Dental therapist

Dental therapists provide dental care and education to adults and children. They are able to carry out certain treatments, including scaling, polishing and simple fillings. They also have a health promotion and educational role, helping patients to gain the skills and knowledge they need to maintain their oral health.

Work activities

Dental therapists work in all areas of dentistry, including general dental practice, hospitals, and the armed forces. They treat both adults and children. They can specialise in treating patients who:

• Are nervous or have a phobia of going to the dentist.
• Have a physical or learning disability.
• Have high levels of decay.

Dental therapists are qualified to carry out dental work such as scaling and polishing taking X-rays applying fluoride and fissure sealants to prevent decay emergency temporary replacement of crowns and fillings extraction and pulp therapy treatment of deciduous (baby) teeth taking impressions (moulds). Apart from treatment, therapists have an important role in giving health education and training, either one-to-one or to groups of patients. They give patients advice, for example, on diet. Dental therapists enable patients to develop the skills they need to keep their mouths healthy, such as how to brush their teeth properly. Some dental therapists visit schools and other community settings to give talks on oral health advice. This part of the work involves contact with other healthcare workers and teachers.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a dental therapist, you’ll need:

• A pleasant, reassuring manner to put people at their ease.
• Good hand skills and a high level of concentration.
• Confidence and the ability to present information to groups.

Pay and opportunities

Dental therapists employed by the NHS start on band 5 or 6 of the Agenda for Change payscale, earning between £28,407 and £35,392 per year.

Dental therapists usually work 9:00am - 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. They may have to work on Saturdays. Self-employed therapists are normally offered two three days’ work a week at a practice or several practices.

Dental therapists work in all areas of dentistry, including general practice, the NHS (in hospitals and the community) and the armed forces. Opportunities for dental therapists occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

There are opportunities for therapists to work independently, as self-employed practitioners.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in the dental press, local/national newspapers, on the Government’s Find a Job service, on the NHS Jobs website, and on job boards.

Entry routes and training

To become a dental therapist, you need to complete a diploma, degree or foundation degree course that allows you to register with the General Dental Council (GDC).

A full list of course providers is available on the website of the British Association of Dental Therapists. Courses cover areas such as oral disease, clinical work, child dental health, preventative dentistry and dental radiography.

Instead of completing a purely academic qualification, you could apply for a level 3 (advanced) dental nurse apprenticeship. This way, you will carry out the majority of your training on the job, but you will also study towards relevant qualifications which support your work.

After qualifying and gaining experience, you might be able to enter a teaching or research post. Dental therapists can go on to own their own dental surgeries, employing dentists and other staff.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

Entry requirements for the diploma in dental therapy (combined with the Diploma in Dental Hygiene) vary depending on the school of dental therapy, so please check prospectuses carefully. You’ll usually need five GCSEs, including English and biology. Some schools also ask for maths.

You’ll usually also need two A-levels, including at least one science subject. Some schools specify biology. Some schools accept a nationally recognised dental nursing or dental technician qualification in place of one or both A-levels (sometimes you’ll still need biology A-level). Other equivalent qualifications, such as Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma might be acceptable.

For entry to a relevant degree course, you’ll usually need:

• Two to three A-levels including at least one science subject. Biology may be essential for some courses.
• Five GCSEs at grades 9-4, to include English, maths and a science subject.

To begin an advanced apprenticeship, you will typically need two A-levels and GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter a relevant degree course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course, such as Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to enter an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider.

Many students apply for either a student loan or receive additional financial support from the Learning Support Fund. Candidates can also apply for funding from relevant charities.

Related careers

• Dental hygienist
• Dental nurse
• Dentist
• Health promotion practitioner