Dental Therapist Salary in Nigeria (2023)

The field of dental therapy remains a green field in Nigeria because their professionals are not many in Nigeria compared to other medical professionals. The dental therapist performs preventive and restorative dental care for patients. which means the job description of these professionals is not rocket science.

A dental therapist in Nigeria typically earns around 150,000 Naira to 500,000 Naira.

What is Dental Therapist Salary in Nigeria

Level	Salary (Naira)
Entry Level	150,000
Experienced	500,000

As you know, medical professionals enjoy the mouthwatering salary, and so does the dental therapist. So, if you are reading this informative piece to get all the information you need about this profession, especially how much they earn, you are at the right place.

Dental therapy is a branch of dentistry that primarily deals with prevention. They are sometimes called oral educators and are highly sought after because they form a formidable part of the dental team that takes care of patient oral challenges by providing dental education to patients typically those that underwent surgery.

Also, they perform other routine procedures such as simple conservation, x-rays and extraction of deciduous teeth, scaling and polishing, fluoride application and fissure sealant, and more.

Another enticing aspect of dental therapists that we’ll consider at great length is the salary earned by the dental therapist in Nigeria.

Dental Therapist Salary in Nigeria

Dental Therapist earns their income through paid monthly salary by their employer. The amount paid to these professionals varies based on different factors such as

– Educational qualification

– Job levels

– Years of work experience

– Organization location

– The type of organization where you work.

A dental therapist in Nigeria typically earns around 150,000 Naira to 500,000 Naira.

Note that the salary can increase or reduce more than the stated salary above considering the factors that are stated.

Also, there are factors contributing to dental therapist salary in Nigeria. That is the allowances that are included in their salary such as the call duty allowance, specialist allowance, hazard allowance, teaching allowance, etc.

Average Salary

The average salary is the mid-salary earned by employees who have gathered significant work experience that is from 5 to 9 years. So, the average salary of a dental therapist in Nigeria per month is 250,000 Naira.

Interestingly, some dental therapists earn more than the average salary, while some earn less than the average salary. So, if you find yourself earning more than the average, it means that you are performing well.

Entry Level Salary

A dental therapist with work experience between 0-4 years earns an entry-level salary. Typically, fresh graduates who just gained employment fall under this category.

A dental therapist’s entry-level salary per month is within the range of 100,000 Naira to 200,000 Naira.

As you can see, the entry-level salary is less than the average salary and the senior-level salary as well.

However, the amount paid can be higher or lesser depending on which organization you work for. As you know, private healthcare facilities or dental clinics pay less than government-owned health institutions.

Senior Level Salary

Senior-level employees earn are considered to earn a higher salary than entry-level employees in terms of monthly salary. Also, their job placement is higher.

Before you can attain this level in your career as a dental therapist, you must have gained a wealth of working experience which typically is from 10-years and above.

So, considering their job level and the nature of their job, the senior-level salary of a dental therapist begins from 300,000 Naira and above.

Mind you, putting into consideration the varying factors stated above, the monthly salary can be higher than the amount we have stated depending on which factor is at play in your organization.

Where can they Work?

The field of dental therapy is least exploited in Nigeria. Most people are interested in the major medical fields and neglect others where they can graduate fast and easily get a job.

So, aside from the salary scale of this profession, another reason why you should consider becoming a dental therapist is your employability. Because dental therapists in Nigeria are not plenty, it is easy to get a job almost immediately after you graduate.

Truth be told, it is important to find out the places where you can work and practice your profession after you graduate from school. That is why in our discussion we include the places where you can work as a dental therapist in Nigeria.

So, in case you don’t know where you can work as a dental therapist. Don’t sweat any further because we have compiled a list of organizations in Nigeria where you can work as a dental therapist.

• Government or private owned Healthcare facilities
• Dental clinics
• Health maintenance organization
• Academic institutions
• Academic institutions
• Insurance companies
• Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Now you have a clue about the various places where you can work and practise your profession as a dental therapist. All you need do is to apply to any of the organizations above to get a job and begin your dental therapy practice.

Types of Jobs available for Dental Therapists 

As you already know, dental therapists primarily work in clinics. Also, they can work independently or in collaboration with oral hygienists and dentists, and they can refer complicated procedures to dentists for further management.

As a dental therapist, there are different types of jobs that you will be required to do. As such, you will be required to be part of a dental team made up of dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, and dental hygienists.

The various types of jobs available for a dental therapist are:

• Dental assistant
• Preventative dentist
• Dental therapy

Roles/Duties of Dental Therapists 

The dental therapist serves as a dental assistant, especially to dental surgeons and helps with patient recovery. So, their role in patient oral care is important. That is why we think it necessary to discuss the role and duties of these professionals in the healthcare facility.

It is necessary to outline the duties of dental therapists for the benefit of those who may be unaware of what they do. As a dental therapist, you’ll provide patients with both clinical and oral education healthcare which include:

– Perform routine dental treatment and prevention,

– Dental examinations

– Recognize, identify, and interpret common pathology and abnormalities

– Administer a local anaesthetic to patients

– Taking X-rays

– Remove plaque and other coatings from patients’ teeth

– Provide oral health advice to patients.

– Teeth scaling and polishing

– Extract deciduous teeth

– Provide implant care and treatment of peri-implant tissues

– Accurately record patients’ dental history as well as the dental treatment plan.

Now you know the roles dental therapists play in patient care and recovery. This will help will keep you inform and you will be able to discharge your duties appropriately

How to become a Dental Therapist 

Now, we will like to discuss how to become a dental therapist. Truth is, becoming a dental therapist requires hard work and endurance because the training process is tasking.

If you’ve read this article from beginning to end and are now more knowledgeable about Dental Therapist’s Salaries in Nigeria, and you want to pursue a career in this field, there are some requirements you must meet to become a certified dental therapist.

The important step is to get an education. You have to enrol into a tertiary institution that offers dental therapy courses and of course, it is accredited so that you will be issued a valid certification.

All you need to enrol on an academic institution that offers the course is an O’Level result with a minimum of five credit passes in basic science subjects. Then you are to sit for the UTME examination and post UTME examination. Ensure you cut off mark.

If you are successful, you will be offered admission to study the course. The duration thereof is 4-5 years for a bachelor’s degree, while the diploma program is within 2-3 years, depending on the school that you attend.

Required Skill to become a Dental Therapist 

During your training as a dental therapist, you will be thoroughly trained and equipped with the skill you need. These skills will make you perform effortlessly and make you one of the best professionals in the field.

The required skills you need to possess as a dental therapist are:

– Excellent decision-making

– Diagnostic abilities

– Capable of inspiring confidence and trust

– Manual dexterity

– Capable of performing precise and detailed work

– Three-dimension abilities

– Excellent vision and visual memory

– Interpersonal skill

– Communication skill

– Ability to focus and avoid distraction

– Communication skill

– Empathy and compassion

– Pay attention to details

Related:

• Flight Dispatcher Salary in Nigeria
• Food Science and Technologist Salary in Nigeria

Closing

We have come to the end of our discourse on dental therapy salary in Nigeria. If you have read this far, it should be evident to you that field of dental therapists is highly marketable and lucrative with a satisfiable monthly salary. Also, it is still lacking a lot of professionals because many people are not giving attention to the course. So, take the opportunity and venture into this profession to be among the first few to enjoy the benefits.