Dental Therapist
Job Description:Dental therapists carry out routine treatments prescribed by a dentist.
Job Category:What you will do:
As a dental therapist, you could:
- remove plaque and other coatings on teeth
- polish and whiten teeth
- apply sealants and fluorides to help prevent tooth decay
- put in and replace fillings and crowns
- take X-rays, give local anaesthetic and take out teeth
Skills:
You’ll need:
- customer service skills
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- thinking and reasoning skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As well as:
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisational skills)
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to enjoy working with other people
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.
University
You’ll need a degree or diploma in dental therapy.
If you’re a qualified dental hygienist or dental nurse, you might be able to do a part time course with a dental school to become a dental therapist.
You’ll need to get work experience in healthcare shadowing a dental therapist or a dental hygienist.
Apprenticeship
You could start by doing the Dental Nurse Apprenticeship.
With experience, you could then do a degree or diploma whilst working to become a dental therapist.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 39-41 hours of work. You could be required to work between 8am and 6pm.
You could work at a dental practice, in a public or private hospital or at a school. You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience you could:
- progress to dental practice manager
- become self employed and set up your own practice
- move into research or teaching
- do further training or go into orthodontic therapy