The Dental Healthcare Team
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this chapter, the student will be able to achieve the following objectives:
• Pronounce, define, and spell the Key Terms.
• Name the members of the dental healthcare team and describe their roles.
• Identify the minimal educational requirements for each member of the dental healthcare team.
• Describe the supportive services provided by other members of the dental healthcare team.
• Describe the various roles and responsibilities of a dental assistant.
• Name and describe each of the recognized dental specialties.
Electronic Resources
Additional information related to content in Chapter 3 can be found on the companion Evolve Web site.
Key Terms
Certified dental technician (CDT) A dental laboratory technician who has passed a written national examination and who performs dental laboratory services such as fabricating crowns, bridges, and dentures, as specified by the dentist’s written prescription.
Dental assistant Oral healthcare professional trained to provide supportive procedures for the dentist and for patients.
Dental equipment technician Specialist who installs and maintains dental equipment.
Dental hygienist (hy-JEN-ist) Licensed oral healthcare professional who provides preventive, therapeutic, and educational services.
Dental laboratory technician Professional who performs dental laboratory services such as fabricating crowns, bridges, and dentures, as specified by the dentist’s written prescription. Most frequently trained on the job as an apprentice.
Dental public health Specialty that promotes oral health through organized community efforts.
Dental supply person Representative of a dental supply company who provides dental supplies, product information, services, and repairs.
Dentist Oral healthcare provider licensed to practice dentistry.
Detail person Representative of a specific company who provides information concerning the company’s product.
Endodontics (en-do-DON-tiks) Dental specialty that diagnoses and treats diseases of the pulp.
Oral and maxillofacial radiology (ray-dee-OL-o-jee) Dental specialty that deals with the diagnosis of disease through various forms of imaging, including x-ray films (radiographs).
Oral and maxillofacial (mak-sil-oe-FAY-shul) surgery Dental surgical specialty that diagnoses and treats conditions of the mouth, face, upper jaw (maxilla), and associated areas.
Oral pathology (puh-THOL-uh-jee) Dental specialty that diagnoses and treats diseases of the oral structures.
Orthodontics (or-thoe-DON-tiks) Specialty within dentistry that focuses on preventing, intercepting, and correcting skeletal and dental problems.
Pediatric (pee-dee-AT-rik) dentistry Dental specialty concerned with neonatal through adolescent patients, as well as patients with special needs in these age groups.
Periodontics (per-ee-oe-DON-tiks) Dental specialty involved with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting tissues.
Prosthodontics (pros-thoe-DON-tiks) Dental specialty that provides restoration and replacement of natural teeth.
The goal of the dental healthcare team is to provide quality oral healthcare for patients in the practice. The dentist is the individual who is legally responsible for the care of patients and the supervision of all other members of the team. The dentist is often referred to as the leader of the team.
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