Handbook for Dental Chair Side Assistants Part 2

The chapter deals with the various instruments and gadgets necessary to revive a patient in a dental clinic. The list is precise and practical. The chapter is not only of great value to the aspiring dental chairside assistant but also to all aspiring dental surgeons as a ready guide when they are about to start their dental practice. It also deals with the management of syncope and details the emergency drug tray and its contents. Some real-life photographs are included at the end of the chapter to give the student a very good orientation.

The chapter is essential for the dental chairside assistant. It details the first step that needs to be provided to the victim of a life-threatening injury, cardiopulmonary arrest, or sudden cessation of breathing. It deals with basic medical skills, and if implemented, these can enable saving a life. The basic life support provider needs practical training, which needs to be further updated at regular intervals. The details of various algorithms, chances of survival, sequence of action, airway obstruction in children, method of defibrillator use and cardiopulmonary resuscitation are also explained in detail.

Very often and quite unavoidably, a medical emergency may arise in a dental clinic. If left unrecognized and unattended, it may lead to a life-threatening situation. The dental chairside assistant should be well-armed with the knowledge of any such condition and be responsible for a well-maintained setup. All the basic equipment and trained staff to manage medical emergencies should always be available. In this chapter, all the aspects of medical emergencies, such as diagnosis, clinical presentation, and armamentarium required for management, are discussed in a concise manner.

The role of a dental assistant is to help the dentist in carrying out dental treatment efficiently. The name suggests that he is an assistant, but his importance cannot be neglected as he plays a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of a dental clinic. So a well-trained dental assistant is critical for well-organized and hassle-free working of the dentist. Thus, the training of an assistant is important and discussed in the chapter. 

This chapter has been designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical procedures performed at the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology and the knowledge expected from the dental auxiliaries working in this speciality both at the institutional level and in isolated clinics. The content is very much in line with the equipment used in a modern clinical setup. 

The chapter gives a detailed plan of how to deal with a child patient in the dental setting. It teaches the student about approach, time management, and chairside discipline in a structured manner. It also updates the student on the psychological management of the child before starting the treatment. A few real-life pictures, which are self-explanatory and with footnotes, are also included. These will serve to enrich the student in clinical knowledge. 

In order to become a good chairside assistant, it is important to understand the basic fundamentals of oral surgery. The dental chairside assistant helps to save time, improve communications and handle emergencies. He/she is crucial in care and sterilization of instruments. This chapter provides a framework for learning the basic skills of assisting in minor oral surgery procedures.

 The following chapter aims to facilitate the dental assistant’s work in the field of periodontology. The first section provides a comprehensive introduction to the terminology used in periodontology. The next section focuses on the practical aspects of work in a clinical setup, including sterilization and disinfection, as well as basic periodontal procedures. Lastly, a special emphasis has been placed on teaching various oral hygiene aids and concepts of patient motivation for self-care. 

The role of chairside assistant is especially important in the speciality of orthodontics as many of the important orthodontic steps, like bonding and banding, require precision and are to be managed within the limited time period . A well-trained orthodontic chairside assistant is a great boon to an orthodontist in achieving that high level of precision and quality results . Therefore, it is essential that the assistant is well versed with the armamentarium and procedures, many of which are unique to the speciality of orthodontics. The chapter will be helpful to an orthodontic chairside assistant

This chapter represents an overview of common terminologies used in the field of conservative dentistry and endodontics. After going through this chapter, the student should be able to correctly describe and communicate commonly encountered terms, diseases, instruments, materials and procedures related to the field of conservative dentistry and endodontics. This chapter is intended to develop a basic understanding of the common terms used in the specialty so that the student is better able to communicate, chart and assist various procedures performed in the specialty.

Traditional use of two-handed dentistry has been replaced by four-handed dentistry to provide ease and good quality oral health care services. The four-handed dentistry involves the use of dental chair side assistant along with the dentist, which plays a pivotal role in assisting the delivery of oral health care services. These dental chair side assistants are being provided a certified degree that allows them to perform specific duties and responsibilities towards their patients. The duties performed are greeting, calming, comforting, cleaning, organizing, and dismissing the patients, and the list further goes on. They are a big boon for every dentist as they are an integral part of the success of the dental practice and perform their duties with pride and dignity. 

The importance of understanding the various procedures in a proper sequence is very vital to the assistance expected from a dental chairside assistant. Emphasis has been laid on fixed and removable prosthodontics, and denture making. The different procedures are explained in a step-by-step manner.

Lasers in dentistry is a relatively new concept with unique advantages. Lasers are helpful in the treatment of hard and soft tissue of the oral cavity. The laser light is created by an external light source reflected by mirrors. The mirrors are placed around the active medium. The photons of light that reach the active medium activate more photons exponentially. This results in a large amount of laser energy that is highly focused and directional. This laser energy may be useful to cut or ablate. The mechanism is that this laser energy is absorbed by the tissue according to the penetration depth. A few real-life pictures are included at the end of the chapter for learning experience of the student. These are pre- and post-operative pictures of five interesting cases. 

Intraoral camera has been proven to be an invaluable tool in the field of clinical dentistry. With the advent of handy intraoral cameras, exhaustive labour techniques were reduced with better elucidation and diagnosis of the clinical oral condition. This has improved the clarity of treatment plan options with better patient compliance which has resulted in quality treatment delivery. The intra-oral camera possesses many advantages that include easy sterilisation, reusability and portability. It also serves as a better tool for patient education, awareness, and knowledge that enhances the scope for understanding the concepts of treatment and inculcating a positive attitude towards oral health. This review also discusses the application of intraoral cameras in various specialities of dentistry and adds a short description of various clinical trials corroborating the existing literature that emphasises the need of the hour in the utilisation of this technology in the field.