Dental Careers

Click on the links below to read about the different dental careers that are available.

Dentist
Dental Therapist/Hygienist
Dental Assistant
Dental Technician

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Dentist

Dentistry is concerned with the study, maintenance and care of all aspects of an individual's oral health. The skills of a dentist enable him/her to diagnose, formulate and carry out treatment that is appropriately planned to each patient's oral needs.

Dentists also have a lot of opportunities in that they can choose among several career paths such as: general dental practice, hospital dentistry, defenceforce work, international work, and specialisation in different areas of dentistry through postgraduate study.

Becoming a dentist is a five year degree. For more information contact:

Otago University School of Dentistry
Telephone 0800 808 098
Email: university@otago.ac.nz
Website: Click here

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Dental Therapist / Hygienist

The Bachelor of Oral Health is a new degree offered and qualifies you to practice both as a dental therapist and as a dental hygienist. Previously these used to be separate degrees.

Dental therapists most commonly perform routine dental care for pre-school, primary and intermediate children at school dental clinics, but they also work in community clinics, Iwi-based clinics and hospital dental clinics. Dental therapists are responsible for the organisation, planning and treatment of their own patient groups.

Dental hygienists educate patients about the health of their mouths and provide solutions for improving and maintaining good oral hygiene. They work closely with dentists in detecting and treating oral disease and prepare mouths for complex restorative care.

The Bachelor of Oral Health is a three year degree. For more information contact:

Otago University
Telephone: 0800 808 098
Email: university@otago.ac.nz
Website: Click here

Auckland University of Technology
Telephone: 0800 288 864
Email: course.information@aut.ac.nz
Website: Click here

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Dental Assistant

Dental assistants support the dentist, dental therapist or dental hygienist during oral health care procedures and assist with practice administration. Certificates in Dental Assisting can be obtained from NZ Dental Association (NZDA) or Auckland University of Technology (AUT). The certificate from NZDA can be obtained while you are working as an assistant, while the certificate from AUT can be obtained through half a year full time study.

NZ Dental Association
Telephone:09 579 8001
Email: nzdainfo@nzda.org.nz
Website: Click here

Auckland University of Technology
Telephone:0800 288 864
Email: course.information@aut.ac.nz
Website: Click here

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Dental Technician

Dental technicians job is making artificial (false) parts for the head and neck. Examples of what they make are:

Mouth guards, dentures (false teeth), crowns and bridges.
Orthodontic appliances such as braces.
Maxillofacial appliances such as false eyes, ears and noses, which are sometimes needed with birth defects or after accidents or surgery.

It is a three year degree to become a dental technician.For more information contact:

Otago University
Telephone: 0800 808 098
Email: university@otago.ac.nz
Website: Click here