What can Dental Therapists do?

As from the 1st of July 2002, legislation permits a Dental Therapist to work in any sector of dentistry.

A registered Dentist must examine the patient and indicate clearly in writing the course of treatment that the Dental Therapist is to carry out.

These are the range of procedures which a Dental Therapist can carry out:

• Intra and extra oral assessment
• Record indices and monitor disease
• Scaling and polishing
• Apply materials to teeth such as fluoride and fissure sealants
• Take dental radiographs
• Provide dental health education on a one to one basis or in a group situation
• Routine restorations in both deciduous and permanent teeth, on adults and children, from Class 1-V cavity preparations.
• Can use all materials except pre cast or pinned placements
• Treats adults as well as children
• Extract deciduous teeth under local infiltration analgesia
• Pulp therapy treatment of deciduous teeth.
• Placement of pre formed crowns on deciduous teeth.
• Administration of Inferior Dental Nerve Block analgesia.
• Emergency temporary replacement of crowns and fillings.
• Take impressions.
• Treat patients under conscious sedation provided the dentist remains in the surgery throughout the treatment.

A Dental Therapist must be enrolled with the General Dental Council and have appropriate indemnity insurance cover.

The Schools of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy have already been working on developing training programmes for the new duties - at present, please contact your nearest school for information.