Dental therapist
Dental therapists provide a range of dental services to adults and children, like x-rays, tooth impressions, scaling and polishing.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a dental therapist, you would work closely with a dental team.
You could:
- do tests to assess a patient's oral health, and chart and monitor gum disease
- take dental x-rays
- remove plaque and tartar from teeth and polish them
- apply sealants and fluorides to help prevent tooth decay
- extract baby teeth, and add crowns and fillings for clients under certain circumstances
- provide care for implant sites
- advise patients on treatment plans and how to care for their teeth and gums
Working environment
You could work at a dental practice, in an NHS or private hospital, at a school or in the community.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- move into dental practice management
- become self employed and set up your own practice
- work in dental teaching, training or research
- join a commercial company that makes dental products and equipment
- complete a dental degree to qualify as a dentist
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- sensitivity and understanding
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
You'll need to complete a higher education diploma or degree approved by the General Dental Council.
Subjects include:
- dental therapy
- oral health science
- dental hygiene and dental therapy
When you apply for a university course, it might help to have some experience in a dental or healthcare setting, for example, shadowing a dental therapist or a dental hygienist.
You might be able to get extra support with student finance, as a dental student, through the NHS Learning Support Fund.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
More Information
If you're a qualified dental hygienist or dental nurse, you might be able to do a part-time training course with a dental school to become a dental therapist.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Dental Council
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a dental therapist from the British Association of Dental Therapists and Health Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.