When you graduate dental school there are several things you take with you. You may not yet be a qualified dentist, you may even be a dental assistant and are working your way up the chain of command as well as schooling, but one thing you learn in both places is dental lab equipment.
If there is one thing that you must know first hand, it's what tools you will be using, what tools you will be preparing for your dentist, or even yourself, depending on where you are. Knowing your tools is paramount to assuring safety precautions are taken. Knowing the equipment you're using is also important to using it correctly and making it last a very long time. We all know that dental lab equipment is very expensive and it can take years just to recoup the costs of purchasing it in the first place (dentists with their own practice especially!). If you use your equipment correctly, but your dental or lab assistant does not, this could be very counter productive, not to mention dangerous to the patient.
Strict safety laws are in place to assure only trained and certified people use this equipment. Part of that training/certification is learning how to use it effectively, efficiently, and above all safely. It's not just enough to know how to use some of the equipment. You must know what the best tool for any job you will be performing is. You need to know the limitations of your equipment and you must stick by those limitations, or preferably well below for safety.
As a dentist you are responsible for your assistant's use of the dental lab equipment as well. There are a lot of different tools used in a dental office, some are electronic, others are static but both should be treated with the same respect. When you're in dental school it would be wise to spend a lot of time learning about your tools, and the available tools. Some tools may seem inconsequential in the day to day operations, but they are all important and you will come across many opportunities to use them all. Some things are optional but many, for a well equipped dental office, are mandatory. Learn which is which. Dental Lab Equipment Knowledge is Mandatory
When you graduate dental school there are several things you take with you. You may not yet be a qualified dentist, you may even be a dental assistant and are working your way up the chain of command as well as schooling, but one thing you learn in both places is dental lab equipment.
If there is one thing that you must know first hand, it's what tools you will be using, what tools you will be preparing for your dentist, or even yourself, depending on where you are. Knowing your tools is paramount to assuring safety precautions are taken. Knowing the equipment you're using is also important to using it correctly and making it last a very long time. We all know that dental lab equipment is very expensive and it can take years just to recoup the costs of purchasing it in the first place (dentists with their own practice especially!). If you use your equipment correctly, but your dental or lab assistant does not, this could be very counter productive, not to mention dangerous to the patient.
Strict safety laws are in place to assure only trained and certified people use this equipment. Part of that training/certification is learning how to use it effectively, efficiently, and above all safely. It's not just enough to know how to use some of the equipment. You must know what the best tool for any job you will be performing is. You need to know the limitations of your equipment and you must stick by those limitations, or preferably well below for safety.
As a dentist you are responsible for your assistant's use of the dental lab equipment as well. There are a lot of different tools used in a dental office, some are electronic, others are static but both should be treated with the same respect. When you're in dental school it would be wise to spend a lot of time learning about your tools, and the available tools. Some tools may seem inconsequential in the day to day operations, but they are all important and you will come across many opportunities to use them all. Some things are optional but many, for a well equipped dental office, are mandatory. Learn which is which.
