// Unit group · 3251

Dental Assistants and Therapists

Dental assistants and therapists provide basic dental care services for the prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth and mouth, according to care plans and procedures established by a dentist or other oral health professional.

3 Technicians and Associate Professionals / 32 Health Associate Professionals / 325 Other Health Associate Professionals / All level 4

// Working conditions

BiologicalLifting and posture

// Hand tools

No hand tools in this set.

advising communities and individuals on dental hygiene, diet and other preventive measures to reduce potential risks to oral health

conducting visual and physical examinations of patients' mouths, teeth and related structures to assess oral health status

identifying cases of patients with poor oral health or oral disease requiring referral to a dentist or other health professional

assisting dentists during complex dental procedures

providing fluoride treatments, cleaning and removing deposits from teeth, preparing cavities and placing fillings, administering local anaesthesia, and performing other types of basic or routine clinical dental procedures

preparing, cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments, equipment and materials used in the examination and treatment of patients

getting patients ready for examination or treatment including explaining procedures and correct positioning

taking impressions of the mouth and dental radiographs to support diagnosis and fitting of dental prosthetics.

Included occupations

Examples of the occupations classified here:
- Dental assistant
- Dental hygienist
- Dental therapist

Excluded occupations

Some related occupations classified elsewhere:
- Dentist - 2261
- Dental mechanic- 3214
- Dental prosthetist - 3214
- Dental technician - 3214
- Dental aide - 5329

Indexed job titles 6