Work in New Zealand as a Dentist

Dental Practitioners provide dentistry services to people of all ages. Diagnosing and treating diseases and issues within the mouth.

According to the Australia/New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, tasks may include for a Dental Practitioner:

• diagnosing dental diseases using a range of methods such as radiographs, salivary tests and medical histories
• providing preventative oral health care such as periodontal treatments, fluoride applications and oral health promotion
• providing restorative oral care such as implants, complex crown and bridge restorations, and orthodontics, and repairing damaged and decayed teeth
• providing oral surgical treatments such as biopsy of tissue and prescription of medication
• performing routine orthodontic treatment
• restoring oral function with removable and fixed oral prostheses
• assisting in diagnosing general diseases having oral manifestations such as diabetes
• educating patients to take care of their mouth and teeth
• leading a dental team which may comprise Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, Dental Assistants and other Dental Specialists

Dental Practitioners branch off into two areas, Dental Specialists and Dentists

Dental Specialists can specialise in the following skill sets:

Diagnoses and treats diseases, injuries, irregularities and malformations of teeth and associated structures in the mouth and jaw using surgery and other specialist techniques. Registration or licensing is required.

Specialist occupations include:

• Endodontist
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
• Oral Pathologist
• Orthodontist
• Paedodontist
• Periodontist
• Prosthodontist

Dentists diagnose and treat dental disease, injuries, decay and malformations of the teeth, periodontal tissue (gums), hard and soft tissue found on the mouth and other dento-facial structures using surgery and other techniques. Registration or licensing is also required.

A need for dentists nationwide

Dental Practitioners are needed everywhere in New Zealand.

Experienced dentists are in high demand

With New Zealand having a limited supply of graduates and a growing aging population, Dental Practitioners are required all over New Zealand. Job Opportunities for Dentists are average for new graduates but good for people with experience and specialist skills.

Career path

Once you gain experience in this field, you can work independently as an Dentist or Dental Specialist, join a practice or run your own business (you need to be on an open work visa or a resident to work as a contractor or be self-employed). As a resident, be your own boss and work independently to provide dental services. You can also specialise in specific areas of dentistry with further training.

Book your assessment now

The assessment done by our Immigration specialists will guide you from start to end and highlight visa options, the job search assistance we provide, and the migration process for you and your family.

Take our assessment

Income will depend on the type of practice you work for, the region and your qualifications and skill levels.

• Graduate Dental Practitioners usually earn $65k - $85k per year
• Experienced and/or specialised practitioners usually earn $85k – $186k per year

Do you have what it takes to be a dentist in New Zealand?

According to ANZSCO, a Dentist is a skill level 1 occupation and you will be required to hold a bachelor dree or higher qualification to meet the qualification requirements and hold registration.

Occupational Registration

Registration is required in New Zealand to work as an Dentist. You will need to hold a practicing certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society
Dental Council New Zealand
PO Box 10-448
Wellington 6140
Website - https://www.dcnz.org.nz/
Mail - [email protected]