Dental Assistants can POLISH teeth. Dental Assistant may not use hand scalers or Ultrasonic scalers unless they are RDAs. A certified dental assistant who is also CORONAL POLISH certified can perform child or adult prophylaxis (prophy or more commonly referred to as a "regular cleaning"). So, technically, yes Dental Assistants can clean teeth as long as it is the crown above the gum.
Each state makes individual standards of care for dental professions in the field and there are several levels of licensed dental assistants such as a DA, QDA, and CDA. All states do not allow dental assistants to clean adult teeth or use scalers to clean under the gingival tissue. Some states do allow assistants to polish or clean above the teeth on young children. Google your states board of dental examinars website to find out the restrictions. Only registered dental hygienist can do subgingival (under the gums) cleanings. Rdh's are like nurses and have had 2 to 4 years of college training and board licensing to be able to clean teeth verses a couple if weeks of dental assisting training just like a medical assistants training.
yes. I have been a dental assistant for over 27 years, and unless something has changed, a dental assistant is not allowed to go below the gum line. Polishing does not.
That is generally a job of a dental assistant to help clean teeth.
Well, it depends on the state regulations and the training the dental assistant has gotten. If your state allows DA's to clean teeth then it is only children's teeth.
No a dental assistant can not clean teeth. Every state is different and some states will allow certain trained assistants to polish children's teeth but most do not.
TEETH
absolutely not. A dental hygienist has at least an Associates Degree in Science and in most states has to be registered. A dental hygienist cleans teeth above and below the gum line. A dental assistant doesn't have to have a degree, only a certificate showing that he/she has completed the proper training to assist the dentist. Some states don't require the certification. Dental assistants can clean teeth only ABOVE the gum line. edit: only in some states can an assistant clean above the gumline, in most states they cannot do a cleaning at all.
One thing would be they cannot clean teeth. That is the job of a dental hygienist. Another thing a dental assistant cannot do is take x-rays without an x-ray license.
Dental hygienists clean teeth.
Yes, you need a Dental Hygienists license or a Dental License to "clean" teeth. Most states require at least an Associate in Science Degree in Dental Hygiene.
Check your states scopes on what dental assistance are allowed to do. Each state is different.
they are the people who clean your teeth before the dentist looks at them
A dental assistant knows a little bit less than what a dentist knows. The main difference is the ability to do the surgery required to pull teeth, drill teeth, etc. The difference is a matter of schooling, not tests.
Brush your teeth, and go to the dentist every couple of months or so and ask them to clean your teeth