Dental Therapist Job Description

The main duties are to provide special care dentistry for vulnerable adults and children with special care requirements and care for other patient groups seen by the department.

 Duties will include providing care in clinics, mobile dental units and during domiciliary dental visits.

• The post holder will be requested to provide dental care in other clinics and also in mobile dental units and during domiciliary dental care visits

• The post holder is expected to manage and take responsibility for a dental clinic or mobile dental unit in the absence of a Dental Officer

• To provide oral health care, both treatment and education, to all eligible patients within the prescribed range of duties for a therapist for patients referred by CDS Dental Officers. This includes treatment of all eligible vulnerable people referred of all ages and backgrounds, including those with special care requirements including learning disabilities, disproportionate dental anxiety, medical problems, mental health problems, physical disabilities and a wide range of cultural backgrounds

• To accurately comprehend and adhere to a Dental Officer’s written prescription for each patient and to work autonomously in assessing the individual patient’s needs and compliance and how best effect treatment. To analyse, assess and chose specific treatments where the prescription allows for a choice

• To take responsibility for the direction and supervision of the work of a Dental Nurse during the provision of daily duties

 Duties-Dental Therapist

• To provide special care dentistry commensurate with the grade for the vulnerable people in fixed clinics, mobile dental units and during domiciliary visits, ensuring that the highest standards of clinical care are provided

• To work with other colleagues to establish a flexible team approach in the delivery of a high quality service and contribute to the continued development of the CDS team

• To plan, schedule appointments, treatments and intervals between appointments with regard to patients’ age, special care requirements and compliance

• To plan and select the equipment and materials for each treatment session according to the location, treatment plan and patient

• To monitor the dental health of all patients, assess developments in the patient’s dental health and record findings accordingly and report back to the referring dentist

• To maintain full accurate clinical notes of all treatments, ensuring that patient activity data is recorded using approved formats as required by the Clinical Service Manager/Senior Dental Officer for clinical audit and reports

• To monitor patients for possible wider health issues such as child abuse, smoking or poor diet and to liaise with patients, carers or appropriate authorities as necessary in a professional, discrete and tactful manner

• To liaise with other health care professionals both within and outside the Health Board who may be caring for the same patient

• To plan and make domiciliary visits when necessary in accordance with the CDS policy on domiciliary dental care. To assess equipment and time required, liaising between patients and department to schedule visits and to follow proper practice of health and safety procedures and lone working policy

• To monitor daily activities and report any potential risks or hazards together with any adverse incidents to senior staff and according to departmental and Health Board policy on risk management

• To supervise preventative programmes and care packages delivered by other staff where and when reasonably requested and participate in community based oral health promotion projects/activities including the Designed to Smile initiative

• To undertake screening of priority groups seen by the CDS when requested.

Prescribed Range of Duties-Dental Therapist

This will include the provision of dental care for the vulnerable people including patients of all ages who may have complex medical and physical conditions, behavioural problems, learning difficulties, mental health problems, complex social circumstances and other special care requirements that impact on the delivery of care.

The prescribed range of duties shall generally be those covered by a qualification in dental therapy and shall include but not be limited to:

• Provision of comprehensive preventative oral health education, instruction and guidance to patients and parents, including diet advice, diet analysis, fluoride supplements, oral hygiene and smoking cessation advice, adapted to suit the individual taking into account communication issues.

• Provide restorations in primary teeth including pulp therapy & stainless steel crowns as appropriate

• Provision of preventative treatments including fissure sealants and sealant restorations

• Extraction of deciduous teeth.

• Provision of a full range of restorative techniques for permanent teeth subject to the scope of practice of a dental therapist

• Administration of appropriate local analgesia

• Provision of a full range of periodontal treatments, including scaling, polishing and debridement.

• Take dental impressions

• Take dental radiographs within the Ionising Radiation (1999) and IRMER (2000) regulations subject to suitable training and qualification

• Clinical evaluation of radiographs and exposing test objects as part of a quality assurance programme

• Participation in clinical audit as reasonably required.

Training and development

• To maintain high professional standards and update professional skill and knowledge on a continual basis, including but not limited to all General Dental Council (GDC) requirements, by attending suitable meetings and courses to meet requirements of the department, Health Board and GDC

• Maintain a logbook of courses attended and personal development

• To participate in regular reviews according to the requirements of Agenda for Change. Maintain a Personal Development Plan as required as part of the process

• To participate in clinical audit as part of a clinical governance strategy and take part in organised training updates as and when required

• To participate in CPR, manual handling and other mandatory training at regular intervals

• To attend staff meetings and fully participate in group discussions as arranged

• To maintain registration and undertake continuing professional development in accordance with GDC Guidelines.

General Duties

• To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade as required by the Clinical Service Manager/Senior Dental Officer

• To be a car owner/driver holding a current valid driving licence

• To comply with all Departmental and ABMU Health Board policies and protocols, financial arrangements and legislative requirements.

Qualifications

Registration with the General Dental Council as a Dental Therapist

Proven maintenance of post-graduate continuing professional development

Membership of an appropriate medical protection society

Experience
Experience of the Community Dental Service

Experience in treating patients with special care requirements

Oral Health Improvement Initiatives

Knowledge and skills
Use of English language to a high level as an integral part of excellent, effective written and verbal communication.

Excellent organisational, planning and presentation skills.

ICT skills to include Outlook, Windows, Word and Excel.

Ability to work as part of, and lead a small team.

Other requirements Clinically proficient

Patience and an empathic approach

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Team player

Self motivated and capable of working autonomously

Sets high standards and is motivated to achieve them