Australia Dental Specialists Jobs

Purpose and Mission

Dental specialists are dentists who have chosen to specialise in a specific area of dentistry. The primary responsibilities of dental specialists are to diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and congenital problems of the teeth, gums and other structures of the mouth.  

Some choose to specialise in periodontics (preventing and treating diseases of the gums and supportive tissues). Other dental specialists choose to focus on prosthodontics (restoring or replacing teeth and gums), orthodontics (diagnosing and fixing poorly aligned teeth and jaws), or paediatric dentistry (dental care for infants and children).

Other dental specialities include in forensic dentistry, oral surgery, oral pathology and public health dentistry.

Reports To

Most dental specialists work as part of a private practice. That means that dental specialists do not report directly to any specific individual in most cases. However, specialists employed at community clinics, nursing homes and large dental practises typically report to a department supervisor or office manager.

Supervisory Responsibilities

In many cases, dental specialists do have notable supervisory responsibilities. Those who run their own practice or participate in the management of a larger practice may spend up to a quarter of their working hours performing administrative duties. Senior dental specialists often oversee residents or junior colleagues just joining a practice.

Qualifications

Dentists have earned a bachelor’s degree and a four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. The undergraduate degree can be in any field, but a natural science major is ideal to make sure you are ready for highly competitive dental school.

Of note, all dentists, including dental specialists, must register with the Dental Board of Australia to be able to practice. 

Responsibilities of a Dental Specialist

Dental specialists undertake a wide range of tasks regarding preventing and treating of diseases of the teeth and gums. Common professional activities for dental specialists include:

• diagnosing a range of dental diseases with radiography, salivary tests and medical histories
• providing restorative oral care that might include implants, complex crown and bridge restorations, as well as orthodontics and various methods to repair damaged and decayed teeth
• providing oral surgical treatments including the biopsy of tissues and prescribing medications
• performing routine orthodontic treatment such as adjusting braces, fitting retainers, and so forth
• improving oral function with the use of both removable and fixed oral prostheses
• leading a dental team with various professionals such as dental therapists, dental assistants and dental lab technicians.