PowerPoint® Presentation for
Introduction to Dental Assisting
Module:
The Dental Profession: An
Overview
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Module: The Dental Profession:
An Overview
The Dental
Profession:
An Overview
Part A:
The Dental Team
Part B:
Communication
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Module: The Dental Profession:
An Overview
Learning Objectives
1. Define the Key Terms.
2. Define for what DDS and DMD stand.
3. Identify the nine dental specialties of dentistry.
4. Identify the three steps involved in
communication.
5. List the education requirements for, and the
professional organizations that represent each,
dental profession.
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Module: The Dental Profession:
An Overview
Learning Objectives
6. Describe the skills performed by dental
hygienists, dental assistants, and dental
laboratory technicians.
7. Demonstrate the skills used in listening.
8. Recognize verbal and nonverbal
communication.
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Key Terms
• ADA • Oral and maxillofacial
• ADAA Radiology
• CDA • Oral and maxillofacial
• DANB Pathology
• Dental public health • Orthodontics
• Endodontics • Pediatric dentistry
• Oral and maxillofacial • Periodontics
surgery • Prosthodontics
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Part A: The Dental Team
• The Dentist:
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD)
American Dental Association
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The Dental Specialties
• Dental Public Health
• Endodontics
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
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Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Graduate of two- or four-year dental
hygiene school
Must pass written and practical tests
Granted state licenses
Specialize in providing dental prophylaxis,
including the removal of plaque, stains, and
calculus from the teeth, and patient education
ADHA
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Dental Laboratory Technician
May be trained on the job or graduate
from a two-year dental laboratory
technician program
Require extensive knowledge of dental
anatomy and materials, along with
development of detailed mechanical skills
ADLTA
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Dental Assistant
Training includes didactic, laboratory, and
clinical content
Governed by state requirements
Comprehensive written exam offered by
DANB
CDA
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Part B: Communication
• Critical to understand the patient’s attitude
toward dentistry
• Areas that influence communication:
– Past dental experiences
– Life experiences
– Cultures, customs, traditions, and
beliefs
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Communication
• The act of passing along information - the
message
• Transmitting an idea - receiving the
message
• Connecting with another individual -
providing feedback
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Assessment Questions
• For what does ADA stand?
American Dental Association
• For what does DDS stand?
Doctor of Dental Surgery
• What are the three parts of communication?
The Message
Receiving the Message
Providing Feedback
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Summary of Module
• Key Terms
• The dental team
• Communications in the dental office
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