Core responsibilities:
- Diagnosis and treatment planning: Examine patients using X-rays and dental instruments to diagnose oral health conditions.
- Discuss patient concerns, medical history, and treatment options.
- Develop comprehensive treatment plans, sometimes in collaboration with other specialists.
- Fabrication and fitting of prostheses: Take impressions of teeth and jaws to determine the dimensions for dental prostheses.
- Send models to a lab for fabrication of devices like crowns, bridges, and dentures.
- Fit the final prostheses in the patient's mouth and make any necessary adjustments.
- Restorative and cosmetic procedures: Perform dental bonding to repair chips, cracks, and gaps in teeth.
- Conduct teeth whitening to treat discoloration.
- Alter the size of teeth as needed.
- Management of complex conditions:
Treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ/TMD) disorders.
- Assist with snoring and sleep apnea disorders.
- Handle issues related to maxillofacial defects, trauma, or congenital deformities.
Required skills and knowledge:
- Clinical skills: Expertise in dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, and cosmetic dentistry.
- Technical skills: Proficiency in taking dental impressions, fitting prostheses, and performing bonding procedures.
- Communication skills: Ability to consult with patients, explain procedures, and collaborate with dental and healthcare teams.
- Knowledge: A solid understanding of dentistry, medicine, and material technology is crucial.