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Dental Therapist - Working conditions

Kaihaumanu Niho

Working Conditions

Dental therapists work in hygienic, well-lit dental clinics at primary and intermediate schools. They may also work in mobile dental therapy units, and hospital and iwi-based dental clinics.

A dental therapist sits at a desk in a dental therapy clinic.

A school dental therapy clinic

Equipment

Equipment dental therapists use includes:

dental instruments and materials
sterilising equipment
an x-ray machine
teaching aids such as dental models and overhead projectors
a uniform including mask, gloves and safety glasses.

Hours

Dental therapists usually work regular hours. If working in schools, they work during term time. However, they may sometimes have to work during school holidays.

Contact with people

Dental therapists usually work in a team with dental assistants, but they may sometimes working independently. They have contact with a wide range of people including:

children, adolescents, their parents and community groups
their dental assistant
teachers
dentists
other dental therapists
other health professionals.

"It's great working with an assistant. Things flow more easily because you're not having to worry about preparing the equipment, sterilising the instruments, mixing the fillings, and they are there to help you handle a difficult or upset child."

Amber Davies - Dental Therapist

Previous page - How to get into the job

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Updated September 2009

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