The Community Dental Service (CDS) at Bendigo Health is a 31 chair facility providing dental care for members of the Bendigo and surrounding community. The Dental Service is primarily funded by Dental Health Services Victoria to provide both general and emergency oral health care within the scope of publicly funded dental services. CDS is also involved in preventative oral health initiatives including an active schools and early years outreach program
Benefits of employment in the public oral health sector:
Clinical positions at Bendigo Health Dental Community Dental Services:
Dentists are privileged to build and develop their skills by providing a broad range of clinical management for patients within the scope of publicly funded dental services. This includes providing preventative care, delivering dental restorative procedures, eliminating pain and restoring oral health. Dentists have the opportunity to work with people who vary in age and ethnicity, gaining experience with exposure to patients of diverse backgrounds and challenges, whilst maintaining a healthy work life balance. Dentists work as part of an oral health team at CDS and receive regular high quality clinical support, supervision and mentoring both on an individual basis and within a group setting.
Oral Health Therapists are an integral and highly valued part of CDS as our philosophy is about prevention and creating equity for those at greater risk. OHTs at CDS are encouraged and supported to utilise their full scope of practice including the provision of adult restorative work if extended scope of practice is possessed. CDS has a well-established outreach service that is operated by our OHTs and provides screening and preventative services for early learning centres, kindergartens, primary schools along with other target groups within the local community. OHTs receive high quality clinical support and supervision along with valuable mentoring in group settings and at an individual level. Allowances and frequent professional development days are available to clinicians to allow them keep up to date with CPD requirements. Radiation licence fees are also reimbursed.
Oral Health Educators CDS was one of the first regional agencies as part of DHSV to train and utilise certificate four dental assistants, Oral Health Educators. Our OHEs have all been supported to attend clinical training to the highest level including in the provision of preventive services, oral hygiene instruction, dietary advice, patient communication and management techniques including motivational interviewing, dental radiography and topical fluoride application. Our OHEs see clients on a regular basis 1:1 within a dental surgery and also participate in oral health promotion programs within various local community settings. These include supported residential care services, aboriginal health services, regional health settings, maternal and child health services including speech pathology groups and community immunisation clinics.
Dental Assistants are vital members of our CDS team, providing expert support to the dental clinical team. As a Bendigo Health Dental Assistant you will have exposure to a broad range of clinical activities, teaching clinics and external outreach services. Our Dental Assistants’ participation is valued in the ongoing development of the patient centered care model at Bendigo Health. Dental services also provides a mentor program, a wide range of supports to develop individual skills and goals.
Dental Prosthetists/Technicians our onsite Prosthetists and Technicians are responsible for the construction, fabrication and insertion of dentures. They utilise their training, experience and expertise to construct dentures for the replacement of natural teeth, whether a result of trauma or disease. Our Dental Prosthetists work closely with patients once they have completed a general course of care to help restore a patient’s function and smile. Our Dental Prosthetists/Technicians work as part of our CDS team within an onsite laboratory in close proximity to our Dental/Oral Health clinicians. You will have creative freedom, but also benefit from mentoring from senior staff and are well supported with professional development opportunities.
