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The
Professional Oral Health Care Team |
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Dentist
The dentist is responsible
and accountable for everything that goes on in the dental office or
clinic. Only a licensed dentist is educated and trained to diagnose
dental problems, plan treatment or prescribe medication or refer to
dental specialists. As long as the
licensed dentist supervises, certain phases of dental treatment may
be delegated to other members of the dental team.
Dental Hygienist
The dental hygienist cleans
teeth and performs other functions under the direction and supervision
of a licensed dentist. North Carolina dental hygienists must be licensed.
Their title is Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).
Dental Assistant
Under the supervision of a
licensed dentist, the job of the dental assistant is to help the dentist
at chairside, take x-rays and perform other support functions. There
are two categories of dental assistants working in North Carolina:
- Dental Assistant (DA)
- Certified Dental Assistant
(CDA).
Dental Laboratory Technician
The dental laboratory technician,
with a prescription from a licensed dentist, uses models and measurements
to fabricate dentures, crowns and other dental prosthetic devices.
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