Careers in Dental

Careers in Dental 

Oral health is an essential industry in Australia and dental careers will continue to grow with many casual and part-time opportunities. If you’re interested in a flexible and rewarding career in dental, then you’ve come to the right place. Below you will discover what to expect from your career, learn some useful industry insights and how you can become qualified with Foundation Education.  

What to Expect from a Career in Dental 

One of the great benefits of supporting dental roles is the flexibility they offer. Depending on your situation and lifestyle, you can choose to pursue casual, part time and full time positions and still enjoy a flexible work/life schedule. As with most health professions, you will be contributing to improving the health and wellbeing of people, making these careers as rewarding as they are challenging.  

Some of the daily duties you could be doing as part of your dental career include: 

• Booking and confirming appointments 

• Preparing patients and work areas 

• Assisting dentists – handing them instruments, keeping patient’s mouth dry with suction hose 

• Sterilising instruments and maintaining dental hygiene. 

However, no matter what you choose to specialise in, you can expect challenges along the way. Check out these informative articles to learn more about the duties and responsibilities of each role: 

• What You Can Expect as a Dental Assistant 

• What Does a Practice Manager Do? 

Essential Skills 

There are some essential skills that can make all the difference in helping you become a successful dentist assistant once you start your journey in the workforce. They include: 

• Dexterity – for working efficiently with your hands 

• Interpersonal Skills – to communicate well in person and over the phone 

• Listening Skills – to listen intently and take directions well 

• Attention to Detail – to competently follow procedures 

• Organisation – to maintain patient appointments, dental records and payments. 

Dental Health Industry Insights 

As dental practices grow and clinics expand, there’s an increasing demand for Dental Assistants, Oral Hygienists and Dental Radiographers. In particular, the Dental Assistant employment level is expected to grow to a total number of 36,400 by 2025, which is a 36% increase from 2021. 

On average, Dental Assistants can earn an annual salary of $60,479, which is roughly around $31.02 per hour. For those more experienced in the role, the annual salary can be up to $72,875 and $37.37 per hour. 

Your Dental Assistant Career Starts Here

For the full list of nationally recognised qualifications, view our dental courses. 

Dental Assistant

The various duties of a Dental Assistant include:

• Ensuring the care and comfort of patients, as well as admin tasks such as scheduling appointments  

• Providing chairside assistance to dentists 

• Cleaning and disinfecting instruments to minimise and control infections 

Courses

HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting 

LT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting 

Dental Hygienist Assistant

The various duties of a Dental Hygienist Assistant include:

• Assisting in dental examinations by cleaning and polishing patients’ teeth 

• Using dental instruments to remove plaque and tartar 

• Advising patients on how they can improve their oral health 

Courses

HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting 

Practice Manager

The various duties of a Practice Manager include:

• Controlling the functions and resources of professional practices  

• Managing patient records and accounts 

• Managing employee hiring, performance and job training

Courses

HLT57715 Diploma of Practice Management