Dental therapist
Dental therapists provide a range of dental services to adults and children, like x-rays, tooth impressions, scaling and polishing.
- Starter salary£32,000 a year
- Experienced£57,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As a dental therapist, you would work closely with a dental team.
You could:
- check a patient's oral health, and chart and monitor gum disease
- take dental x-rays
- remove plaque and tartar from teeth and polish them
- apply sealants and fluorides to help prevent tooth decay
- extract baby teeth, and add crowns and fillings for clients under certain circumstances
- provide care for tooth implant sites
- advise patients on treatment plans and how to care for their teeth and gums
Working environment
You could work at a dental practice, in an NHS or private hospital, at a school or in the community.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- sensitivity and understanding
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a dental therapist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
University
You'll need to complete a higher education diploma or degree approved by the General Dental Council .
Subjects include:
- dental therapy
- oral health science
- dental hygiene and dental therapy
When you apply for a university course, it might help to have some experience in a dental or healthcare setting , for example, shadowing a dental therapist or a dental hygienist.
You might be able to get extra support with student finance, as a dental student, through the NHS Learning Support Fund .
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
Work
If you're a qualified dental hygienist or dental nurse , you might be able to do a part-time training course with a dental school to become a dental therapist.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- move into dental practice management
- become self employed and set up your own practice
- work in dental teaching, training or research
- join a commercial company that makes dental products and equipment
- complete a dental degree to qualify as a dentist
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Dental Council
Guides for this industry
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