Dental Assistant: Dental assistants help dentists with a variety of tasks but are not qualified to do full cleanings and identify cavities as are dental hygienists. Dental assistants can obtain training at a technical school with a brief diploma program, or on-the-job.
Dental Hygienist: Dental hygienists can provide some basic dental care under the supervision of a licensed dentist. More education is required to become a hygienist than an assistant, and therefore hygienists earn about twice as much money as dental assistants.
Dental Lab Technician: Dental lab technicians play a non-clinical role, meaning they do not work directly with patients. Dental lab techs work in a lab, behind the scenes, manufacturing crowns and other dental prostheses which require custom specifications. Dentists uses molds and x-rays to provide the specifications to the lab for a custom fit.
Administrative Careers in Dentistry:
In addition to the clinical roles above, the field of dentistry also offers a variety of administrative roles, similar to those in medical offices. These include receptionists, appointment schedulers, accounting and billing professionals.
Employers and Practice Environments in the Field of Dentistry:
Since dentists do not have a need to be affiliated with hospitals, the options of practice environments are primarily limited to dental offices. However, there are a variety of employers who need dental professionals such as the military and other government institutions, in addition to private dental practices. Also, there are a lot of dental corporations and franchises that provide a variety of types of dentistry including cosmetic and orthodontic.
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