How to become an Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist

Assesses, diagnoses, treats, manages and prevents oral health disease, and promotes positive oral health among individuals and the community.

Main tasks

• Assesses, diagnoses, treats, manages and prevents oral health disease for patients of all ages
• Provides preventive dental care including oral hygiene instruction, fluoride treatments and sealant application
• Performs non-surgical treatment of gum diseases
• Supports orthodontic procedures
• Performs routine dental procedures such as cleaning and polishing teeth
• Provides education and information to promote positive oral health
• Takes dental radiographs (X-rays) and interprets the results
• Provides restorative dental care including fillings and children's crowns
• Collaborates with other dental practitioners to ensure optimal patient care

Ways in

• University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics (HLT65015)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $114,920 a year
• About 7,500 people work in this job group now, and about 9,100 are projected by 2035. (+20.6%)
• 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

• Dental Hygienist
• Dental Prosthetist
• Dental Specialist
• Dentist
• Environmental Health Officer
• Health Promotion Officer

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist?

Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees; Health & Public Health degrees; Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics.

How much does an Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $114,920 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 7,500 to about 9,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist?

Usually. 76% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Oral Health Therapist or Dental Therapist?

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