Dental Therapist

General: Examines and treats ailments of the teeth and gums, mainly among pre-school and primary school age children, under the supervision of dentists. Tasks Include: carries out oral examinations and checks teeth and gums for signs of decay and disease provides educational programs to motivate children, parents and the community in matters relating to oral health cleans calcareous deposits and stains from teeth and the gum margins using specialised dental equipment applies fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay applies rubber dams and temporary restorations extracts teeth where necessary may conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment local or infrequent dental practice may perform dental radiography may administer local anaesthesia and analgesics