Chapter 9: Dental Care
Overview
Franki is a high school senior exploring various healthcare careers. She is certain she wants to work in an environment where she can help others and make a significant impact on their health and wellness. Her best friend’s parents are dentists, and she has spent some time in their office observing the care that their dental team provides. Franki is drawn to this specialized field of healthcare.
As you review this chapter, reflect on the care and academic journey involved in these careers. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I want to provide direct patient care? Am I comfortable working with or blood and other fluids? Do I want the opportunity to make a lasting impression and help others? If you answered yes to these questions, this may be the career pathway for you.
This chapter will explore healthcare careers that involve dental care and dental health. These careers are essential for maintaining general health and well-being, as dental professionals often serve as the gatekeepers of good oral health. The careers covered in this chapter include:
- Dental assistant
- Dental hygienist
- Denturist
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, the learner will be able to:
- Describe the various dental care careers
- Explain the academic requirements for each career discussed in the chapter
- Describe the career pathways for each role
- Describe what each of the careers do and the settings in which they work
Key Terms
- Dentures
- Filling
- Plaque
- Calculus (tartar)
- Dental prosthetics
- Scaling
- Treatment plan
Attributions
- Chapter opening image: Dental X-ray by icethim is released under CC BY 2.0
