dental care professional

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dental care professional (den-t'l) n. any of several professionals supporting a dentist. A dental hygienist performs scaling and instruction in oral hygiene under the prescription of the dentist. A dental nurse helps the dentist at the chairside by preparing materials, passing instruments, and aspirating fluids from the patient's mouth. A dental technician constructs dentures, crowns, and orthodontic appliances in the laboratory for the dentist; a clinical dental technician provides dentures directly to patients. A dental therapist performs noncomplex treatment under the prescription of a dentist.

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