Dental Assistant or Dental
Nurse
Dental Hygienist
Dental Specialist
Dental Technician
Dental
Therapist
Forensic Dentist/Forensic Odontologist
Orthodontist
Related Jobs or
Working with these Jobs
Dentists take care of patients'
teeth and gums by diagnosing and treating injuries, problems and
abnormalities. Their wide range of duties includes repairing or removing
broken and decayed teeth,
treating infections and diseases of the roots or
nerves, and cleaning teeth. Other tasks may include the design and fitting
of dental crowns, bridges or dentures.
ANZSCO ID & Description:
252312:
Diagnoses and treats dental disease, injuries, decay and malformations of
the teeth, periodontal tissue (gums), hard and soft tissue found on the
mouth and other dento-facial structures using surgery and other techniques.
Registration or licensing is required.
Specialisations:
-
Endodontist:
An endodontist diagnoses and treats diseases and injuries to the soft
tissues within the hollow core of the tooth.
-
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeon:
An oral/maxillofacial surgeon surgically treats diseases and abnormalities
of the mouth and adjacent parts.
-
Orthodontist: An orthodontist diagnoses and treats badly aligned teeth and jaws.
-
Paediatric Dentist:
A paediatric dentist deals with children's dental health.
-
Periodontist:
A periodontist prevents and treats diseases of the gums and supporting
tissues.
-
Prosthodontist:
A prosthodontist restores and/or replaces teeth and their associated parts.
-
Public Health Dentist:
A public health dentist works with the community, researching and
facilitating community dental programs.
-
Special Needs Dentist:
A special needs dentist treats patients with conditions which require
special techniques to manage dental problems.
Knowledge, skills and
attributes
A dentist needs:
- patience and understanding
- the ability to undertake
detailed work
- high levels of
concentration
- good communication skills
- good organisational
skills.
(Source:
Dental Care Glebe)
Duties and Tasks
Dentists may perform the following tasks:
- examine patients' teeth and gums using dental equipment and X-rays
- diagnose dental conditions and plan oral health care in consultation
with patients
- clean teeth and cavities and provide preventive care, such as
scaling, cleaning and fluoride therapy
- repair decayed and broken teeth by rebuilding tooth structures and
providing crowns and bridges
- treat diseases of the roots, gums and soft tissues of the mouth
- perform routine surgical procedures, such as extracting teeth, as
well as complex operations on the jaws and soft tissues
- give local anaesthetics when necessary for carrying out treatment
- design and fit dentures, crowns and bridges for the replacement of
lost or unsound teeth
- refer patients to dental specialists for further treatment.
Working
conditions
Dentists work mainly in public or private dental clinics. Hours can
vary according to the opening times of the clinic in which dentists are
employed. Some dentists may be on-call 24 hours a day to attend to emergency
dental work. Demand for dentists in Australia is high, with some being
required to help in remote areas when necessary. A dentist’s work
environment needs to be highly sterile to prevent infection to clients and
themselves. Tools and technologies
Dentists work with a large range of dental tools and equipment,
such as drills, mouth mirrors, retractors, syringes and x-ray machines. Such
equipment must always be clean and sterile to prevent the incidence or
spread of infection. Personal
Requirements:
- good hand-eye coordination
- able to do precise and detailed work
- good communication skills
- able to concentrate for long periods
- sympathetic and caring.
Education and
training/entrance requirements
To become a dentist, you must complete a bachelor degree in any discipline
and then complete postgraduate study in dentistry.
The Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) usually takes four years to complete.
Entry requirements include the completion of a bachelor degree in any
discipline. You must also sit the Graduate Australian Medical Schools
Admissions Test (GAMSAT) and attend an interview.
Graduates must be registered with the Dental Board of Australia to be able
to practice dentistry in Australia.
Did You Know?
Ockham's Razor - 6 February 2023
11 minutes
Why are Dentists envious of rat, shark or snail teeth?
Turns out, they all have characteristics that could be used as
inspiration for human dentistry.
Dentist Greg Miller explores the future of dentistry and what we can
learn from the animal world.
Speaker:
Greg Miller
Founder, Australian Dental Foundation
Key Points
The humble snail has up to 20K teeth!
The limpet has particular interest to Dentists because it has the
strongest teeth and indeed the strongest biological material in the
world even stronger than titaniun implants.
Rats are monophyodont - they have one set of teeth. In contrast,
humans are diphyodont, developing two successive sets of teeth known
as deciduous and permanent.
In rodents, both the top and bottom incisors grow continuously
throughout life.
[How would knowing about this growth help Dentists?]
Sharks - a Nurse Shark only takes 9 days to generate a new tooth!
Listen to the rest of the podcast!
What did you learn from
this Podcast?
|
good manual dexterity and the ability to perform precision work
good communication skills and the ability to work as part of team
a sensitive and caring nature
good organisational skills and the ability to perform a variety of
tasks at once
an interest in health care
Duties and Tasks
As a dental assistant, you
would:
- greet and prepare patients, sterilise or
disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials,
or assist dentists during dental procedures
- record treatment information in patient
records
- take diagnostic x-rays
- take and record medical and dental
histories and vital signs of patients
- provide post-operative instructions for
patients undergoing general or local anaesthesia
- maintain and restock dental supplies.
Working conditions
Dental nurses may work with only one other person or as part of a
team. They may also work under pressure as some treatments may have
to be completed within a certain time frame. Generally, dental
nurses work within normal business hours Monday to Friday; however,
they may be required to work Saturday mornings.
Tools and technologies
Dental nurses work with a variety of equipment including hand pieces
and rotary cutting instruments, diagnostic equipment including
x-rays and oral surgical instruments. They are required to use
personal protective equipment, which is also given to clients. They
also need to know how to perform injections and sterilise equipment.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become a dental assistant, you usually need to complete a
qualification in dental assisting.
The Certificate III in Dental Assisting is offered at TAFE Colleges
and other registered training organisations throughout Australia.
You can also complete a Certificate III in Dental Assisting by doing
a traineeship. A dental assistant traineeship usually takes 12 to 24
months to complete and is available as a school-based traineeship.
Orthodontists are specialist qualified dentists who diagnose and treat
problems with a patient’s jaw alignment and bite pattern.
ANZSCO ID:
252311
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become an orthodontist., you would need:
- a strong academic
background and an interest and ability in science
- good eyesight and
colour vision
- the ability to carry
out delicate work with medical instruments
- the ability to
concentrate for long periods
- excellent communication
skills to explain treatments to patients
- the ability to put
anxious patients at ease.
(Source:
Dunn Orthodontics)
Duties and Tasks
As an orthodontist, you would:
-
take X-rays and give local anaesthetic
-
fit dental aids and hardware such as
headgear, braces or retainers
-
remove teeth
-
do small cosmetic procedures
-
provide estimates of treatment costs for
patients
-
see patients at regular intervals to monitor
progress
-
confer with a patient's regular dentist
-
keep accurate treatment records
-
usually have a particular focus on children
and young people.
Working conditions
You would usually work standard hours, Monday to
Friday, although your hours of work will vary depending on the area you
work in. Part-time hours are often possible.
In a hospital setting, you might work more irregular hours, including
night shifts.
Most orthodontists are self-employed and work in private practice. Some
work for dental services for government, hospital or private health care
providers, or in the armed forces. Orthodontists need to be able to sit
and stand comfortably for quite long periods of time.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become an orthodontist you must first complete a bachelor's
degree in dentistry, dental science or dental surgery at university.
After completing your degree, you need 2 years of clinical practice as a
dentist, followed by completion of a further 3-year full-time degree in
orthodontics.
To get into the degree courses you usually need to gain your senior
secondary school certificate or equivalent. English, mathematics,
biology, chemistry and physics would be appropriate subjects to study
prior to university. Entry is highly competitive, and you usually need
to sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test
(UMAT) and attend a structured interview. You may also be required to
complete a structured oral assessment.
It is a legal requirement for graduates to be registered with the Dental
Board of Australia before being able to practise as a dentist in any
state or territory in Australia. Orthodontists must register as a
specialist in Orthodontics.
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases
such as gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care. They also
educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health.
Dental hygienists assist dentists in providing oral health therapies and
education. They consult with dentists to determine the appropriate treatment
for patients, but are able to carry out most procedures independently. They
examine patients' teeth and gum for signs of disease, remove plaque build-up
and stains, and advise patients on how to look after the teeth and gums to
maintain oral health. These workers also take x-rays, make impressions of
patients' mouths to make mouth guards and study casts, and select, size and
remove orthodontic appliances, such as braces. In some cases, dental
hygienists may also assist dentists in surgery.
ANZSCO ID: 411211
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become a dental
hygienist, you would need:
-
an interest and ability in science, anatomy and
physiology
-
the ability to motivate clients to improve their
dental hygiene
-
excellent communication skills to explain treatments
and put patients at ease
-
the confidence to handle equipment
-
good eyesight and steady hands for carrying out
precision work
-
the ability to concentrate for long periods
-
good teamwork skills.
(Source:
Foundation Education)
Duties and Tasks
As a dental hygienist, your
main role is to encourage patients to look after their teeth and
gums. You would also give treatments to patients. You would use a
range of dental instruments to:
-
remove plaque
-
clean and polish teeth to help prevent gum disease
-
apply antibacterial treatments to reduce decay
-
apply temporary coatings and sealants to protect
teeth
-
encourage and demonstrate tooth brushing and
flossing to individuals and groups.
You would also maintain
sterile conditions and occasionally take x-rays. A dental assistant
or nurse may support you for some procedures.
Working conditions
You could work in general dental practice,
community dental services and in hospitals.
You would usually work standard hours, with occasional evening and
weekend duties. If you were based at a hospital, you could work
shifts or be on call. Part-time hours and opportunities for
self-employment are often available.
If you worked for a community based dental service, your day-to-day
work would usually involve travelling.
Tools and technologies
Dental hygienists use a range of specialised dental equipment to
look inside the mouth, remove plaque from teeth and help keep the
mouth clear and relatively dry during examinations and procedures.
They must also use sterilising equipment and protective clothing,
such as gloves and a mask. When educating patients about correct
oral health care they use models and charts to demonstrate the
correct brushing and flossing techniques and the effects of
different diseases.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become a dental hygienist you usually have
to complete a VET qualification in oral health (dental hygiene) or a
degree in oral health or oral health therapy approved by the Dental
Board of Australia. To get into these courses you usually need to
gain your senior secondary school certificate or equivalent.
English, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics would be
appropriate subjects to study prior to university.
Before undertaking clinical placements required by courses, students
will need to obtain a Provide First Aid Certificate, a National
Police Certificate, a Working with Children Check or equivalent, and
fulfil immunisation requirements.
It is a legal requirement for graduates to be registered with the
Dental Board of Australia before practising as a dental hygienist in
any state or territory in Australia.
Employment Opportunities
Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow much faster than the
average for all occupations.
Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will likely continue
to increase the demand for preventive dental services. As the large
baby-boom population ages, and as people keep more of their original teeth
than did previous generations, the need to maintain and treat teeth will
continue to increase the need for dental care.
People with new or expanded dental insurance coverage will also be more
likely to visit a dentist than in the past. This will increase the demand
for all dental services, including those performed by dental hygienists.
Related Jobs or
Working with these Jobs
(Jobs not linked are currently being worked on)
Job Cluster:
Forensic Science
Material
sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA [Dentist;
Dental assistant;
Dental Specialist;
Dental Technician;
Dental Therapist;
Dental Hygienist];
CareerHQ [Orthodontist ;
Dental Technician;
Dental Assistant;
Dental Hygienist]
TheBalance [Forensic
Odontologist; ]
Best Accrediated Colleges [Dental
Specialist; ] Your Career
[Dentist;
Dental Specialist (including Orthodontists; ]
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