Dr.

Ali Fahad Al-Fatlawi COMMUNITY DENTISTRY LEC: 5

Dental Auxiliaries/Ancillaries:
They are trained persons who help and assist the dentist in delivery of dental Date:
care.
Classification: 14 / 11/
2012
1. Operating auxiliary: This person is permitted to carry out certain treatment
procedures in the mouth under supervision of the dentist.
A. School dental nurse.
B. Dental therapist.
C. Hygienist.
D. Expanded function dental auxiliaries.
2. Non-operating auxiliary: This person assists the dentist in his work but does not
carry out any procedure in the oral cavity.
A. Dental surgery assistant.
B. Dental secretary/ receptionist.
C. Dental laboratory technician.
D. Dental health educator.
1. Operating auxiliary:
A. School dental nurse: This is a person who is permitted to diagnose dental disease
and to plan and carry out certain specified preventive and treatment measures,
including some operative procedures in the treatment of dental caries and periodontal
disease in defined groups of people, usually schoolchildren. The duties of the dental
nurse are;
1- Oral examination.
2- Prophylaxis.
3- Topical fluoride application.
4- Advice on dietary fluoride supplements.
5- Administration of local anesthesia.
6- Cavity preparation and placement of amalgam filling in primary and permanent
teeth.

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7- Pulp capping.
8- Extraction of primary teeth.
9- Patient’s instruction in tooth brushing and oral hygiene.
10- Classroom and parent – teacher dental health education.
11- Referral of patient to specialized dentists for more complex services, such as
extraction of permanent teeth, restoration of fractured permanent incisors..etc.
B. Dental therapist: This is a person who is permitted to carry out the prescription of
a supervising dentist, certain specified preventive and treatment measures including
the preparation of cavities and restoration of teeth. They are not permitted to diagnose
and plan dental care, their work based on the treatment plans written by the
supervising dentists.
C. Dental hygienist: This is an operating auxiliary who practices dental hygiene
under the supervision of dentist. The functions of dental hygienist are:
1- Cleaning of mouth and teeth with particular attention to calculus and stains.
2- Instruction in oral hygiene.
3- Topical application of fluorides, sealants and other prophylactic agents.
4- Preliminary examination of patients as individuals or in groups, such as
schoolchildren or industrial employees, so that to refer them to a dentist for
treatment.
5- Resource work in the field of dental health.
D. Expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA): They are mostly assistants or
hygienists in some cases with additional training related to the direct treatment of
patients, though still working under the supervision of a dentist. The duties of EFDA
are:
1- Placing and removing rubber dams, temporary restorations and matrix bands.
2- Condensing and carving amalgam restoration in previously prepared teeth.
3- Finishing and polishing of restorations.
4- Placing of acrylic resin and silicate fillings in previously prepared cavities.

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2. Non-operating auxiliary:
A. Dental surgery assistant, dental assistant, chair side dental assistant, dental
nurse: This is a person who assists the dentist or dental hygienist in treating patients,
but not legally permitted to treat patient independently, they may only work under the
supervision of the dentist. The duties of dental assistants are:
1- Reception of the patient.
2- Preparation of the patient for any treatment needed.
3- Preparation of all necessary facilities such as mouth washes.
4- Sterilization, care and preparation of instruments.
5- Preparation and mixing of restorative materials including both filling and
impression materials.
6- Care of the patient after treatment until he or she leaves, including clearing away of
instruments and preparation of instruments for re-use.
7- Preparation of the surgery for the next patient.
8- Assistance with x-ray work and the processing and mounting of x-ray.
9- Instruction of the patient in the correct use of the toothbrush.
10- After care of persons who have had general anesthesia.
B. Dental secretary/ receptionist:
This is a person who assists the dentist with his secretarial work and patient reception
duties.
C. Dental laboratory technician:
This is a non- operating auxiliary who works according to the prescriptions provided
by the dentists regarding construction and repair of prosthetic and orthodontics
appliances, crowns and bridges work in laboratory. They do not come in direct contact
of the patient.
D. Dental health educator:
This is a person who instructs in the prevention of dental disease and may be permitted
to apply preventive agents intra-orally.