Dental Workers

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Dental Workers

• Career Ladder

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Dental Workers

• Dental workers are responsible for maintaining
  oral health and repairing dental abnormalities.
  They emphasize treatment and prevention of
  problems associated with the hard and soft
  tissues of the mouth. According to their level
  of education, dental workers have many different
  opportunities. They work in private practices,
  dental schools, hospital dental departments,
  private clinics, health maintenance
  organizations, and state and local public health
  departments.

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• Dental laboratory technicians work in a dental
  laboratory. Dental workers work indoors in a
  clean environment. The are subject to
  respiratory infections due to close contact with
  patients and may be exposed to body fluid. Their
  work requires standing most of the day, reaching,
  and handling dental instruments, equipment, and
  supplies.

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Tasks

• Make the patient comfortable in the dental chair
• Prepare the client for treatment
• Hand the dentist proper instruments and materials
• Suction the patients mouth
• Prepare materials for making impressions and
  restorations
• Take and process dental x-rays

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Tasks Cont.

• Teach oral health
• Prepare instruments for sterilizing
• Make casts of teeth and mouth from impressions
  taken by the dentist
• Apply medications to the teach and oral tissue,
  remove cement used in the filling process, and
  place rubber dams on the teeth.
• May manage the office

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Dentist

• Graduation from a dental school approved by the
  American Dental Association
• Passing grade on written and practical
  examinations
• State licensure by passing written examinations
  given by the National Board of Examiners
• Annual Average Income-109,000-200,000

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Dental Hygienist

• Graduation from an accredited dental hygienist
  program in a 2-year community college, a 4 year
  bachelors degree program, or a 5 year masters
  degree program
• Passing grade on a written and clinical
  examination
• License in the state of employment
• Annual Average Income-27,500-57,000

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Dental Laboratory Technician

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Two year vocational program
• On-the-job training (3 to 4 years)
• May become certified by passing a written and
  practical examination given by the National Board
  for Certification
• Annual Average Income-23,000-50,000

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Dental Assistant

• High school diploma or equivalent
• On-the-job training
• Completion of a 1 or 2 year community college or
  vocational training program
• Completion of an examination by the Certifying
  Board of the Dental Assisting National Board
• Annual Average Income-14,700-24,000