1. A DENTAL CAREER

2. What is a dentist? A dentist is:
a registered primary healthcare professional
highly educated
focuses on the care of structures in and of the mouth - teeth, gums, bone, tongue, lips…

3. What do dentists do? By preventing and treating oral disorders,
dentists help people maintain and improve:
their oral health - form and function
quality of life
appearance

4. What makes a dentist? Enjoy interacting with people
Good interpersonal/ communication skills
Good fine motor skills
Enjoy working independently and accepting responsibility
Enjoy working co-operatively with others
Have a high level of aptitude in science-based subjects

5. Are you a career dentist?
Someone who can combine:
Art and science
Personal communication skills
High ethical standards – your own, the community, the profession

6. Dentistry allows:
The flexibility to balance a professional and personal life
The opportunity to be your own boss
The possibility of earning a good income

7. Legislative Regulations
Dentists practice under legislative regulations:
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Dental Board of Australia
Health Services Commissioner
VCAT
Courts

8. School pathway to dentistry
Mathematics/science subjects
Competitive ATAR score and/or undergraduate degree (see universities’ entry requirements)

9. Opportunities Dentistry is a competitive field
Opportunities are more likely to exist in rural or regional areas, particularly for new graduates
Some Government funding available for dental schemes
The Federal and State Branches of the ADA are working to support members experiencing difficulty in gaining employment

10. Dental schools - Victoria
University of Melbourne – four year graduate entry degree (Doctor of Dental Surgery) following a generalist three year undergraduate degree
La Trobe University, Bendigo – five year course (Bachelor of Health Sciences in Dentistry/ Master of Dentistry)

11. Dental schools - interstate
South Australia
University of Adelaide
New South Wales
University of Sydney
Charles Sturt University
Queensland
University of Queensland
Griffith University
James Cook University
Western Australia
University of Western Australia

12. Cost of studies
Some Commonwealth support places (CSP) available, others full fee paying
Contact university for further information

13. What could you earn?
New graduate dentists can earn $70,000+ depending on hours worked and sector (public or private)
And in 5 or 10 years?

14. General practice: Offer full range of dental services
Identifying and treating dental diseases
Providing preventive oral health services to save and protect teeth

15. How do I progress? Most dentists start out as an assistant dentist
Some later become self-employed practitioners
Some leave general practice for further study to specialise or change paths

16. Specialist dentists:
Dento-maxillofacial radiologist – interpretation of diagnostic imaging used for examining the craniofacial and dental region
Endodontist – prevents, diagnoses and treats disease and injuries to the soft tissues in the hollow centre of the tooth
Forensic odontologist – examination of dental evidence which may be presented in the interests of justice
Oral medicine – deals with diseases of the mouth and associated structures, studies their causes and provides clinical diagnosis and assessment
Oral surgeon – surgically treats injuries, abnormalities and diseases of the mouth and adjacent parts
Orthodontist – prevents and treats misaligned teeth and jaws

17. Specialist dentists:
Paediatric dentist – prevention, recognition, diagnosis and treatment of disease and abnormalities in children
Periodontist – prevents and treats diseases of the tissues that support teeth
Prosthodontist – restores and/ or replaces teeth and their associated parts
Public health dentistry – oral health education, applied dental research and administration of dental care programs
Special needs – deals with patients with intellectual disability, medical, physical or psychiatric conditions

18. Where can you work? Public sector Private Practice Armed forces
Community Health Care
Hospital based practice
Private Practice
Armed forces
University
Clinical and Academic Teaching
Research
International aid agencies

19. And then what?
Association
Study clubs
Personal development
More…

20. Other dental careers Dental hygienist Dental therapist
Registered, provides highly skilled preventive services without cutting or removing teeth
Dental therapist
Registered, provides restorative and preventive dental services to children and adolescents within the public sector
Dental technician
Construct and repair dental appliances
Dental prosthetist
Provide complete and partial dentures and mouthguards to the public
Dental assistant
Assist dentists and other members of the oral health team to deliver high quality dental care

21. Change and dentistry The role of the dentist continues to change
Effective preventive measures
Rapid advances in biomedical and genetic research
Development of new technologies and materials

22. Being a dentist
A rewarding and challenging career

23. © Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch Inc.
Further information
Careers advisory teacher
Your dentist
Australian Dental Association
ORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE
© Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch Inc.