CAREER INTRODUCTION
- INTRODUCTION
- CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH
- UNIVERSITIES
- MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
- DEPARTMENT OF INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
- PRIVATE DENTAL PRACTICE
Dentistry is a challenging career, with many opportunities for career advancement in various fields. Learn more about this profession and your future by using the navigation bar on the left. Dental Officers are trained to provide oral health care to individuals.
They are dental practitioners and can opt for specialty training in certain areas. Dental nurses are auxiliaries that complement dental officers in providing oral health care in the public.
Other dental auxiliaries such as dental technologists and dental surgical assistants are also trained to assist dental officers in their daily tasks. This section aims to give a comprehensive overview of the career opportunities available and the qualifications required to enter this profession.
Remember, only in dentistry where medicine, engineering and art are closely related.
Various career opportunities are available for dental graduates. One can choose to serve either with the Malaysian Ministry of Health, University, Armed Forces, Orang Asli Affairs Department or with private practice.
Government dental officers provide oral health care to every community group through various facilities, including dental clinics and hospitals. They may choose to undertake specialist training in various clinical and public health areas, or may be promoted to various senior clinical or administrative positions.
Tasks in universities involve teaching and research tasks. It also provides an opportunity for someone to continue studying in a particular field of interest. For those who join the university as a tutor, they can be promoted to become a senior lecturer or professor after obtaining a postgraduate qualification.
A dental officer in the Armed Forces holds the rank of Captain (Dr). After 4 years, dental officers are automatically promoted to Major (Dr.) Upon completion of postgraduate studies in a clinical specialty or public health, dental officers can be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and then Colonel, Brigadier General and Major General. However, this is subject to availability and recommendations from the Head of Department
The clinic in Gombak, Selangor provides services to patients, government employees and nearby residents other than Orang Asli in the settlement area. Mobile health services provide oral health care to Orang Asli in the settlement areas in Peninsular Malaysia.
Dental Officers who have served three years of mandatory government service have the option of either establishing their own clinic or joining a practice group in the private sector.