Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop x rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.
<ul><li>Record and review patient medical histories.</li><li>Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.</li><li>Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.</li><li>Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.</li><li>Expose and develop x-ray film.</li><li>Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.</li><li>Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.</li><li>Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.</li><li>Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.</li><li>Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.</li><li>Maintain patient recall system.</li><li>Administer local anesthetic agents.</li><li>Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.</li></ul>