26 May 2025
How to Become a Dental Assistant
Turn your attention to detail and caring nature into a career that matters. Dental assisting connects your natural abilities with the technical skills needed to transform patient experiences.
A role as a Dental Assistant is a great choice if you want steady work and a clean, professional working environment. Their roles are very highly sought after among school leavers and talented young people looking for a position that requires skill and pays relatively well.
Discover how to become a Dental Assistant and how you can stand out in your job search with the right dental assistant course.
What do Dental Assistants do?
Dental Assistants work with a range of dental professionals, like Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Prosthetists, Dental Specialists and Oral Health Specialists. Basically, any trained professional working in dentistry may have a need for a Dental Assistant.
As a Dental Assistant, you'll be the backbone of the dental practice, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes and at the chairside. From the moment patients call to book an appointment till they walk out the door, you're their friendly guide through the whole dental experience.
On the admin side, you'll handle phone calls, update patient records and process payments. In the surgery, you're the dentist's right-hand person — prepping treatment rooms, sterilising instruments, mixing materials and passing tools during procedures. You'll help calm nervous patients and make sure infection control standards are spot-on.
Many practices also need you to help with dental X-rays, positioning patients correctly and processing the images. It's a varied role that mixes people skills with technical know-how, making you absolutely essential to quality patient care and the smooth operation of the practice.
Top traits of a Dental Assistant
Understanding what makes a good Dental Assistant and what their job entails will help you figure out if it’s right for you. Here are some traits Dental Assistants share:
Care and compassion
Patients can be nervous (or downright frightened) when they visit the dentist. In fact, research shows high dental fear affects around one in six adults and one in ten children in Australia. As a Dental Assistant, you’ll need to be compassionate and empathetic toward patients and help make their experience as relaxing and comfortable as possible.
Great communication skills
While communication is key in any workplace, it’s particularly important in a dental practice. You’ll be required to speak to patients in person and over the phone on a daily basis, whether it be describing dental care instructions or answering questions about billing and insurance. You’ll also be responsible for admin tasks like recording and maintaining patient records, where strong written communication skills are a must.
Attention to detail
Great Dental Assistants have a detail-oriented personality and strong organisational skills. These qualities will allow you to stay one step ahead in a fast-paced dental office. From staying on top of patient schedules to ensuring dental equipment is properly sterilised and in its right place, attention to detail will help keep things running smoothly.
Ability to multitask
As one of the most diverse roles in a dentistry practice, Dental Assistants have a long list of responsibilities. You’ll be required to help with dental procedures and administrative duties, so you’ll have to be a pro at juggling multiple tasks under pressure.
How to become a Dental Assistant? Step-by-step
Breaking into the dental industry starts with the right training and experience. Here's your roadmap to starting a career as a Dental Assistant:
Do a Certificate III
Start your journey with a nationally recognised qualification that teaches you chairside skills, infection control protocols and dental admin. A foundation course like the HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting prepares you for work in dental practices and can be completed through flexible online study combined with practical training.
Get some experience
With Foundation Education, your qualification includes 350 hours of practical placement in real dental practices. This turns theory into practice as you work with dentists and interact with actual patients, building your confidence and making valuable connections.
Think about what you want to do
There are so many career pathways in Dental Assisting. You could become a Dental Receptionist, Dental Sterilisation Nurse, Dental Hygienist Assistant, Dental Therapy Assistant and more. With experience, you can progress to managerial positions.
Read more about your job outlook as a Dental Assistant here.
Get an entry-level job
With your qualification and practical experience, you'll be ready to apply for entry-level positions in private practices, public dental clinics or specialist offices. Your training gives you an edge, as you'll be prepared to contribute from day one.
Dental Assistant courses
While formal training isn’t a must to be a Dental Assistant in Australia, vocational training is highly recommended to increase your job prospects in this competitive industry. If you want to be the best at what you do and stand out during a job search, you should seek a nationally recognised qualification.
A Certificate III in Dental Assisting is the perfect starting point as a Dental Assistant. This nationally recognised qualification involves both theory and practical components, including 300 hours of placement in a dental clinic of your choosing for invaluable real-world experience before graduating.
If you’re interested in progressing past a Certificate III, Foundation Education also offers specialist qualifications, including:
HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography)
Or a dual qualification with a HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting & HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting to fast-track your career.
Dental Assistant salary
A Dental Assistant’s salary varies greatly depending on location, hiring company and your own qualifications. That being said, SEEK estimates you’ll earn around $60,000 to $70,000 a year. If you want to make more as a Dental Assistant, you need to make sure you have the best possible qualifications.
When you’re applying for a Dental Assistant role, make sure you understand whether it’s part-time, full-time, or casual, and whether you’ll be paid hourly or paid a salary. Also, get a good idea of the review procedures, so you know whether there’s a chance of a salary increase after a year or two in the role.
Study Dental Assisting at Foundation Education
Does a career as a dental assistant look appealing to you? Our Dental Assisting courses are the perfect place to start. With Foundation Education, you’ll study online at your own pace, so you can balance your studies with work and other commitments. You’ll also do prac hours, so you feel more confident starting out in practice.
Kickstart your career in oral health and browse all our dental courses or call 1300 616 197 to speak to one of our Career Advisors today.
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