Dental services are provided by dentists, specialist dentists and other members of the dental team, including dental nurses, receptionists, support staff, technologists, hygienists, and dental therapists. Dentistry is practiced in hospitals, private practices, and in community and outreac h settings. Dental laboratories, run by prosthetists and teams of dental technicians, provide technical dentistry services. Specialist dentistry includes Oral-Maxillo Facial surgery, which is also a surgical specialty within medicine, that deals with complex dentistry conditions such as facial trauma.

The dental workforce provides an essential healthcare service to the community and is made up of multiple challenging and rewarding professions. The healthcare sector, including dentistry, continues to benefit from advancements in technology, and building a robust workforce remains integral to meet ongoing and future demand for dental services. Fortunately, there are numerous career paths within Dentistry, and many opportunities for career development and specialisation.

Dental Receptionists, assistants and support workers support the work of the wider dental team, clinic or service. These roles are responsible for undertaking routine tasks, which may involve receptionist/administration duties, operational support and cleaning. Receptionist roles involve greeting patients, customer service, phone enquiries, booking appointments, stock takes, ordering supplies, and other tasks which help to run the dental practice. Dental Support work involves cleaning and sterilising, set up of equipment and examination rooms, mixing dental materials, chairside support, record keeping, and other work that supports the dental team and patients. Some roles involve visiting patients in their own homes and providing education and advice. There are no formal qualification requirements to work in Dental Support, or as a Dental receptionist, and employment in these roles can be combined with training and study opportunities for further career development.