
treat diseased tissues that support the teeth. They clean and polish the teeth
and eliminate irritating edges of fillings. They may perform surgery to remove
part of an infected or diseased gum.
Prosthodontists
specialize in making artificial teeth or dentures. They correct natural and
acquired deformations of the mouth and jaws.
Public Health Dentists
participate in planning, organizing, and maintaining the dental health programs
of public health agencies. They may perform dentistry on selected patients of
all ages and assist in the operation of dental clinics.
Work Settings
Dentists work alone or with
a dental hygienist, nurse, dental assistant, or dental laboratory technician.
They may establish their own practices, become part of dental or medical groups,
or work in hospitals or teaching institutions. Dentists may perform some work in
their own laboratories.
Dentists may experience
physical strain because they must stand or sit for long periods of time,
frequently bending in awkward positions. Their work may be performed under
difficult circumstances if the patient is frightened, upset, or in pain. They
may be exposed to patients with infectious diseases, but risks are minimized by
following standard safety precautions, such as wearing masks and gloves.
Special Requirements
To be considered for
acceptance into a school of dentistry, an applicant must complete a predental
program or its equivalent with an acceptable grade-point average. Other
requirements include applying through the American Association of Dental Schools
Application Service (AADSAS), taking the dental admissions test, and submitting
other required letters and forms. To become licensed in Arkansas as a Dentist, a
candidate must graduate from an approved dental school that has been accredited
by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Candidates may fulfill the written part of the state licensing by passing the
National Board Dental Examinations. Individual states or regional testing
agencies give the practical examinations.
Educational Institutions
(ACM)
Louisiana State University, Meharry Medical College, University of Louisville,
Texas A&M University HSC, University of Alabama, University of Missouri-Kansas
City, University of Oklahoma, University of Tennessee
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Regional Programs
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