Dental therapist jobs

Some of the less complicated tasks that need to be completed by a dentist are handled by a dental therapist.

a day at the office

There has been an increase in the number of dental practices that now employ dental therapists to do normal dental procedures. You will have freedom as a therapist, but without the full responsibilities of operating a clinic, this will be your reality. You may also provide therapy in other sections of the community, such as schools and residential care facilities, for example.

You would be responsible for providing patients with vital health information, such as recommendations on how to maintain good dental health, as part of your position. In addition to that, you'll be responsible for a variety of processes, such as the following:

the process of scaling and polishing

putting substances on teeth, including fluoride and fissure sealants, among other things.

taking dental x-rays

Taking molds of the patient's teeth

carrying out normal dental work on primary teeth as well as permanent teeth

installation of crowns

removing teeth via extraction

Additional abilities, such as the following, may also be developed by dental therapists:

the process of bleaching one's teeth

removing sutures only after the wound has been examined by a dentist.

You will provide care to a variety of patients who have varying treatment requirements, including people who:

are fearful of the dentist

have difficulties in learning or physical movement

contain excessive amounts of deterioration that has not been addressed

are unable to receive routine dental treatment in the general dental service

Entry requirements

In order to work as a dental therapist, you are required to get a certificate, diploma, or degree in the field of dental therapy and be registered with the General Dental Council.

You will require five GCSE courses with grades ranging from 4-7 or A-C, in addition to two A-levels or a certificate that is recognized in the field of dental nursing. Before enrolling in the course, you could also be necessary to have previous work experience in the field of dental nursing.

Must have talents

You need to have patience, great communication abilities, and strong interpersonal skills. You will need to have compassion and a caring attitude in addition to having highly technical and skilled clinical abilities. You will need to have the self-assurance to work on your own and the ability to put patients of any age, including the tiniest ones, at rest. Along with an awareness of the necessary precautions for health and safety, vital skills include effective time management and organization. The necessity to maintain patient anonymity is something that a dental therapist must have in the back of their mind at all times.

Training and professional advancement

The duration of the course leading to a diploma in dental therapy ranges from around 27 months to 29 months, depending on the dental hospital at which you study. For dental hygienists who are interested in becoming dental therapists, certain dental schools provide the opportunity to take courses on a part-time basis.

Included among the topics covered are:

preventative dentistry

Instruction on dental hygiene

pathology of the teeth

Simple dental restoration techniques for both primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth

the removal of milk teeth and permanent teeth (previously known as baby teeth)

radiography as well as drug research

If you are attending university to pursue a degree in dental treatment at either level 5 or level 6, you could be qualified to earn a yearly stipend of at least £5,000 to put toward your education. It's possible that because of your unique circumstances, you may get more. What's the good news, you ask? You won't ever have to worry about having to pay it back. Learn as much as you can.

Career development

You will be held accountable for being current on the most recent strategies and advances, including best practices, in your field. Performance evaluations will be used to identify opportunities for your professional growth, and fulfilling such opportunities will be one of the essential conditions for you to register with the General Dental Council.

After gaining sufficient experience, you have the opportunity to further your career by moving into research or becoming a practice manager. You may pursue a career in teaching or become an orthodontic therapist. Both of these options are open to you.

Benefits and remuneration

Working hours and income will vary depending on whether you are self-employed or hired directly by a dental office as a dental therapist; nonetheless, you should be prepared to put in some time during the evenings and weekends.

On the Agenda for Change pay scale, your starting wage might be in bands 5 or 6 if you get a job with the National Health Service working in a hospital or community clinic. You should expect to put in an average of 37.5 hours of work per week.