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Dental therapist

Dental therapists provide a range of dental services to adults and children, like x-rays, tooth impressions, scaling and polishing.

Annual Salary

£29,000 to £53,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

38 to 42 a week

You could work: between 8am and 6pm; on a rota

4%
Future employment

There will be 4% more Dental therapist jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a dental therapist, you would work closely with a dental team.

You could:

  • do tests to assess a patient's oral health, and chart and monitor gum disease
  • take dental x-rays
  • remove plaque and tartar from teeth and polish them
  • apply sealants and fluorides to help prevent tooth decay
  • extract baby teeth, and add crowns and fillings for clients under certain circumstances
  • provide care for implant sites
  • advise patients on treatment plans and how to care for their teeth and gums

Working environment

You may need to wear protective clothing.

You could work at a dental practice, in an NHS or private hospital, at a school or in the community.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • working towards this role
University

You'll need to complete a higher education diploma or degree approved by the General Dental Council.

Subjects include:

  • dental therapy
  • oral health science
  • dental hygiene and dental therapy

When you apply for a university course, it might help to have some experience in a dental or healthcare setting, for example, shadowing a dental therapist or a dental hygienist.

You might be able to get extra support with student finance, as a dental student, through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
Work

If you're a qualified dental hygienist or dental nurse, you might be able to do a part-time training course with a dental school to become a dental therapist.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a dental therapist from the British Association of Dental Therapists and Health Careers.

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With experience you could:move into dental practice management; become self employed and set up your own practice; work in dental teaching, training or research; join a commercial company that makes dental products and equipment; complete a dental degree to qualify as a dentist

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of medicine and dentistry
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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