Dentist
What the work is
Diagnoses and treats dental disease, injuries, decay and malformations of the teeth, periodontal tissue (gums), hard and soft tissue found on the mouth, and other dentofacial structures using surgery and other techniques.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Examines patients' teeth and mouths to diagnose and treat dental diseases, injuries or decay
- Performs routine dental surgeries and other procedures, such as fillings and crowns, to treat dental conditions
- Restores and replaces missing or damaged teeth
- Performs cosmetic dental procedures to improve the appearance of patients' teeth
- Prescribes medications and administers local anaesthesia to patients as necessary
- Educates patients on proper oral hygiene and preventive dental care
- Refers patients with complex issues to Dental Specialists for specialised treatment
- May conduct surgical procedures such as tooth extractions or root canals
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a busy suburban dental practice with a small team of dental assistants and a front desk. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A patient who dreaded the chair leaves relaxed and books their next visit
- You relieve someone's pain and see the relief on their face
- A tricky treatment comes together exactly as you planned
Hard days
- An anxious patient, a running-late schedule and an emergency squeezed in at lunch
- A patient wants something you do not think is in their interest
- Hours of fine, close work that leave your neck and shoulders aching
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 269232, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.