Job Description:

• 1) Performs dental prophylaxis: Cleans calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.

• 2) Feels lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.

• 3) Feels and visually examines gums for sores and signs of disease.

• 4) Examines gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.

• 5) Applies fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.

• 6) Charts conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.

• 7) Exposes and develops x-ray film.

• 8) Makes impressions for study casts.

• 9) May remove sutures and dressings.

• 10) May administer local anesthetic agents.

• 11) May place and remove rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.

• 12) May place, carve, and finish amalgam restorations.

• 13) May remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.

• 14) May provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain oral health of school children.

• 15) May conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.