Dentistry is a small, well-known and high-status profession. It is a field of practice that keeps evolving. With breakthroughs in oral health and support from dental assistants and therapists, dentists are spared a lot of their traditional tasks, leaving more time for cosmetic and other specialist work.
Dentists can specialise in a number of areas, with titles ranging from the familiar (orthodontist, oral surgeon) to the prehistoric-sounding (periodontist and prosthodontist) to the more glamorous (forensic odontologist).
Practical learning in Australia
So, first things first—where can you study in Australia? At last count, there were six institutions in Australia offering courses in dentistry. The number of students is small but growing.
Admission is generally tough; you may be required to take the UMAT (Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test), perform well in a range of prerequisite subjects and be interviewed in some cases. After your graduate, you will also need to register to practise before finding employment.
What about postgraduate options? Generally, some pre-registration courses require postgraduate study. At some universities a pre-dental undergraduate degree and two-year postgraduate qualification have replaced the standard five-year undergraduate degree.
However, at postgraduate level, dentistry has more to offer qualified professionals who want to specialise. Shorter graduate certificates and diplomas are also available, although a masters degree is the popular choice for aspiring specialists.
Professional recognition for a global career
As you would expect, there is no such thing as a qualification that dentists can use to practise anywhere in the world. All Australian dental qualifications are recognised by Australian state and territory dental boards and the Australian Dental Association (ADA), a member of the FDI World Dental Federation. If you want to use your degree overseas, you will probably have to undergo a re-certification process. Contact the dental registration authorities in your home country for further details. The ADA may also assist you.
Use our Search function to find a list of Australian institutions offering qualifications in this field.
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