A dental prosthetics profession offers exceptional dentistry career opportunities to work as clinicians, technicians, educators, researchers, sales and marketing managers, inventors, editors and consultants in an array of flexible work schedules.
Dental prosthetists work in commercial, public and private dental laboratories or are self-employed as the owner of a denture clinic. There are many dental prosthetists' job opportunities in the private and public sectors in regional and rural locations in most states and territories of Australia.
Clinicians: The dental prosthetist can work in various areas providing primary dental services to patients, including a denture clinic, hospital dental laboratory, nursing home or within a private dental practice.
Dental Technician: Dental prosthetists can perform the duties of a dental technician in commercial dental laboratories, private dental laboratories in general and specialist dental practices, hospitals, public sector dental health services and the armed forces. In many instances the dental prosthetist will undertake a role that combines the work of both a clinician and a technician.
Educator: Dental prosthetists can apply the skills and knowledge from their work experience in teaching the clinical and technical aspects of dentistry to students in all of the dental sciences in the TAFE and University programs. This is a dental career avenue that can lead toward advanced degrees.
Researcher: Dental prosthetists can help devise new dental materials and their influence in the oral cavity and on the environment, as well as general principles of dental treatments, mouth physiology and hygiene. Research is a component of advanced degrees and can be conducted in the dental laboratory, hospital or training program.
Sales and Marketing Manager: Dental prosthetists can work as technical advisors for product and service companies in the dental laboratory industry, helping lead product development and professional and public marketing campaigns. The work involves building customer relationships, identifying and presenting the market and the customer requirements as well as organising and participating in trade exhibitions.
Inventors: Dental prosthetists can develop, patent and produce innovative dental appliances and new production processes that offer ethical and quality outcomes in dentistry. Self-motivation and building upon experience towards continual improvement are important in this role.
Editor: Dental prosthetists can teach the dental profession about various issues, techniques and research. This position can involve a professional magazine, journal or textbook and requires writing skills, self-motivation, good organisational and time management skills (deadlines), attention to detail and creativity.
Consultant: Dental prosthetists who have achieved clinical excellence and a high level of integrity and quality in their workmanship can deliver educational lectures to dental professionals on the speaker circuit to deliver educational lectures. Additionally, dental prosthetists can be employed by dental laboratory companies to create and deliver educational courses to healthcare professionals.