Dental Specialist

JOB DETAILS:

Everyone needs proper dental care. Army Soldiers aren't any different. Fortunately, dental care is one of the health services provided to Army personnel all over the world. Dental Specialists are essential members of the Army dental care team. They assist Army dentists in the examination and treatment of patients, as well as help manage dental offices.

The Dental Specialist is primarily responsible for assisting Army dentists in the examination and treatment of patients, while also helping to manage dental offices. Some of your duties as a Dental Specialist may include:

-Assist with Patient care
-Receive and seat patients
-Prepare dental operatory, select and arrange instruments, measure and record temperature, blood pressure and pulse, and assist dentist during patient exams
-Assist with administration of anesthesia and in placement and removal of sutures
-Prepare restorative and impression materials
-Perform Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and operate resuscitative equipment
-Dispose of contaminated waste and dental radiography
-Load and unload radiographic film cassettes, protects self and patient from excessive ionizing radiation exposure, exposes bite-wing periapical, occlusal film, panoramic radiographic darkroom procedures
-Perform administration, supply, and maintenance
-Schedule appointments, retrieve, file, and maintain dental records
-Receive, store, pack, unpack and safeguard dental supplies and equipment
-Perform preventive maintenance on dental equipment
-Sets up, maintain, disassemble and pack dental field equipment shelters
-Training
-Helpful Skills
-Advanced Responsibilities
-Related Civilian Jobs
-Related Army Positions
-Civilian Certifications Earned
 
Job training for a Dental Specialist requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 30 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice dental care tasks. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

Preventive dentistry
Radiology (X-ray) techniques
Dental office procedures
Dental hygiene procedures
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Helpful skills:
An interest in biology and chemistry
An interest in helping others
Good hand-eye coordination
An ability to follow spoken instructions and detailed procedures
An interest in working with people
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Advanced level Dental Specialist provides guidance, supervises and trains the other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Dental Specialist, you may be involved in:

Assist dental officer in prevention, examination, and treatment of diseases of teeth and oral region
Assist and advise subordinate personnel on supply economy procedures
Supervise the packing, unpacking, loading, setting up and storage of dental unit field equipment and shelters
Assist in presentation of training programs
Prepare the site for field dental treatment facilities
Assist with technical and administrative management of dental treatment facilities under the supervision of a dental NCO