Dentists

Dentists diagnose, treat and prevent diseases, injuries and abnormalities of the teeth, mouth, jaws and associated tissues by applying the principles and procedures of modern dentistry. They use a broad range of specialized diagnostic, surgical and other techniques to promote and restore oral health.

Job Responsibilities

• Diagnosing diseases, injuries, irregularities and malformations of teeth and associated structures in the mouth and jaw using a range of methods such as radiographs, salivary tests and medical histories
• Providing preventative oral health care such as periodontal treatments, fluoride applications and oral health promotion
• Administering anaesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures
• Prescribing medication for relief of ongoing pain after procedures
• Providing restorative oral care such as implants, complex crown and bridge restorations and orthodontics, and repairing damaged and decayed teeth
• Providing surgical treatments such as extraction of teeth and biopsy of tissue, and performing orthodontic treatment
• Measuring and taking impressions of patients' jaws and teeth in order to determine the shape and size of dental prostheses
• Designing, making, and fitting prosthodontic appliances such as space maintainers, bridges and dentures, or writing fabrication instructions or prescriptions for dental prosthetic technicians
• Restoring oral function with removable and fixed oral prostheses
• Assisting in diagnosing general diseases having oral manifestations such as diabetes
• Educating patients and families on dental hygiene, nutrition and other measures to take care of oral health
• Supervising dental hygienists, dental assistants and other staff