A dental team consists of health care professionals from different healthcare disciplines who are equipped with adequate knowledge about dental health. The team consists of the dental hygienist, dentist, dental therapist, dental technician, and the dental nurse. Every team member has special roles and responsibilities that enhance the healing of a dental patient. As such, it is important for each of the dental team members to understand their roles and responsibilities. For example, a dental hygienist has several roles to play including helping to prevent tooth decay by cleaning patients’ teeth and educate dental patients on how to maintain a healthy dental cavity.

Firstly, there are several reasons why members of a dental team should understand their roles and responsibilities to maintain the health of dental patients. First of all, there will be improved coordination among the dental team members which will definitely lead to patient satisfaction (Munz, Kim, Holley, Donkersloot, &Inglehart, 2017). In this case, coordination means that each member will apply his/her knowledge and skills in time in case it is needed. For example, the dentist should be in a position to perform any dental operations presented by patients in the dental clinic, and the other members of the dental team should possess adequate knowledge to support him/her perform the operations. Another reason is that there will be improved quality of dental care and this also leads to patient satisfaction of the services provided in the dental clinic. In the current healthcare system, quality healthcare results when team members work collaboratively to improve patient outcomes. In collaborative care, members should contribute their skills exhaustively to avoid any mistakes that may result during care. Therefore, each member of the collaborative team should understand his/her roles and responsibilities.

A dental hygienist is one of the dental team members whose contribution is greatly needed in the care of dental patients. One of the major roles of the dental hygienist is to prevent tooth decay in dental patients by cleaning patients’ teeth, treating gum diseases, and helping patients to get rid of related oral cavity problems such as bad breath(Pervez, Kinney, Gwozdek, Farrell,&Inglehart, 2016). In this regard, the dental hygienist performs several procedures including scaling of teeth, tooth polishing, and application of tooth medications such as topical fluoride and fissure sealants. The procedures mentioned above help maintain patients’ oral hygiene and also prevent patients from developing dental diseases.

Besides, a dental hygienist plays the role of educating dental patients about dental self-care to avoid dental problems while at home. Some of the strategies taught to patients include tooth brushing, flossing, and eating a diet that facilitates good dental health. Regarding tooth brushing, dental hygienists teach patients the importance of frequent brushing of teeth and how to perform the practice appropriately. Also, they educate patients on the right techniques of teeth flossing to avoid causing injury to the involved teeth. Furthermore, dental hygienists teach dental patients to eat a teeth-friendly diet which may include calcium-rich foods such as green vegetables, foods containing vitamins such as fish and dairy products, and fibre-containing foods such as orangesPervez, A., Kinney, J. S., Gwozdek, A., Farrell, C. M., &Inglehart, M. R. (2016). Since eating a balanced diet contributes highly to healthy teeth, dental hygienists emphasize more on it.

In conclusion, dental team members should understand their roles and responsibilities to improve the quality of care given to dental patients. For instance, dental hygienists should play their roles in tooth cleaning and teaching patients about dental health to reduce their chances of getting dental diseases.

Reference

Munz, S. M., Kim, R. Y., Holley, T. J., Donkersloot, J. N., &Inglehart, M. R. (2017). Dental hygiene, dental, and medical students’ OMFS/hospital dentistry-related knowledge/skills, attitudes, and behavior: an exploration. Journal of Dental Education, 81(2), 149-161.

Pervez, A., Kinney, J. S., Gwozdek, A., Farrell, C. M., &Inglehart, M. R. (2016). Education About Dental Hygienists’ Roles in Public Dental Prevention Programs: Dental and Dental Hygiene Students’ and Faculty Members’ and Dental Hygienists’ Perspectives. Journal of dental education, 80(9), 1071-1081.

 
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