How to become a Dental Assistant

Also called: Dental Nurse

Prepares patients for dental examination, and assists dental practitioners, Hygienists and Therapists in providing care and treatment.

Main tasks

• Assists dental practitioners during dental procedures
• Sterilises and prepares dental instruments and equipment
• Takes and develops dental radiographs (X-rays)
• Prepares dental materials such as cements, impression materials and restorative materials
• Provides fluoride therapy by applying remineralising solutions and desensitising agents
• Educates patients about maintaining good oral health, along with oral health care procedures
• Maintains and updates patient records and treatment plans
• Applies infection control procedures in the dental practice
• Orders and maintains dental supplies and equipment

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT35021); Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (HLT45021)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $62,972 a year
• About 26,100 people work in this job group now, and about 33,100 are projected by 2035. (+26.8%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Allied Health Assistant
• Assistant in Nursing
• Optical Dispenser
• Patient Care Assistant
• Patient Services Assistant
• Patient Transport Officer

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Dental Assistant?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Dental Assisting; Certificate IV in Dental Assisting.

How much does a Dental Assistant earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $62,972 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Dental Assistant a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 27% by 2035, from about 26,100 to about 33,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Dental Assistant?

Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Dental Assisting; Certificate IV in Dental Assisting.

Will AI change the work of a Dental Assistant?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04