Dental Therapist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced dental therapist with excellent people and organisational skills and a keen interest in treating special needs children. A positive attitude, good communication skills coupled with a commitment to best practice in clinical care is vital. The ability to work in a busy environment whilst remaining calm and to lead projects to completion in challenging circumstances is essential. The capacity to work independently, proactively and under pressure is also important.

Wolverhampton Special Care Dental Service provides dental care for individuals with a variety of disabilities and complex medical conditions. The post involves treating special care adults and children on the mobile dental unit and at our static dental clinics. You will be supported by an able and enthusiastic team and work in excellent facilities.

The post holder will have full registration with the General Dental Council, be able to demonstrate proven clinical care skills to a high standard, have excellent patient management skills and should have experience of treating a wide spectrum of patients.

Applicants must be flexible as deployment across multiple sites will be required with travel around Wolverhampton to reach the communities we serve.

Main duties of the job

Job Summary

To work flexibly within a dental team providing high quality dental care, as prescribed by a registered dentist, for a wide spectrum of patients including adults, children, patients with special needs medically compromised patients and hard to reach groups.

To undertake clinical duties within their scope of practice to support the on-going development of the service, to meet the needs of the local population and provide a true Special Care Dentistry.

Communicate with a range of patients and their families on individual clinical issues and communicate with all members of the clinical team and peers in an appropriate way and also with other health and social care professionals involved in the care of patients.

The post holder will ensure his or her own Continuing Professional Development is maintained.

The post holder will be required to work in the specialist clinical disciplines of Special Care Dental.

To supervise trainee and unqualified staff, as required, in the department.

To Work within codes of practice and professional guidelines.

To be accountable for own professional actions under General Dental Council guidelines

To ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organisational and departmental objectives

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties and Responsibilities :

With regards to clinical duties the post holder will work to the prescription of a dentist.

To provide highly specialist quality dental care for adult and child patients who are eligible for treatment in the Special Care Dental Service with a wide range of  treatment needs including those who:

• Have high levels of untreated decay Are dentally anxious Are medically compromised Are physically disabled Have learning disabilities Have mental health problems Are socially excluded and unable to access dental care in the General Dental Service (eg sex workers, substance misuse, homeless etc)
• Have high levels of untreated decay
• Are dentally anxious
• Are medically compromised
• Are physically disabled
• Have learning disabilities
• Have mental health problems
• Are socially excluded and unable to access dental care in the General Dental Service (eg sex workers, substance misuse, homeless etc)

Clinical sessions may be undertaken at fixed or mobile clinics, or on a domiciliary basis in patients’ homes, hospitals or other institutions as determined by the needs of the service.

The provision of clinical care and dental hygiene for a range of patients for whom the service has responsibility. This would include the medically compromised, those with special needs and individuals with head and neck cancer. Specifically;

• To provide dental hygiene care to a wide range of patients
• To plan, develop, implement and evaluate appropriate interventions to prevent disease and promote health for individual patients.
• To obtain a detailed dental history from patients and evaluate their medical history
• To screen, record and monitor the incidence of periodontal disease.
• To provide preventive oral care to patients and liaise with dentists over the treatment of caries, periodontal disease and tooth wear
• To undertake supragingival and subgingival scaling and root debridement using manual and powered instruments
• To use appropriate anti-microbial therapy to manage plaque related diseases
• To adjust restored surfaces in relation to periodontal treatment
• To apply materials to teeth such as fluoride and fissure sealants.
• To give smoking cessation advice.
• The prescription, taking, development and interpretation of dental radiographs
• The administration of infiltration and inferior dental block anaesthesia.
• The emergency placement of temporary dressings and crowns (with temporary cement)
• The taking of impressions
• To identify anatomical features, recognise abnormalities, interpret common pathology and carry out oral cancer screening
• When necessary, refer patients to other healthcare professionals
• The placement of rubber dam
• The placement of direct restorations on permanent and deciduous teeth.
• Pulp therapy (pulpotomies) on deciduous teeth.
• The extraction of primary teeth.
• The placement of pre-formed crowns on deciduous teeth.
• To plan the delivery of a patient’s care
• The administration of inhalational sedation.

Selection of the correct instruments, medicaments and materials to complete treatment for patients

With suitable training in sedation and additional Life Support training (in line with national guidelines), to administer inhalation sedation

To refer patients if necessary to other healthcare professionals, both within the service and outside of the service.

Oral Health Advice

Provide evidence based oral health education on a one to one basis or in a group situation as outlined in current guidelines (Delivering Better oral Health an evidence based toolkit for prevention)

Give specific preventive advice including:

Diet advice

Oral Hygiene instruction

Advice and use of fluoride agents

The benefits of smoking cessation

Advice on alcohol consumption

To ensure that patient records are completed accurately in line with Special Care Dental Service records policy

To check with patients or their parents/carers that the medical history and consent forms have been completed correctly

Other duties

Take responsibility for the management of the immediate clinical environment and immediate dental team.

To maintain accurate clinical and statistical records through the use of the Soel Health dental management programme and other systems.

Identify commonly occurring medical emergencies and lead the dental team in the appropriate first line management of such an emergency, using appropriate techniques, equipment and drugs.

Understand the responsibility for health and safety issues.

Demonstrate the application of the principles of ethical behaviour relevant to dentistry including honesty, confidentiality, integrity and compliance with the standards for dental professionals laid down by the GDC.

When required, to play a role in the annual BASCD Epidemiological Surveys run by Public Health England.

Taking appropriate responsibility, where necessary, to ensure the trust’s corporate strategies and objectives are achieved and contribute to the smooth running of the dental services

Completion of data for contract, quality and ethnic monitoring

To direct the work of any dental nurse providing chairside assistance.

To give practical instruction to trainee dental nurses while undertaking clinical work.

To undertake other duties to meet the changing needs and priorities of the Special Care Dental Service, as determined by your manager and in accordance with the grade of the post.

To monitor and maintain stock and adequate supplies necessary for the service

Clinical Governance

Have an active role in the dental department’s clinical governance activity and clinical audit.

Understand the legislative framework governing the delivery of oral health care in England.

Demonstrate a professional clinical approach including participation in appraisal, peer review, clinical audit and continuing professional development activities.

To undertake relevant postgraduate activity as agreed with the Clinical Lead.

To minimise the risks by following and developing systems of safe working within the dental service  following Health and Safety instructions in accordance with Trust procedures within the place of work and to be responsible for your own Health and Safety within the work place.

Individual Responsibilities

The post holder is expected to adhere to Trust policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the requirements of the any professional bodies

attend mandatory training as identified by the Trust

adhere to Trust infection prevention policies, procedures, audits in line with the Health Act 2006, to actively reduce Health Care Associated Infections