Team and HR
Delegation
Assigning tasks to team members who are trained and legally allowed to do them, with the dentist remaining responsible for the care.
Delegation means giving a task to another person. In a dental practice it covers clinical and office tasks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that assistants who perform lab tasks, such as taking impressions of a patient's teeth, work under the direction of a dentist.
What may be delegated depends on state law. Missouri's dental practice act defines a dental assistant as a person who provides patient services in cooperation with and under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. Rules differ for hygienists and for an expanded function dental assistant.
Delegation sits inside scope of practice limits. The same word also names a management skill that helps a dental team share work. This entry is a general definition only.