The dental assistant

If you are intersted in working in dental care and hygiene you can train to become a dental assistant at OTEN. A dental assistant works in a dental clinic and assists the Dentist, Oral Hygienists or Dental Therapist in the care and treatment of your teeth.

At OTEN there are two (2) main qualifications you can study to become a dental assistant:

• Certificate III in Dental Assisting
• Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (various pathways)

The Certificate III course teaches students about oral health care procedures when assisting other dental staff. Students will also learn about infection control and assisting with the dental practice administration. In Certificate IV students will go on to learn about advanced level of chairside assistance in the dental clinic and elect pathways of interest such as oral health education, assisting during general anaesthesia and conscious sedation or dental radiation.

A dental assistant needs to have good communication skills and empathy in dealing with patients who may be scared or suffering from anxiety when visiting the dental clinic. Perhaps this career is for you? Let's have a look at a typical work day of a dental assistant in a dental clinic to find out more about their role.