Health Science (Oral Health) Auckland University of Technology

Overview

Throughout the Health Science (Oral Health) course from Auckland University of Technology  you will gain experience in our oral health simulation laboratory, and clinical experience at AUT’s oral health clinics and community oral health clinics in Auckland and around New Zealand. You also work on oral health promotion projects in communities around Auckland and gain valuable workplace experience in the field of oral health.

Career opportunities:

By successfully completing this degree you can register as an oral health therapist with the Dental Council of New Zealand. Your qualification is recognised in Australia.

What is an oral health therapist?

Oral health therapists provide:

• Preventative and restorative care for children and adolescents
• Periodontal care for adults

You could work in:

• District health boards (DHBs)
• Private, general or specialist practice
• Oral health promotion
• Education sector

Oral health therapists are different from dentists

While oral health therapists work closely with dentists, the two professions are different.

Dentists cover a wider range of clinical services that include cariology and prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral medicine, oral surgery or oral pathology. If you want to work as a dentist in New Zealand, the primary pathway is to complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Otago.