Dentists are important in your community as they look after our teeth. The dentist salary in Australia can differ based on the location, degree, specialization, etc. You might be curious about how to become a dentist in Australia and their role.
Table of Contents
If you enjoy science and assisting others, becoming a dentist might be a fantastic career choice. Dentists play a crucial role in maintaining your dental health.
If you are considering becoming one, you will want to learn more about their responsibilities and the path to becoming a dentist in Australia.
In this article, we will discuss the steps to becoming a dentist in Australia and the average dentist salary in Australia. Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
- To become a dentist in Australia, you need a university degree in dentistry and pass an entrance exam.
- After graduating from a dental program, you need to register with the Dental Board of Australia.
- Dentists in Australia make a good salary, with an average of $257,301 per year.
- Dentists with 8 or more years of experience can make around $323,272 per year.
- New South Wales and Western Australia are the highest-paying states for dentists, with an average salary of $225,000 per year.
What Is It Like To Be a Dentist?
Dentists are healthcare professionals for your teeth and gums. They find, fix, and stop problems to keep your mouth healthy. When you visit the dentist, they check your teeth and gums, figure out what is wrong if anything, and plan how to fix it.
Sometimes they use numbing medicine to make sure you do not feel pain during treatment. They also give you medicine if needed to help fight infection.
Dentists do not just do surgery, they also teach people how to take care of their teeth better. Some dentists have their businesses, while others work in hospitals or clinics.
What Does A Dentist Do?
A dentist is a doctor who works with teeth and mouth. Dentists can be general doctors or specialists.
Some specialties in dentistry are:
- Public health dentistry
- Root canal treatment
- Study of mouth disease
- Mouth X-ray study
- Teeth straightening
- Children’s dentistry
- Gum treatment
- Mouth surgery
- Tooth replacements
Most dentists study for four years after a bachelor’s degree. Dentists who specialize often study longer. After their program, dentists get a DDS or DMD degree. This allows them to start working as dentists.
Here are the duties and responsibilities of a dentist in Australia:
- Dentists prevent, find, and treat mouth, teeth, and gum problems.
- They treat diseases like gum disease, injuries, and tooth deformities.
- Using X-rays, dentists see problems inside the mouth and fix them.
- They fill cavities and put sealants.
- Dentists also repair broken teeth and straighten crooked teeth.
- Dentists help patients have nicer smiles with procedures like teeth whitening.
- They make molds of patient’s mouths to create dentures for missing teeth.
- Dentists teach patients how to keep teeth healthy by brushing, flossing, and doing other dental care.
Most dentists own their practices and work full-time. Starting a practice needs money upfront. That is why dentists hire and train dental hygienists and office staff.
As employers, every dentist must provide medical insurance and other job benefits to their employees.
How To Become A Dentist in Australia?
Here is how to become a dentist in the USA:
To become a Dentist in Australia, you must complete a university degree program in dentistry.
- First, you need to attain the required University Admissions Index mark (UAI).
- You must also pass the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT).
- Earn a Bachelor of Dental Surgery or Bachelor of Dental Science degree.
- If you have previous tertiary qualifications in a related field, you can apply for a postgraduate program, such as the Doctor of Dental Medicine.
- Before practicing as a dentist in Australia, you are legally required to register with the Dental Board of Australia.
- Renew your registration yearly. You can also opt for free online dental assistant courses with certificates.
- Complete at least 60 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities over a three-year cycle.
These activities could include attending or presenting at conferences about oral health care’s scientific, clinical, or technical aspects.
You may also take cardiopulmonary resuscitation training or read relevant academic literature.
Dentist Salaries in Australia
Dentists in Australia make good money. The usual pay for them is $257,301 per year. This equals about $124 per hour. They also get bonuses averaging $8,980. These salary numbers come from surveys of employers and workers in Australia.
A dentist just starting, with 1-3 years on the job, typically earns $176,187 annually. But an experienced dentist, with 8 or more years, can make around $323,272 per year on average.
What Are The Top Paying Cities in Australia for Dentist Jobs?
Here are some of the top-paying cities for dentist jobs in Australia. These cities pay the highest dentist salary in Australia:
| City | Average Salary |
| New South Wales | $225,000 |
| Western Australia | $225,000 |
| Perth | $225,000 |
| Sydney | $225,000 |
| Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast | $200,000 |
| South Australia | $200,000 |
| Melbourne | $200,000 |
| Newcastle, Maitland & Hunter | $200,000 |
| The Yorke Peninsula & Clare Valley | $200,000 |
| Tasmania | $197,061 |
What Are The Top Paying States in Australia for Dentist Jobs?
Here are some of the top-paying states for dentist jobs in Australia. These states pay the highest dentist salary in Australia:
| State | Average Salary |
| New South Wales | $225,000 |
| Western Australia | $225,000 |
| South Australia | $200,000 |
| Tasmania | $197,061 |
| Northern Territory | $190,000 |
| Victoria | $170,000 |
| Queensland | $160,000 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $152,000 |
Dentist Salary in Australia Summary
| Career | Description | Average Salary |
| Dentist | Prevent, find, and treat mouth, teeth, and gum problems. | $257,301/year |
| General Dentist | Provide general dental care | – |
| Public Health Dentist | Improve the oral health of a community | – |
| Root Canal Specialist | Perform root canal treatment | – |
| Oral Surgeon | Perform surgeries on the mouth and jaw | – |
| Orthodontist | Straighten teeth | – |
| Pediatric Dentist | Care for children’s teeth | – |
| Periodontist | Treat gum disease | – |
| Prosthodontist | Replace missing teeth with dentures or implants | – |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much are dentists paid in Australia?
The average dentist earns 257,301 a year in Australia, where the starting salary at entry-level jobs is 176,187 while those with most years experience can make up to 323,272 annually.
2. Can US dentists work in Australia?
If you are a dentist from abroad and would like to work in Australia, there are specific conditions you need to meet before applying for general Dental Board of Australia registration.
3. Why are Australian dentists so expensive?
Dentistry in Australia is expensive. This is because of high-quality standards, advanced technology, labor costs, and regulatory compliance.
4. Is it hard to find a job as a dentist in Australia?
No, it is not. Dentists in Australia are paid better than in most other countries. The only problem is getting your foreign qualifications recognized by the Australian Dental Association.
Conclusion
Dentists are health professionals who focus on the teeth and the gums. A dentist can be a general dentist, or specialize in treatment such as root canals or kid’s dentistry.
After getting an undergraduate degree in this field followed by four years of education you can diagnose and provide care for problems with teeth/gums etc.
Dentists also give advice related to dental health such as how one should clean their teeth properly.
To become a dentist in Australia you need to have completed a university degree program and be registered with the Dental Board of Australia.
A high salary is earned by most of the dentists working in Australia. The average dentist salary in Australia is over $300,000 annually.
Add Comment