3251-Dental assistants and therapists

Job Title ( International classification ): 
Dental assistants and therapists
ISCO Code: 
3251
Job Description: 
Dental assistants and therapists provide basic dental care services for the prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth and mouth, as per care plans and procedures established by a dentist or other oral health professional.
Tasks: 

Main Tasks include -

  • (a) advising communities and individuals on dental hygiene, diet and other preventive measures to reduce potential risks to oral health
  • (b) conducting visual and physical examinations of patients' mouths, teeth and related structures to assess oral health status
  • (c) identifying cases of patients with poor oral health or oral disease requiring referral to a dentist or other health professional (d) assisting dentists during complex dental procedures (e) providing fluoride treatments, cleaning and removing deposits from teeth, preparing cavities and placing fillings, administering local anaesthesia, and performing other types of basic or routine clinical dental procedures
  • (f) preparing, cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments, equipment and materials used in the examination and treatment of patients
  • (g) getting patients ready for examination or treatment including explaining procedures and correct positioning
  • (h) taking impressions of the mouth and dental radiographs to support diagnosis and fitting of dental prosthetics.
Inclusions: 

Examples of the occupations classified here:
- Dental assistant
- Dental hygienist
- Dental therapist

Exclusions: 

Some related occupations classified elsewhere:
- Dentist - 2261
- Dental mechanic- 3214
- Dental prosthetist - 3214
- Dental technician - 3214
- Dental aid - 5329

Similar ONET Jobs: 
Careers ( AUS/NZ Standards ): 
Careers ( UK Standards ): 
Careers ( Pakistan Standards): 
Careers (Singapore Standards):