Dental Practitioners

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.

Entry 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.