Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Study diagnostic records, such as medical or dental histories, plaster models of the teeth, photos of a patient's face and teeth, and X-rays, to develop patient treatment plans.
• Adjust dental appliances to produce and maintain normal function.
• Fit dental appliances in patients' mouths to alter the position and relationship of teeth and jaws or to realign teeth.
• Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
• Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
• Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
• Instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.
• Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
• Design and fabricate appliances, such as space maintainers, retainers, and labial and lingual arch wires.
• Coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

To become a specialist orthodontist, one must first qualify as a dentist, after which general experience must be gained in many fields within dentistry before applying for a place in a specialist orthodontic training programme. Most of these courses are 3 years in length, are full-time and are attached to a University. In effect, each specialist orthodontist has had a minimum of eight years of University education and has had 3 years of specialist orthodontic training beyond a basic dental degree

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Healthcare Support, Dental Nursing, Supervisory Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Dental Nursing, Medical & Dental Reception, Medical, Dental and Legal Secretary Studies at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: There are no Dental specific Apprenticeships in this career area at present but some transferable skills in Technician & Engineering Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-7 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Dental Technology, Dental Nursing, Dental Science, Dental Hygiene, Dentistry, Orthodontic Therapy ()Higher Education Direct Entry) NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development

Postgraduate Study Options Dental Examination, Dental Public Health, Management, Dental Science - Research, Dental Surgery NFQ level 9

Irish Dental Association 

Irish Dental Council 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €130k - €201k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Indeed/ Payscale/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was above the national average for this occupation, although employment in 2022 were similar to 2021 levels. The CSO Census data shows that employment was spread across a large number of roles in 2022, with increases across all within this occupation since 2016.

While the numbers employed have increased since 2016, for the most part, the supply from the education and training system has not, and plans to expand training will not have an impact on the potential supply to the labour market in the short-term, given the duration of training required. This has led to issues for a number of roles within this group; for instance, there is an increasing number of students opting to study veterinary medicine in Poland due to the lack of available places to study in Ireland.

Psychologists and pharmacists were added to the employment permits Critical Skills list in June 2022 although new permits issued in 2022 primarily related to radiographers/sonographers, with a small number issued for dentists and pharmacists. With a quarter of those employed aged 55 years or older, replacement demand alone will create job opportunities in the coming years. Demand remains high across these occupations and issues with recruitment are occurring; however, as the numbers employed are too small across the roles for detailed analysis, evidence of shortages are difficult to determine.

• Dental Council of Ireland

  • 57 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
  • (01) 676 2069
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