Chapter 22 Dental Care

Health Care Science Technology

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The Dental Assistant

Job Responsibilities– Expose and process radiographs (X rays).– Provide clients with instructions on oral

care following treatments.– Teach clients how to brush and floss

properly.– Make impressions of clients’ teeth for

study models.

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The Dental Assistant (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)– Assist the dentist in a variety of

treatment procedures.– Perform office management tasks.

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The Dental Laboratory Technician

Works independently to create dental prostheses, replacements for natural teeth, and dental appliances.

Uses a variety of materials to fabricate:– Full or partial dentures.– Artificial crowns and bridges.– Veneers.– Orthodontic appliances and splints.

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The Dental Hygienist

Assesses and charts oral conditions and reviews the client’s health and dental history.

Exposes and processes dental radiographs (X rays).

Instructs clients in oral hygiene techniques. Provides nutritional counseling in relation to

dental health. Removes plaque. Applies preventive materials such as fluoride

and sealants to the teeth.

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The Dentist

Diagnoses and treats diseases of the teeth and their supporting tissues, the tongue, lips, and jaws.

Restores teeth damaged by decay or trauma.

Replaces missing teeth with artificial materials.

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The Dentist (cont.)

Carries out cosmetic procedures to improve a client’s appearance.

Performs corrective surgery on the jaws and supporting tissues.

Straightens teeth. Performs oral hygiene

procedures and provides instructions to clients.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 228

Basic Dental Anatomy

The Primary Teeth consist of 20 teeth arranged in two U-shaped patterns.– There are 10 teeth in the

maxillary arch and 10 in the mandibular arch.

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Basic Dental Anatomy (cont.)

The Permanent Teeth – replace the primary teeth between the ages of 6 and 12. – Are also known as the

permanent dentition and consist of 32 teeth.

– All have erupted by the age of 14, except the third molars.

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Tooth Divisions– The 2 main parts of the

tooth are the root and the crown.

– The apex is the end of the root furthest from the crown.

– The cervical line is formed by the junction of the crown and the root.

Basic Dental Anatomy (cont.)

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Tooth Tissues– A tooth is made up

of 4 tissues: Enamel. Cementum. Dentin. Pulp.

Basic Dental Anatomy (cont.)

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Adjacent Tissues – Gingiva is a soft tissue

that surrounds the neck of the tooth.

– The space between the free gingiva and the tooth is known as the gingival sulcus.

Basic Dental Anatomy (cont.)

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Types of Teeth– Incisors.– Canines.– Premolars.– Molars.

Basic Dental Anatomy (cont.)

Can you identify the type in each picture?

Click for answers.

A.

C.

D.

B.

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Tooth Numbering Systems

The Universal System – used commonly in the United States. – Each permanent

tooth is numbered from 1 to 32.

– Deciduous teeth are lettered from A to T.

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Tooth Numbering Systems (cont.)

Palmer’s System – used in some orthodontic and pediatric practices.– Permanent teeth are numbered

from 1 to 8, according to quadrants.

– Deciduous teeth are lettered from A to E, according to quadrants.

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Dental Anesthesia

Local Anesthesia – injected near the nerves, blocking the conduction of nervous impulses to the central nervous system.

Topical Anesthesia – applied to the surface or mucosa to minimize the discomfort of the needle used for local anesthesia.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 2218

Impressions and Models

Models are positive reproductions or 3-dimensional duplicates of a client’s teeth and surrounding tissues.

They are used for study and diagnosis of orthodontic and prosthodontic cases.

The first step in making a model is to take an impression of the teeth and surrounding tissues.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 2219

Impressions and Models (cont.)

Impression Materials– The two classifications of the most

commonly used impression materials are:

Alginate – an irreversible hydrocolloid. Elastomeric materials, including

polysulfide or rubber-base materials, silicone, and polyether.

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Impressions and Models (cont.)

Alginate– Water is mixed with a powder, then

inserted into a perforated impression tray and placed in the mouth.

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Impressions and Models (cont.)

Electromeric Materials– Used for very precise procedures,

such as fabricating crowns, bridges, and dentures.

– Available in both light-bodied and heavy-bodied forms.

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Amalgam and Resin Restorative Materials

Cavity preparation and placement of a restorative material are processes that remove disease and restore tooth health, function, and appearance.

Amalgam and composite material are the two most commonly used materials for direct restoration of cavities.