ABSTRACT
The dental practice is made up of the dental surgeon(s) and their respective dental surgery assistants (DSAs). Many practices also employ hygienists whose role is to provide oral hygiene instruction and to carry out scaling and polishing. They are involved in giving dietary advice and applying fluoride. Some practices still employ dental technicians on the premises although the numbers are falling, and in today’s modern practices most impressions taken of the teeth for the construction of dentures, crowns, bridges and orthodontic appliances are sent out to a laboratory of choice.
