Dental Therapy at Canberra Dental Care
Natasha our Oral Health Therapist is available for both dental hygiene and dental therapy appointments, allowing patients to access a wider range of treatment options and receive more of their dental care from the same clinician.
What is an Oral Health Therapist?
An Oral Health Therapist is a university-trained dental professional who combines the skills of both a dental hygienist and a dental therapist, providing a wide range of preventive and restorative dental treatments as part of the dental team. Natasha graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health and holds additional qualifications in adult restorative care, allowing her to provide fillings for adults of all ages. This means many patients can receive both their preventive and restorative treatment from the same clinician.
But what is dental therapy and how is it different from dental hygiene?
A dental hygienist primarily focuses on preventive care, including professional cleaning, periodontal (gum) treatment, oral health education and disease prevention.
A dental therapist examines, diagnoses, prevents and treats diseases of the teeth and gums. Identifying disease risk, providing preventive treatments, carrying out restorative (filling) procedures, extracting baby teeth under local anaesthetic where appropriate, and managing dental trauma. As an Oral Health Therapist, Natasha combines both of these roles.
What is the difference between an Oral Health Therapist and a Dentist?
Both Oral Health Therapists and Dentists are university-trained oral health professionals. Natasha is qualified to provide examinations, preventive care, periodontal treatment, fillings for adults and children, fissure sealants, mouthguards, and a range of other restorative treatments within her scope of practice. Dentists have a broader scope that includes more complex procedures such as crowns, bridges, root canal treatment on adult teeth, adult tooth extractions, implants, and orthodontic treatment. Natasha works closely with our dentists and will refer or collaborate whenever treatment falls outside her scope, ensuring every patient receives the most appropriate care.
What treatment can Natasha our Oral Health Therapist provide?
- Comprehensive dental examinations
- Scale and cleans
- Periodontal (gum) treatment
- Oral hygiene instruction and preventive care
- Fluoride treatments
- Impressions for mouthguards, retainer and whitening trays
- Fissure sealants
- Restorative (fillings) treatment of both deciduous (baby) and permanent (adult) teeth
- Crowns on deciduous (baby) teeth
- Deciduous (baby) teeth extractions
- Endodontic treatment of deciduous (baby) teeth
- Initial management of dental trauma
- Placement of upper and lower fixed retention wires
- Repair of broken fixed retention wires
What are the benefits of seeing Natasha?
Natasha can perform both your hygiene treatment and dental examination in the same appointment, meaning you don't need to wait for a separate dentist appointment for that part of your care. She can also assess, diagnose, treatment plan and complete fillings for adults of all ages, reducing the need for multiple visits and helping patients access treatment sooner. Patients who see Natasha regularly benefit from continuity of care, a familiar clinician who knows their history and can manage both their preventive and restorative needs.
Do I have to see the therapist?
Not at all. We would never ask you to see a clinician you are not comfortable with.
However, Natasha has dedicated appointments available which may mean you can be seen sooner. All treatment is performed to the same high standard, regardless of which clinician provides your care.
How do I make an appointment?
Generally, appointments will be made based on a treatment plan developed during your examination. If you would like to discuss what treatments are available to you, or whether a dental therapy appointment is suitable, please contact our reception team who will be happy to assist.