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Dental assistant - A key dentistry team member
Help deliver high quality dental care in dental offices |
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What is a dental assistant? |
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Dental assistants, also known as dental nurses or dental chairside assistants, are important members of the dental health care team. They greatly increase the efficiency in dental offices and assist dentists and other clinician members of the oral health team to deliver high quality dental care.
A dental assistant career would be a good dentistry position for you if you have good communication skills and enjoy working with people. In addition, if you enjoy working with your hands as well as your mind and want a dental job with responsibility then dental assisting would be an ideal career choice for you. |
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What do dental assistants do? |
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A dental assistant’s role includes a variety of duties that are focused on infection control, management and support for the flow of efficiency in the delivery of dental health services by the clinicians. The dentist is the primary clinician that the dental assistant will work closely with, however there is an increased utilisation of the dental assistant with dental hygienists, dental therapists and dental prosthetists. The specific tasks dental assistants carry out can vary widely depending on their workplace, all along their dental career path.
Among the many duties, a dental assistant career in New South Wales may include:
- Greet patients and help them feel comfortable in the dental practice;
- Carry out reception duties, stock management and computer operations
- Coordinate patients to help them comply with prescribed treatment plans and maintenance schedules;
- Assist dentists, hygienists and therapists during a variety of treatment procedures;
- Prepare the dental surgery both before and after treatments;
- Ensure proper standards of infection control are maintained;
- Process instruments after use;
- Update patient records either on paper or as computer files;
- Handle and prepare dental materials used in treatments;
- Organise and transfer instruments during complex dental procedures;
- Expose, process and catalogue radiographs (X-rays);
- Make, trim and polish plaster and stone models of the mouth and teeth from impressions taken by a dental clinician;
- Photograph exterior and interior oral structures to profile stages of treatment and outcomes;
- Teach oral hygiene techniques to help people maintain healthy teeth and gums; and
- Educate patients on oral and systemic health issues.
Dental assistants are a vital part of the dental health care team. Most dental treatment procedures require the hands-on support of a well-trained dental assistant.
Dental assistants must have direct supervision of a dentist to perform any hands-on duties with or alongside the patients. Duties without clinical contact with patients can be performed when the dentist is away from the practice.
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If you are considering a dental assistant career you should: |
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- Take high school courses in health, sciences, English, mathematics, speech and psychology
- Apply for work experience in a dental practice or community dental clinic
- Like working with your hands
- Be of a reliable and responsible character
- Communicate well and enjoy assisting people
- To provide information and education to people of all ages, races and gender
- To instil motivation toward healthy goals
- To be sensitive to the needs of others
- Be able to concentrate and follow instructions
- To learn new skills and apply knowledge
- To work accurately in a fast-paced environment
- Have good organisational and time management skills
- Enjoy working with others in a team environment
- Be interested in the delivery of oral health care
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Where do dental assistants work? |
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Dental assistant employment opportunities are numerous and offer women and men of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds a choice of dentistry work settings.
General dentistry practice: This type of dental practice represents the majority of dental practices in both the public and private sectors offering a full range of dental services to restore, replace and straighten teeth as well as provide preventive services to save and protect teeth. The dental assistant’s role in this type of practice will have the greatest variety of duties in a team environment that in addition to working with the dentist they may also work with specialist dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians and dental prosthetists. The general dental practice can be either a solo (one dentist) or group (two or more dentists) practice.
Specialty dentistry practice: This type of dental practice concentrates its services to a specialised area of oral health care, which can be periodontics, paediatric dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics and oral surgery. The specialist practices require a team approach to achieve quality outcomes, which demands an intense focus by the dental assistant on precision of specific duties.
Community or school-based public dental health clinic: The Community dental clinics in regional and rural areas provide routine and emergency dental services for eligible adults who hold a Pension card, Health Care card or Seniors card. Patients are on waiting lists to be seen. The school dental clinics aim to ensure that children have the opportunity to reach adulthood with good oral health and to develop the skills to maintain it. The dental assistant performs a variety of clinical duties and works as a team with dentists and dental therapists to educate and motivate the community in the principles of preventive dentistry and responsibility for their own oral health.
The Australian Defence Force (Army, Navy or Air Force): Dental care is one of the health services provided to all military personnel. It is available in military dental clinics on ships and at bases. Dental assistants perform clinical duties with dentists and dental hygienists and may also help in managing the military clinic.
Hospital dental clinic: Special needs dental care is offered through the hospital dental clinics for the members of the community with chemical, medical, mental and physical challenges. Hospital dental clinics also represent the clinical training facility for students in most of the dental areas. The dental assistant role requires a high level of caring and sensitivity to the needs of others and they will work through their dental career with experienced and training dentists, specialist dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians and dental prosthetists.
The dental assistant has exceptional career opportunities on their own or in combination with chairside assisting to work as practice managers, dental treatment coordinators, research assistants, educators, consumer advocates, dental sales representatives and consultants in an array of flexible work schedules.
Practice Managers: Dental assistants can apply their experience and knowledge of planning, communications and customer care in a supervisory role to manage the practical day-to-day business of the dental practice. The responsibilities of managing the business aspect of health care also involve accounting and staff management skills.
Dental Treatment Coordinators: Dental assistants in this position have excellent organisational skills, advanced communication skills and a high level of confidence and enthusiasm with solid clinical knowledge. This role involves working one-on-one with patients to ensure their questions are answered about dental treatment options, the fees involved and the scheduling of appointments. Some dental practices offer this personalised service to their patients, as it may translate to efficient time management of the whole team.
Research Assistants: Dental research is about exploring and gaining new knowledge and information on all sciences relevant to dentistry and to the oral cavity and associated structures in health and disease. The dental assistant can be employed on a contract by a university or research facility to assist with the collection of dental records and delivery of dental care in clinical trials.
Educators: Dental assistants can apply the skills and knowledge from their work experience in assisting with teaching dental, dental assistant, dental hygienist and dental therapist students in their respective training programs. This dental career avenue can lead toward advanced qualifications and degrees.
Consumer Advocates: Dental assistants may come to concentrate their dentistry work on specific oral health issues that relate to population-based oral health concerns. They stay well informed of the current research and activities to take on an active role of informing, educating and advising the public through health promotion.
Dental Sales Representatives: Dental assistants can apply their valuable working knowledge of dental products as a dental sales representative for a product or service company in the dental industry. They are responsible for promoting the company’s products primarily to dentists, but also to other dental professionals.
Consultants: Dental assistants that have achieved a level of clinical efficiency in time management that combines effective business and patient-centred principles can choose to share their achievements with dental professionals on the speaker circuit, delivering educational lectures or courses and/or tailor to an individual dental practice through onsite consultation. They can also be employed by dental companies to create and deliver education material to healthcare professionals and the public as an Educational Consultant.
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How do you become a dental assistant in New South Wales? |
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Dental assisting offers excellent career opportunities for the high school student, high school graduate, those seeking a career change and those re-entering the workforce.
To become a qualified dental assistant and achieve a dental career, you need to gain a Certificate III in Dental Assisting. New South Wales offers courses from three providers:
- The NSW Dental Assistants’ (Professional) Association, Stanmore
Visit Website
- TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute – Randwick College based at the Sydney Dental Hospital
Visit Website
- TAFE NSW Open Training and Education Network (OTEN)
Visit Website
- The Australian Defence Force also offers dental assisting training programmes in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Visit Website
Entry Requirements
Requirements for entry to the Certificate III courses in Dental Assisting:
- The NSW Dental Assistants’ (Professional) Association
- Students should be at least 18 years of age. Mature age persons welcome Under the Traineeship scheme 17 years of age is acceptable.
- Minimum qualification of a year 10 school certificate or equivalent (Higher School Certificate is preferred
- Desirable to have employment in a dental practice with a minimum of 3 months experience
- Required to be employed as a dental assistant by the end of first term
- International Students
- Minimum qualification of a school certificate level English or 5.5 IELTS
- Resident of NSW
- TAFE NSW OTEN and Sydney Dental Hospital (Sydney Institute)
- NSW school certificate or equivalent from another authority
- Must have access to a dental practice
- International Students
- Overall score of 5.5 IELTS
- OR successful completion of the Certificate in English for TAFE
- The Australian Defence Force
- Must be at least 17 years of age and under 51 years of age
- Have completed Year 10 with passes in English and mathematics.
- Listed as desirable is a Year 10 pass in Science
- Must be either an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia
Many dental practices provide on-the-job training programmes to get you started. The Certificate III qualification is open to practicing dental assistants or students who can gain supervised workplace dental assisting experience. You may be given recognition of prior learning or work experience to gain exemptions from repeating what you already know.
Dental assisting courses have attendance requirements and are run to fit in with typical working schedules. Some courses are also available via distance education as well as on the Internet through OTEN. Ask your school careers advisor about the possibility of starting some of this dental assistant training while you are still at school.
Information on traineeships in dental assisting is available through the NSW Department of Education and Training New Apprenticeships Centres. Visit Website
One of the best ways to experience the career is through a work experience trial. Contact your local dentist to see if they offer this.
The NSW Dental Assistants (Professional) Association also conducts an Employment Register which assists with finding suitable dentistry employment. Contact: info@nswdaa.asn.au or call (02) 9427 6162
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What career paths exist for dental assistants? |
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Dental assistants can complete further education to advance their career within the dental workforce. Dentistry training courses are available through several flexible delivery programmes within New South Wales.
- Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Oral Health Education)
- Required to complete the qualification within 1 year through distance learning
- Develop communication skills to educate, instruct and advise on preventive techniques and practices
- Pre-requisite is Certificate III in Dental Assisting
- TAFE NSW Open Training and Education Network (OTEN) and Sydney Dental Hospital
- Download PDF
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- Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography)
- Required to complete the qualification within 1 year through distance learning
- Gain a licence to take intra-oral and extraoral dental radiographs in the state of NSW
- Pre-requisite is Certificate III in Dental Assisting
- TAFE NSW Open Training and Education Network (OTEN) and Sydney Dental Hospital
- Download PDF
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- Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (During General Anaesthesia and Conscious Sedation)
- Required to complete the qualification within 1 year through distance learning
- Qualify to assist dentists who treat patients whilst undergoing general anaesthesia and conscious sedation
- Pre-requisite is Certificate III in Dental Assisting
- TAFE NSW Open Training and Education Network (OTEN)
- Download PDF
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- Certificate IV in Dental Practice Management
- 5 month course through individual module workshops (1 per month)
- Qualification gained for successful completion of Modules 1 - 6
- Applicable to those currently holding or aspiring to hold a management or supervisory role in the dental practice
- UNE Partnerships in conjunction with the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch)
- Visit Website
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- Diploma in Dental Practice Management
- 7 month course through individual module workshops (1 to 2 per month)
- Qualification gained for successful completion of Modules 7 – 10
- Self-directed application of skills and knowledge in financial and business planning including a review of the dental practice
- Pre-requisite is Certificate IV in Dental Practice Management
- UNE Partnerships in conjunction with the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch)
- Visit Website
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- Graduate Certificate in Practice Management
- 1 to 2 year through distance learning
- Post-graduate qualification to provide knowledge for improving management skills
- Pre-requisite of UNE Diploma level qualification plus 3 years relevant work experience
- UNE Partnerships and the Graduate School of Business (GSB) at the University of New England
- Download PDF
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- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 6 years maximum duration allowed
- Acquiring in-depth understanding and application of business and management principles with specialisation in a particular area and/or research
- Pre-requisite of Graduate Certificate plus 3 years relevant work experience or 3-year degree
- Graduate School of Business (GSB) at the University of New England
- Visit Website
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Your entry to one of the New South Wales clinical degree programs is based on the UAI (University Admission Index), which is your overall academic achievement in the HSC/ACT Year 12. The UAI is considered the best single prediction of tertiary success by most tertiary institutions in Australia. You may also be required to sit selection tests and attend an interview process.
Entry to dental hygiene and dental therapy training programs are highly competitive and with strict quotas. Having prerequisites of biology and chemistry, and Certificates III and IV in Dental Assisting can be beneficial. Contact your chosen university for more information as requirements may change. |
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- Bachelor degree program (Dental Hygiene)
- Broadens knowledge and skills to become a clinician to provide preventive and therapeutic treatment to people of all ages.
- Recognition of prior learning taken into account
- New South Wales offers two bachelor degree programs:
- The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah Campus 3 years full time study to graduate with a Bachelor of Oral Health degree. Visit Website
- The University of Sydney; Cumberland, Sydney Dental Hospital and Westmead Campuses Visit Website
- 3 years full time study to receive a dual qualification of dental therapy and dental hygiene with a Bachelor of Oral Health degree.
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- Bachelor degree program (Dental Therapy)
- Broadens knowledge and skills to become a clinician to provide operative and preventive treatment to children, adolescents and teenagers.
- Recognition of prior learning taken into account
- New South Wales offers a bachelor degree program where you graduate with a dual qualification of dental therapy and dental hygiene:
- The University of Sydney; Cumberland, Sydney Dental Hospital and Westmead campuses - Bachelor of Oral Health. Visit Website
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- BDS Degree (dentist)
- 4 year course
- Apply credits gained from a diploma or degree program
- Australian Dental Schools:
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Dental Assistant Job Opportunities |
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Several job openings are available at any given time with numerous dental assistant positions being entry-level and offering on-the-job training. A dental assistant's credentials and professional competence are recognised in employment compensation and positions when they achieve their certificate qualifications. To many individuals, the job of a dental assistant serves as a bridge that connects basic and entry-level training with more advanced and higher income dentistry occupations. |
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Where can I get more dental assisting job information in NSW? |
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- Your school careers advisor
- Your local dental practice
- Centrelink Career Information Centre:
(02) 9209-1661
- TAFE (NSW):
131 601
- TAFE Online: sydney.info@tafensw.edu.au
1300 360 601
- NSW Dental Assistants’ (Professional) Association:
(02) 9427-6162
- Australian Apprenticeship Centres
1800 639 629 (FREECALL)
- The Australian Dental Association, Inc. (National) Policy Statement on Allied Dental Professionals in Australia, Download PDF
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Information Websites |
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A Rewarding Career |
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Dental assistants have one of the most diverse and interesting of all positions in a dental practice or clinic. Dental clinicians require dental assistants to be reliable and dependable, to work well with people, and to have superior manual dexterity because their hands are like a second pair to them.
A dental assisting career offers personal satisfaction in working through a team effort to provide valuable oral health care services and developing trusting relationships with patients. Flexible work schedules make balancing work and lifestyle needs very achievable. |
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