The environment of the health care system requires the presence of multiple experts in different fields in order to deliver proper services. Therefore, for healthcare providers involved in the process to implement their tasks as effectively as possible, the understanding of the differences between their roles and responsibilities is vital. The distinction between nurses and dentists might seem obvious at first, yet in the dentistry environment, their health care roles may overlap, which could create confusion. Although both dentists and nurses are expected to diagnose an issue and administer treatment, the role of a nurse is geared toward assisting a dentist.
The main distinction between a nurse and a dentist concerns the extent of their qualification for assisting patients. Namely, in contrast to a dentist, who is eligible for performing all kinds of dental procedures needed for addressing patients’ needs, a nurse’s options are restricted to a lesser range. For instance, during surgeries, a nurse can provide support and assistance to a dental surgeon. The specified assistance typically involves handing surgical tools, preparing the environment for specific procedures, and preparing medications that will be used, later on, during a surgery (Rixon et al., 2017). The task of sterilizing surgical equipment before the procedure starts is also usually assigned to a nurse. Furthermore, as a nurse, one is expected to communicate with patients, recording their medical history and locating crucial data that can be used during the treatment process.
The extent to which nurses participate in administrative duties is also significantly higher than that one of a dentist. Namely, it is expected of a nurse to carry out performance reviews and attend staff meetings during which key work-related issues are discussed. In addition, nurses may be responsible for designing personnel procedures. Thus, the role of a nurse includes checking that all goals set for specific tasks are met as swiftly and in as cost-efficient a manner as possible (Gonnelli & Raffagnino, 2018). In turn, a dentist is not expected to take the described administrative actions; instead, a dentist is supposed to diagnose health issues, administer treatment, and perform other tasks associated with direct management of patients’ needs.
Overall, compared to a dentist, a nurse typically performs the functions that are linked to the role of an assistant. Namely, a nurse would ensure that every instrument is in the required condition and that the patient has been fully prepared for the further treatment process. In contrast to a nurse, a dentist is expected to be responsible for providing the treatment in question, namely, performing the necessary diagnostics and the further management of a health issue, including penetrative treatment (Huang et al., 2018). The focus on communication with patients and ensuring that their rights are met aligns with the Biblical idea of pursuing righteousness, as well as promoting justice and mercy to all people (Isaiah 56:1). Therefore, the extent of agency within a health care environment defines the main difference between a nurse and a dentist.
While there is a certain overlap in the functions that nurses and dentists may implement in the dentistry setting, there are major distinctions between the two, primarily, in the extent of decision-making and agency. Although a dental nurse can adopt an administrative role in the health care environment, it is a dentist who is fully qualified for providing the full range of dental health care services. Therefore, a nurse can be seen as the health care expert offering assistance to a dentist during key procedures. Additionally, a nurse can perform the functions of a patient educator, offering a patient the required information on the topic of their interest.
References
Gonnelli, C., & Raffagnino, R. (2018). Health of nurses with leadership and management functions: An integrative review. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 6(10), 106-131. Web.
Huang, T. K., Yang, C. H., Hsieh, Y. H., Wang, J. C., & Hung, C. C. (2018). Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applied in dentistry. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 34(4), 243-248. Web.
Rixon, S., Braaf, S., Williams, A., Liew, D., & Manias, E. (2017). The functions and roles of questioning during nursing handovers in specialty settings: An ethnographic study. Contemporary Nurse, 53(2), 182-195.