Who are the individuals that assist dentists in preparing patients for procedures?

Dental assistants play a crucial role in a dental practice by preparing patients for procedures. They help ensure that the treatment area is clean and organized, hand instruments to the dentist during procedures, and may also provide post-treatment care instructions to patients. Their training often includes understanding the procedures being performed, which enables them to effectively support both the dentist and the patient.

Dental hygienists, while they also assist in the dental care process, primarily focus on preventive oral care, such as cleaning teeth and educating patients about oral hygiene, rather than directly preparing patients for dental procedures. Dental technicians work behind the scenes to create dental prosthetics and appliances based on the dentist's specifications, but they do not typically interact with patients directly in the office setting. Oral surgeons carry out specialized surgical procedures within dentistry and do not assist in the preparation or management of patients outside of their surgical role. Therefore, dental assistants are the key individuals trained to assist with patient preparation in a dental practice setting.