Chapter 17 / 18 Introduction to Dental Assisting

1. Chapter 17 / 18Introduction to Dental Assisting

2. Reception Room Not a ‘waiting room’ 1st impression Neat and Clean Pt should feel Comfortable Welcome May have a children’s area. The Dental Office

3. Reception Desk Appointments are made here. Records kept in this area Neat, clean, organized. Dental treatment room Operatory Exam room Treatment room Designed for Doctor Restorative Hygienist Prophylaxis The Dental Office

4. Darkroom X-ray processing room. X-rays are developed. Automatic processor Manual dip tanks Laboratory Used to make / adjust. Crowns Bridges Dentures. The Dental Office

5. Sterilization room Dirty instruments are cleaned and sterilized. Dirty side. Clean side. Storage area for Material Supplies Neat and clean at all times. Optional rooms Dentists private office Staff lounge Lunchroom File / chart room Patient education area Consultation room X-ray room The Dental Office

6. Dental Chair Treatment chair Patient chair Will move Up + down Recline Upright Rotates Keeps pt. Supine Subsupine Upright Dental Equipment

7. Dental Unit Where the tools are located. Drills Instruments Suction Rear delivery Front delivery Side delivery Dental Equipment

8. Dental handpieces Drill High speed handpiece Holds Friction grip burs Low or slow speed handpiece Holds Latch type burs Speed of both is controlled by the rheostat Dental Equipment

9. Amalgamator Machine that ‘triturates’ dental material. (mechanically mix) Amalgam Glass ionomers Cements Cure light Light cure unit Equipment that ‘polymerizes’ dental materials (set or harden) Composite Sealants Dental Equipment

10. Air-Water syringe 3-way syringe Tri-syringe Squirts water Blows air Sprays a mist Needs a tip to work HVE High-volume evacuator Evacuates Fluid Debris Aerosol spray (mist) Retract LVE (saliva ejector) Evacuates fluid Dental Equipment

11. Unit Takes the x-ray Control panel Adjusts the settings Button Activates the unit Processor Develops the x-ray View box Illuminates the x-ray X-ray Equipment

12. Provider stool Doctor Hygienist Assistant Thighs parallel w/floor Feet flat on floor Assistants Stool Lumbar support Foot ring 4-6 inches higher than provider Feet on foot ring Dental Stools

13. Ultrasonic ‘cleaner’ Vibrates debris off of instruments Bio-burden 3-10 minutes Cavitation process Air bubbles that implode. Run w/ lid or cover. Sterilization Equipment

14. Autoclave Sterilizer Steam ‘most common’ Distilled water Kills all ‘germs’ Heat Time Pressure Biological monitor Ensures sterilization has occurred Sterilization Equipment

15. Cold sterile Sterilize heat sensitive items / instruments 10 hours Overnight High level disinfectant Glutaraldehyde Sterilization Equipment

16. Autoclave bag Sterilization pouch Holds instruments during the sterilization process. Self-sealing Process indicator Color change ‘dot’ / ‘arrow’ on back of bag. (tape) Has been ‘heated’ Does NOT indicate sterile!!!!! Sterilization Equipment

17. Mouth mirror Dental mirror Look at tooth (indirect vision) Reflect light Retract Explorer Check for caries Are you NUMB? Cotton pliers (forcep) Transfers items to and from mouth Dental Instruments

18. One handed Two handed Utilizing a different type of grasp(s). Pen grasp Modified pen Palm Palm-thumb Reverse-palm Concepts of dentistry 4 handed 2 providers 6 handed 3 providers 8 handed 4 providers Assume all have two arms and hands. Instrument Transfer

19. Right-handed Dr.. Operator Zone 7 – 12 o’clock Assisting Zone 2 – 4 o’clock Transfer Zone 4 – 7 o’clock Static Zone 12 – 2 o’clock Reverse the zones for L. hand Dr. Activity Zones

20. Maintaining the Operating Field • Operating Field??????? • The tooth! • How do you keep the tooth visible for the doctor???????? • Pt. position • Light • Suction • Keep mirror clean • Mouth prop • Retraction

21. Conclusion • Understanding your instruments, equipment and techniques will make you a better assistant. • This is your intro to the dental world. • Please review this material for testing purposes. • Any questions?