Career - Dental Practitioners | South Bank Colleges
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Dental Practitioners

Description

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.

Educational 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.