Therapist - The role
Dental therapists can only be found working in the community and hospital services; they provide dental care for children, expectant mothers and also patients with special needs. Their role involves certain clinical work, educating patients and teaching them the skills necessary to maintain their own oral health.
A dental therapist will carry out work to the prescription written by a dentist. Patients will often visit the dental therapist several times during one course of treatment. This gives the therapist the opportunity to build up a relationship of trust and enhancing the educational message alongside the treatment.
A key part of the role of a dental therapist is education. As well as the opportunities to educate and inform patients while undergoing treatment, the dental therapist is also required to take their message to the community, which can involve giving talks in schools and to other groups. If this an area of particular interest there is an opportunity for a dental therapist to take the Certificate in Oral Health Education as part of their Continuing Professional Development.
