🩺Medicine & Health
Dental Therapist
Treats teeth and gums where a university-trained dentist isn't available
Provides dental treatment and oral care after a college programme — working alone where there's no dentist, or alongside one in a clinic.
What they do
- ▹Treats cavities, pulpitis and other common dental diseases
- ▹Performs professional cleaning and gum disease prevention
- ▹Extracts simple teeth and gives emergency dental care
- ▹Refers patients to a specialist dentist for complex cases
Skills you need
- ▹Fine motor skills and precision
- ▹Knowledge of dental and jaw anatomy
- ▹Calm manner with patients afraid of treatment
- ▹Care and strict sterilization practice
- ▹Readiness to work independently without a doctor nearby
Focus on these subjects at school
BiologyChemistry
Where they work
- ▹Dental offices at district polyclinics
- ▹Rural medical outposts
- ▹Private dental clinics (alongside a dentist)
- ▹School and student dental offices
Pros
- + A shorter path into dentistry than a medical university degree
- + In demand in smaller towns and districts short on dentists
Challenges
- − Fewer options for complex, expensive treatments than a dentist has
- − Constant contact with patients in pain or anxious about treatment
Where else it's taught — colleges
This profession isn't only a university path — it's also taught at secondary vocational colleges.
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