Dental assistants and therapists
Dental assistants and therapists provide basic dental care services for the prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth and mouth, as per care plans and procedures established by a dentist or other oral health professional.
Skill level: SkilledCheck your Wage
- Salary range for the majority of workers in Dental assistants and therapists - from $2,079 to $8,328 per month - 2026.
- A Dental assistants and therapists typically earns between $2,079 and $5,094 gross per month at the start of the job.
- After 5 years of service, this is between $2,290 and $5,809 per month for a working week of 40 hours.
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Tasks and duties
- Advising communities and individuals on dental hygiene, diet and other preventive measures to reduce potential risks to oral health
- Conducting visual and physical examinations of patients' mouths, teeth and related structures to assess oral health status
- Identifying cases of patients with poor oral health or oral disease requiring referral to a dentist or other health professional
- Assisting dentists during complex dental procedures
- Providing fluoride treatments, cleaning and removing deposits from teeth, preparing cavities and placing fillings, administering local anaesthesia, and performing other types of basic or routine clinical dental procedures
- Preparing, cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments, equipment and materials used in the examination and treatment of patients
- Getting patients ready for examination or treatment, including explaining procedures and correct positioning
- Taking impressions of the mouth and dental radiographs to support diagnosis and fitting of dental prosthetics
