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Dental Therapist - Personal requirements

Kaihaumanu Niho

Skills & knowledge

Dental therapists need to have:

knowledge of the structure and function of the teeth, jaw and mouth
knowledge of injuries and diseases of the mouth
understanding of human health and development
knowledge of oral health care methods
skill in assessing and diagnosing dental problems
technical skills for providing dental treatment
knowledge of hygiene and sterilisation procedures
problem-solving skills
decision-making skills
good people and communication skills for dealing with clients and their parents.

"You need to be able to make decisions about when to get something checked out by a dentist. If a child came in with a chipped tooth I would refer them and I'll also check a child's bite to see if they need orthodontic work."

Amber Davies - Dental Therapist

Personal Qualities

Dental therapists need to be:

patient
calm
friendly
confident
able to work well in a team.

Glenys Higgs using dental tools to check a boy's teeth.

Glenys Higgs examining a child's teeth

A therapist, watched by her assistant, works on a patient.

A dental therapist and her assistant doing preventive treatment

Physical Requirements

Dental therapists need to have good hand-eye co-ordination and steady hands. They should also be fit and healthy, with a strong back and good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses).

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Updated September 2009

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