Job Details

ADF Gap Year, Other Ranks (Non Technical), Other Ranks (Non Technical) (Reserve)

Army Dental Assistants belong to the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps (RAADC). The RAADC is responsible for providing dental health care to Australian Defence Force personnel. The dental care provided focuses on preventive measures to reduce the number of casualties in operations due to dental problems. The Corps is made up of highly trained professionals who are often called upon to work in field conditions, which their civilian counterparts would find daunting.

In both war and peace the Army's dental workers, provide staff for hospitals, support battalions and dental centres.

The Dental Assistant is a soldier highly skilled in dental procedures who provides direct assistance to a Dental Officer or a civilian Dental Hygienist. Career progression of Dental Assistants is to Senior Dental Assistant, Dental Supervisor and Dental Manager. Dental Assistant is available to part-time members who hold appropriate Certificate III and IV in Dental Assisting.

Main Job Functions:

• Provide chair-side assistance to Dental Officers and civilian Dental Hygienists as directed.
• Prepare dental restorative impression and therapeutic materials for use by the Dental Officer.
• Operate and maintain all dental surgery equipment as directed.
• Process, classify and mount intra-oral radiographs.
• Prepare, interpret and maintain patient records.
• Coordinate and maintain dental appointment system.
• Perform hygiene/sterilisation procedures for surgery, surgery instruments and equipment.
• Assist with accounting procedures for dental section stores, equipment and materiel.