What Can Dental Assistants Learn From A Whitening Course?
If you are a dental assistant looking for a continuing education credit or just want to expand your abilities in the dental office, you may be looking at teeth whitening training. Besides learning how to apply the whitening gel, there are lots of other aspects of this training. Here are just a few valuable things you can learn from teeth whitening certification courses.
How to Identify Good Candidates for the Procedure
Whitening is great for extrinsic stains or stains that are on the enamel and caused by smoke, food, plaque, etc. Whitening isn't always a good option for intrinsic stains or discolorations that are present underneath the enamel. In a whitening course, you'll learn how to identify good candidates for whitening based on the types of stains they have and which aesthetic outcomes they want. If a patient isn't a good candidate for whitening, then you will be better able to recommend other procedures, like enamel resurfacing or bonding so that the patient isn't disappointed if whitening doesn't work.
How to Use Moisture Control Methods
Some bleaching agents aren't as effective if moisture, like from saliva, is in the way. During a whitening course, you'll learn how to place latex dental dams and cotton rolls to keep the working area moisture free for the dentist. Plus, these moisture control methods can also be used to protect gums from the whitening agent. If some whitening gels get on gum tissue, they can cause irritation and sensitivity, so learning how to place these barriers is an important aspect of training.
How to Take Tooth Shades
While there is no standard shade system, shade guides are good reference tools for a dental office since they have a range of tooth colors and can show patients possible outcomes for bleaching or matching restorations (e.g. crowns). While whitening can drastically change a person's tooth shade, some patients may have unrealistic expectations. If you have a shade guide, you can match a fabricated shade to a patient's current color and then show them what they can expect in terms of change.
Besides learning to use a shade guide, your course may delve into digital dentistry programs. With these digital programs, you can upload a patient's photograph and whiten their teeth to give them a better idea of what their teeth will look like. Shade taking is an important aspect of whitening procedures since patients may not want to proceed until they are sure that they will be satisfied with future results.
How to Give Aftercare Instructions
After in-office whitening, some patients may take home whitening gel pens and customized trays. You'll need to teach them how to apply this gel, how to wear the trays, how to properly store their gel pens and trays, and so on. A whitening course will teach you how to give effective aftercare instructions so that your patients are satisfied and so that they can safely whiten their teeth at home.
Look for online teeth whitening training courses or reach out to a dental educator in your area for details.
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