Dental
practitioners

Description

Dental practitioners diagnose dental and oral diseases, injuries and disorders, prescribe and administer treatment, recommend preventative action and, where necessary, refer the patient to a specialist.

Tasks

• examines patient’s teeth, gums and jaw, using dental and x-ray equipment, diagnoses dental conditions
• assesses and recommends treatment options to patients
• administers local anaesthetics
• carries out clinical treatments, restores teeth affected by decay etc., treats gum disease and other disorders
• constructs and fits braces, inlays, dentures and other appliances
• supervises patient’s progress and advises on preventative action
• educates patients on oral health care
• refers patient to specialist, where necessary
• maintains patients’ dental health records
• prepares and delivers lectures, undertakes research, and conducts and participates in clinical trials.

Educational Requirements

Entrants require an approved university degree and must have completed a period of postgraduate vocational training. Graduate entry to dental school is sometimes possible. Registration with the General Dental Council is a pre-requisite to practise. Specialist fields require further study and training.