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Dental Therapist
Examines and treats ailments of the teeth and gums, mainly among pre-school and primary school age children, under the supervision of dentists.
Skill Level:
The entry requirement for this occupation is an AQF Diploma or higher qualification or at least 3 years relevant experience. In some instances relevant experience is required in addition to the formal qualification. Registration or licensing may be required.
Dental therapists may perform the following tasks:
- carries out oral examinations and checks teeth and gums for signs of decay and disease
- provides educational programs to motivate children, parents and the community in matters relating to oral health
- cleans calcareous deposits and stains from teeth and the gum margins using specialised dental equipment
- applies fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay
- applies rubber dams and temporary restorations
- extracts teeth where necessary
- may conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment local or infrequent dental practice
- may perform dental radiography
- may administer local anaesthesia and analgesics
Dental therapists work in a particular geographical area and are responsible for visiting a number of local schools on a regular basis. They may be required to work anywhere in their state or territory, although individual preferences and applications for specific positions are taken into account.
Personal Requirements
- Manual dexterity
- Able to do precise and detailed work
- Good communication skills
- Able to establish rapport with children
- Able to work as part of a team
Related Jobs
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Technician
- Dentist
Education and Training
Information relating to education and training, employment opportunities and additional information is specific to each State/Territory. To see the relevant information, select the state:
NSW/ACT NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA
Employment Opportunities
The public sector oral health services are the major employers of dental therapists. They work in fixed and mobile clinics promoting oral health care to children from pre-school to Year 10. Career opportunities include progression to senior dental therapist or oral health therapist positions coordinating health promotion activities in dental health services State-wide, and positions in research and teaching government policies regarding the oral health of school students.
Job opportunities depend upon:
- government funding
- the number of people eligible for treatment.
Additional Information
Dental therapists must be registered with the Dental Registration Board of the State in which they intend to work.
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