III. Ознакомительное чтение Направлено на формирование компетенции ок-6 Members of a dental team

Dentistry is the practical application of knowledge of dental science (the science of placement, arrangement, function of teeth) to human beings. A dentist is a professional practitioner of dentistry. A dental therapist is a specialty obtained through a dental school/ college course and certified by local licensing bodies.

Specialties in dentistry such as orthodontics (straightening of teeth), oral and maxillofacial surgery, pedodontics (treatment for children), periodontics (treatment of gum disease), prosthodontics (replacement of missing teeth by prostheses such as dentures, bridges and dental implants), operative dentistry (restoration of existing teeth), endodontics (root canal therapy), dental public health (study of dental epidemiology and social health policies), oral radiology and oral pathology (study of oral and dentally related diseases) require usually 2-3 years of university training after dental school. Specialists in these fields are registrable (U.S. "Board Eligible") and can sometimes obtain exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral surgeon, pedodontist, periodontist, prosthodontist if satisfy certain local (U.S. "Board Certified") registry requirements.

Other dental "specialties" exist where no post-graduate formal university training is required: cosmetic dentistry, dental implant, temporal-mandibular joint therapy. These usually require the attendance of one or more "hotel courses" which typically last for one to several days.

Let’s consider the role of some members of a dental team in providing oral health care.

A dental hygienist is a licensed preventive oral health professional who provides educational, clinical, and therapeutic services to the public. In order to become prepared to perform these services, a dental hygienist requires an extensive educational background.

Dental hygiene education is a minimum of 2 years, but can be as long as 4 years. The 2-year programs offer a diploma, certificate, or associate degree. The 4-year programs offer a baccalaureate degree. Master’s level programs are offered for those interested in education, research, or administration. An accredited dental hygiene program requires an average of 1,948 clock hours of curriculum. This includes:

585 clock hours of supervised clinical dental hygiene instruction,

general education courses including English, speech, psychology and sociology,

basic science courses including general chemistry, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, nutrition, and pharmacology,

dental science courses including dental anatomy, head and neck anatomy, oral embryology and histology, oral pathology, radiography, periodontology, pain control and dental materials,

dental hygiene courses including oral health education and preventive counselling, patient management, clinical dental hygiene, community dental health, medical and dental emergencies including basic life support, and legal and ethical aspects of dental hygiene practice,

supervised instruction in pre-clinical and clinical practice.

There are many employment opportunities in the field of dental hygiene, since many dentists employ one or more dental hygienists. Dental hygienists are responsible for some of the most important patient care services provided in a dental office, including removing calculus, stains and plaque from teeth, applying fluoride, providing oral hygiene instructions (e.g. brushing, flossing and nutritional counselling).

Hygienists may also be employed to provide dental hygiene services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and public health clinics. Depending upon the level of education and the experience achieved, dental hygienists can also apply their skills and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching hygiene in dental schools and dental hygiene education programs. Research, office management and business administration are other career options.

Answer the questions:

- What members of a dental team can you name?

- Which of them do people visit most often?

- What other specialties belong to the sphere of dentistry?

- How many years of training are required to get registration?

- What kinds of specialization can be obtained without post-graduate training?