A dental consultant may employ individuals for what purpose?

Employing individuals to provide investigative, professional, and clerical support is aligned with the role of a dental consultant. Consultants typically focus on improving operational efficiency, compliance with regulations, and financial performance within dental practices. Their expertise is often sought in areas such as practice management, marketing strategies, and staff training methodologies.

By engaging support staff in these areas, a dental consultant can enhance the overall functioning of the practice without involving them in direct patient care. This allows the consultant to maintain a focus on their primary responsibilities while ensuring that the necessary support is available to keep the practice running smoothly.

In contrast, the roles mentioned in the other choices, such as performing direct patient care or managing clinic operations, fall outside the typical scope of a dental consultant’s duties. While they may advise on these matters, the direct involvement in patient care or operational management is usually the responsibility of licensed professionals or practice owners. Similarly, directly supervising staff training would typically be part of the practice management role rather than a consultant's direct responsibility. Thus, choice B accurately reflects the appropriate purpose for employing individuals in the context of a dental consultant's role.