What Does a Dental Prosthetist Assistant Do?

Few features are more noticeable or memorable than a smile, but when that smile loses some of its lustre, it’s dental prosthetists and dental prosthetist assistants who save the day. 

Responsible for supporting dental prosthetists in the provision of dentures and other dental appliances, dental prosthetist assistants are working at the forefront of dental technology, employing the latest and most advanced techniques and materials to help patients achieve their best smile.

If you’re technically minded and keen to help others smile every day, a career as a dental prosthetist assistant, and Foundation Education’s HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting and HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting courses, might just be for you. 

Top Skills Required for a Dental Prosthetist Assistant

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances and flexible mouthguards – dental prosthetists and dental prosthetist assistants are responsible for keeping abreast of the most up-to-date dental technologies the industry has to offer. From new software (i.e. 3D-printed dentures) to updated materials (like new polymers for better comfort), the technology is ever advancing, as your skills and knowledge will be too. 

Dexterity

Working with the tools and materials dental prosthetists use every day can be a fiddly, tricky, process-heavy undertaking. So a steady hand is an essential trait for a dental prosthetist assistant. Creating models, making replacements, designing and constructing prosthetics, polishing and finishing are all in a day’s work in a technician’s lab.

Attention to Detail

Working on intricate dental prosthetics with minute tools can be a time-consuming affair; it can often take hours to get a job finished to perfection. Being able to focus for long periods without compromising on quality is a must, and assisting a dental prosthetist requires a similar level of focus and attention.

Care and Commitment

Whether they’ve suffered decay, disease or injury, most of the patients for whom you’re creating or maintaining prosthetics will be dealing with either a painful, demoralising or embarrassing dental situation for which they’re urgently seeking a solution. As such, being able to provide a swift and high-quality outcome to best assist them will require your care, consideration and commitment.

Requirements to Work as a Dental Prosthetist Assistant

With job outlooks for dental assistants more promising than ever, competition for roles can be fierce. And while traineeships aren’t unheard of in the industry, the usual place to begin a career as a dental prosthetist assistant – and where you can make sure you have an edge over the competition – is by gaining a recognised accreditation. 

Completing an accredited certificate course will help you understand the basic day-to-day requirements of a dental assistant’s role and equip you with the necessary technical skills, knowledge and practical experience to succeed. Health, vaccination and criminal background checks may also be a requirement.  

Which courses can help you qualify?

Foundation Education’s  HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting course provides a baseline of knowledge and skills that will aid you in taking up a role in a technician’s lab. A HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting will provide you with an even greater edge, enabling you to offer a more advanced level of assistance to a dental prosthetist or other dental professionals. 

Think you’ve got what it takes to succeed as a dental prosthetist assistant? Get accredited and get smiling with a dental assisting course via Foundation Education. Call 1300 616 197 for more information or for advice on how to enrol.

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