As a dentist, you are responsible for a number of different things. Among these are the following: Examining patients, developing treatment plans with them, overseeing the clinical team, and educating patients about dental care. But besides these basic duties, a dentist must also perform more advanced tasks, such as evaluating patients' overall health, overseeing a team, and educating patients on proper oral hygiene.

Examines patients

As a dentist in Hecules, your job is to examine patients' teeth and gums and assess any oral health problems. Dental exams are important not only to detect problems, but also to educate patients on proper oral hygiene and prevent future health problems. While most adults should visit their dentist every six months, people who have severe gum disease or who suffer from severe tooth decay should go in for more frequent checkups. These checkups are important for maintaining the health of the gums and teeth, and prevent the onset of more serious conditions such as periodontitis and tooth loss.

Oversees clinical team

The Interim Assistant Dean of the School of Dental Medicine oversees all aspects of clinical care provided by students and residents. Her responsibilities include central sterilization services, instrumentation purchase and maintenance, and patient care. This role requires the dentist to be a strong clinician and demonstrate ethical behavior and professionalism when making referrals to specialists. Additionally, the dentist must periodically evaluate patients and assess the stability of dental restorations. The Interim Assistant Dean of the School of Dental Medicine also serves as the Office of Clinical Affairs' executive committee.

Educates patients on preventative measures

Patient education is essential for chronic disease management. It involves patient participation in treatment decisions, including lifestyle modifications. It should be complemented with patient motivation. Healthcare providers can use patient education to increase adherence to preventative care services, such as annual flu shots, which can help detect illness in its early stages. Patients can use this information to improve their health and reduce costs associated with illness. Listed below are some examples of patient education services.

Patient education is an important part of the patient experience, regardless of whether the patient is a physician or a nurse. A patient's level of understanding of what a particular disease means may be limited, so it's important to explain the risks and consequences. If the patient cannot understand the information, it may be helpful to reword it so that family members can understand. Patients should invite a caretaker to attend the education session, especially if the patient is a child or has special needs.

Provides dental health care

The term "dental plan" refers to a type of dental insurance that contracts with dentists to receive discounts on overall fees. These discounts are passed on to enrollees when the enrollees use the dentists contracted by the plan. However, when enrollees go out of the network of dentists contracted by the plan, they may have lower coverage. The dentist is reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis or at a reduced rate under dental PPOs. Those in non-network states have to pay the difference for dental services out of pocket.

Medicaid provides dental services to all children. Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit requires that all dental services provided to children are medically necessary. While oral screening may be part of a physical exam, it is not a substitute for a dentist's examination. Dental referrals must occur on a periodicity schedule set by the state. Dental services must be medically necessary to detect and treat conditions identified through screening.