New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) – Dental Assistance
Allied Health
A course by
Careerforce
Develop the skills and knowledge needed to support dentists with patient care and dental practice operations, gaining a nationally recognised Level 3 certification.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
It will take a total of 1 year


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Perform dental assisting tasks
Confidently assist dentists with various oral healthcare procedures and treatments.

Prepare and maintain dental equipment
Prepare and sterilise all necessary equipment and instruments for oral healthcare procedures.

Understand dental anatomy and conditions
Describe tooth anatomy, identify tooth notation, and understand common dental diseases such as caries and periodontal disease.
What You're Signing Up For
The New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) Dental Assistance programme is designed for those employed as Dental or Oral Health Assistants in hospital, community, school, or private practice settings. The programme covers skills in assisting with oral healthcare procedures, preparing and sterilising equipment, understanding dental anatomy and diseases, performing administrative duties, applying ethical behaviour, patient preparation, and infection control.
Course Content
- Assisting dentists with oral healthcare procedures
- Preparing and sterilising equipment and instruments
- Describing tooth notation and anatomy
- Understanding dental caries and periodontal disease
- Charting teeth and restorations
- Performing clerical and administrative duties
- Applying professional and ethical behaviour
- Assisting and preparing patients for treatment
- Applying infection prevention and control processes and procedures
What you need to know first
Must be employed as a Dental or Oral Health Assistant in a hospital, community, school, or private practice setting
Must have employer support to enrol

What sort of industry will this job lead to
Dental
Healthcare
Oral Health

Future employment opportunities might be
Dental Assistant
Oral Health Assistant


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Our AI-powered Explorer is almost ready. Soon, you’ll be able to build a dynamic profile of your skills, goals, and strengths, and get a curated selection of courses just for you.
More details