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 Homepage

How to Become a Dental Assistant: An Enjoyable Job That Will Stretch Your Intellect

To work as a dental assistant (also known as a dental nurse), you need a specific set of skills and knowledge. Although a formal qualification is not required to gain an entry-level position, a Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT35015) increases your job prospects and ensures you’re better prepared for the role.

Find out more about the role, the job market, and gain helpful insights into getting a dental assistant job.

dental-assistant
  • Overview
  • How to Become
  • Pathways
  • Qualifications

Dental assistant job description

info Where we source our data

Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.

That’s why we anonymously surveyed dental assistants about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.

While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.

A dental assistant helps dentists perform their duties by preparing equipment for dental procedures, as well as cleaning up afterwards and passing instruments to the dental practitioner. A dental assistant also greets patients and is a first point of contact, and helps with administrative tasks.

Tasks and responsibilities for a dental assistant

A dental assistant provides critical support to dental practitioners in dental treatments and assists in the dental clinic’s day-to-day running. So, what does a dental assistant do every day?

Dental assistant duties can include:

  • Greeting patients as their first point of contact 
  • Assisting dentists with dental procedures and treatments
  • Sterilising dental equipment and setting up treatment areas
  • Dental health and dental care education for patients
  • Helping with practice administration
  • Clinic and waiting area housekeeping
  • Scheduling appointments
  • Processing X-rays

How to become a dental assistant

To enhance your job application, get confidence in the industry and gain skills in dental assistance, there are some practical steps you can take.
  1. Study

    Completing a Certificate III in Dental Assisting provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to work in the dental environment safely and confidently. Undertaking a Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Radiography Specialisation) gives you a more advanced skillset. It also provides you with specialist training in using radiography equipment to assist in dental x-rays.

  2. Adhere to immunisation requirements

    Make sure you are up-to-date with the immunisations needed to work in a dental clinic. Although vaccination is not mandated, many clinics have their own policies in place to ensure the safety of their staff and clients.

Pathway options

info
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.

An initial role in dental assisting is a solid platform to boost your career and provide opportunities in other facets of the dental industry.

Some career pathways could be:

Junior

  • Dental assistant

    Most common qualification: Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT35015)

Mid

  • Dental lab assistant

    Most common qualification: Certificate III in Dental Laboratory Assisting (HLT35115)

  • Dental technician

    Most common qualification: Diploma of Dental Technology (HLT55118)

Senior

  • Dental hygienist

    Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (HLT45015)

  • Dental prosthetist

    Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics (HLT65015)

Explore related qualifications

Certificate III in Dental Assisting

Study method In-class Online

This course teaches you skills to assist a dentist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, dental therapist or oral health therapist. Develop skills in infection control, practice administration and supporting quality and professionalism in the dental sector.

The average course duration is one year, can be delivered in-class, online and in a practice-based environment and requires at least 250 hours of on the job training. Payment plans may be available for course fees.

Read More

5 providers offer this course

Open Colleges
St John Ambulance Australia (VIC) Inc
Industry Skills Training
Foundation Education
Australian Institute of Personal Trainers

Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

This qualification meets the requirements for those who want to provide an advanced level of assistance to a dentist, dental hygienist, dental prosthetist, dental therapist, or oral health therapist.

This course has radiography as an elective and, if selected, gives you an edge over other job applicants. Be aware that jurisdictional legislative radiation licensing requirements may apply to candidates.

A 250-hour work placement is required for this qualification, and most course providers have specific requirements to enrol.

The average course duration is one year, and you can study with various methods, including online and in-person. Payment plans may be available for course fees.

Read More

Related subjects

The health sector always needs more proactive, empathetic and enthusiastic new workers. Roles in this field are plentiful and come in many shapes and sizes.

Allied Health
Allied Health
Dental Assisting
Dental Assisting
Health
Health

Related articles

A job as a dental assistant might be exactly what you are looking for. For more industry insights, information on roles in the healthcare industry and career tips, you can get stuck into these resources.

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Reviews

info How we collect reviews

Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.

Is this your job title?

Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.

Leave a Review

  • All
  • Positive
  • Negative
Alice
Aug 31 2021

Overall rewarding career but stressful when understaffed.

What are the best parts of the job?

Gaining knowledge in the dental industry as a dental nurse is rewarding, and it's awesome having the opportunity to work with other Professional Dental Associates within the industry. It's a great long-term career.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Working in a dentist clinic with low dentist to patient ratio is stressful. It can be dangerous for patients as well.

Read More
Qualification Diploma
Experience 10+
Organisation size 5-19 employees
Specialisation Head dental assistant
Abbey
Aug 31 2021

Helping clients feel their best makes this a rewarding job.

What are the best parts of the job?

Making people feel better about their appearance is so rewarding. I love it when people leave the clinic happy.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Time management is sometimes a struggle, but it's something you can get better at!

Read More
Qualification Cert III
Experience 10+
Organisation size 5-19 employees
Jess
Aug 31 2021

I enjoy the communication aspect and helping clients.

What are the best parts of the job?

Communication with clients and my colleagues is really fun. I love getting to know patients and doing everything I can to help them.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Helping patients isn't always easy. Some people can be challenging, and other times you're not able to meet a patient's expectations.

Read More
Qualification Advanced diploma
Experience 1-3
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Kate
Sep 12 2021

Love forming relationships with all my patients.

What are the best parts of the job?

Getting to know all of your patients and helping them maintain healthy smiles.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

The biggest challenge is managing time in a busy dental clinic.

Read More
Qualification Cert III
Experience 5-10
Organisation size 5-19 employees
Maddie
Sep 12 2021

Enjoy helping people, but need to be good at time management.

What are the best parts of the job?

Being in a job where you're always helping people is so rewarding.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Time management is an important part of the job, but it can be a challenge.

Read More
Qualification None of the above
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 0-4 employees
Bella
Sep 12 2021

Love being able to help people.

What are the best parts of the job?

Helping people feel more confident about their teeth.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

It's challenging when things go wrong. There's not a lot of room for error in this field.

Read More
Qualification Cert III
Experience 1-3
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Therese
Sep 13 2021

Role where I need to be attentive in order to help people achieve goals.

What are the best parts of the job?

Making a difference in people’s lives, making their health and happiness a goal that we can achieve together.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

You have to really listen and be attentive, and you can’t really make many errors.

Read More
Qualification Cert IV
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 5-19 employees
Specialisation Orthodontics
Pearly
Sep 13 2021

Enjoy the social aspect.

What are the best parts of the job?

You get to make friends with colleagues and clients.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Working long hours is challenging, but it's just part of the job.

Read More
Qualification Bachelor’s degree
Experience 1-3
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Tiana
Sep 14 2021

Enjoy meeting people and helping them.

What are the best parts of the job?

Meeting new people and helping them feel good after their appointment.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

when people are scared it can be challenging to get my job done effectively, but you have to help them calm down.

Read More
Qualification Advanced diploma
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Zoe
Sep 15 2021

Helping people improve their health.

What are the best parts of the job?

Making people feel good. Teeth are a very important part of our health and wellbeing.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Difficult patients are inevitable, but they're the biggest challenge in my day to day work.

Read More
Qualification Cert III
Experience 5-10
Organisation size 5-19 employees
Specialisation Orthodontics
Micah
Sep 30 2021

Satisfying to help others.

What are the best parts of the job?

Helping people — it's why I chose this career and what fulfills me most.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

The risks that are part of the job are challenging. You spend all day in contact with peoples' mouths, which comes with the risk of contracting diseases or infections.

Read More
Qualification Bachelor’s degree
Experience 1-3
Organisation size 5-19 employees
1 2 3 4
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