Job responsibilities
1.
JOB DETAILS
Job
Title: Dental Technician (Orthodontics)
Reports
to: Chief Technician
Band:
5
Department:
Dental Production Laboratories
Location:
Leeds Dental Institute
AfC
Job No: 860a
2.
JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY
Support
the work of the relevant technical department in the effective and timely
production of custom made medical devices and other technical work including:
(Conservation
Posts) a range of single crown & bridge units, post & cores,
temporary units, bite raisers, splints, study models, Denar articulations and
diagnostic wax-up units for clinical treatment planning, plus some of the
more complex crown and bridge work as appropriate for own development.
(Prosthodontic
Posts) a range of removable full and partial acrylic and metal based
dentures, repairs, relines, additions, bite raisers, splints, study models
and articulations. May also include also some of the more complex
prosthodontic work as appropriate for own development.
(Orthodontic
posts) a range of removable appliances, immediate retainers, vacuum formed
appliances, bite raisers, splints, study models and repairs, plus some of the
more complex orthodontic work as appropriate for own development.
To
develop own skills, knowledge and experience within dental technology and to
keep abreast of new and developing technologies. An example of this is in the
use of Cad-Cam technology which is increasingly being used with in our
production workflows.
Customer
base is approximately 470 undergraduate dental students and approximately 100
postgraduate students and clinical staff, within several clinical
specialities including Conservation, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics,
Periodontology, Childrens, Acute Care, and Sedation. Work load and type may
vary throughout the year depending upon academic and clinical requirements
and trends and a flexible approach will be required.
3.
ORGANISATIONAL CHART
4.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
To
provide technical support in the laboratory to major specialised services,
producing a range of dental technical work and some specialised work as
required.
To
attend appropriate departmental meetings as required
To
ensure the equipment used within the laboratory is in safe working order,
reporting defects to the Head of technical services and / or LDI Workshop.
To
partake in the routine maintenance of laboratory equipment (eg replacing dust
filters, cleaning sand blasters etc) and keep personal work areas clean and
tidy.
To
comply with the requirements of the Medical Devices Directive within the
Orthodontic Laboratory, ensuring appropriate quality records are kept and
procedures adhered to.
To
follow Health and Safety standards in all areas of the dental laboratory,
where all technical staff use a range of potentially hazardous materials and
equipment and may encounter highly unpleasant fumes and body fluids.
To
undertake appropriate training and participate in regular appraisals to:
maintain
and develop skills and knowledge necessary for the job
ensure
that all statutory requirements in respect of Continuing Professional
Development are satisfied.
5.
THE LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values
are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values
Additionally
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
The
post holder will be required to develop and maintain good working
relationships with all staff and students, providing a professional,
efficient and effective service to all customers of the Dental Laboratories
6.
WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of
Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across
West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible
care for our patients.
By
bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West
Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving
forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that
change.
WYAAT
is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care
Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The
Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and
wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that
ambition.
7.
INFECTION CONTROL
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
8.
HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals
NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by
following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting
incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system
9.
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
The
jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are
staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of
their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion
etc.
10.
TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory
training required for the role.
11.
COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The
post-holder can expect to liaise daily with all members of the dental
laboratory staff group (shown on the organisational chart). There will also
be regular contact with dental clinical staff, students, tutors and nurses.
Occasionally there may be a requirement to communicate with other staff of
the Dental Hospital such as maintenance staff, porters, domestic or admin
staff.
Methods
of communication will predominantly involve face to face discussion and
written / printed documentation but may also include other media including
e-mail, telephone, etc.
12.
SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS
i)
PHYSICAL EFFORT: The role involves a very high degree of manual dexterity and
hand to eye co-ordination. The post holder is responsible for producing
custom- made dental appliances many of which are very intricate in their
nature for example the carving of individual teeth in wax , working with
delicate precision attachments and implant components or manipulating fine
wires to make clasps and springs for dental appliances, all of which also
requires a high degree of accuracy. This element of the job will occur for
several hours each day, usually whilst sitting which can have a detrimental
effect in terms of neck and back discomfort or pain and other related
postural problems. Additionally the nature of this work often gives rise to
eye strain and discomfort.
Other
aspects of the role involve standing for up to an hour at a time whilst
casting dental impressions and other plaster work.
ii)
MENTAL EFFORT: The intricacy and accuracy of the work requires periods of
intense concentration on a daily basis, usually for up to a half of the
working day.
Many
of the appliances made by the post holder are non-routine and require
detailed planning and consideration with regards to the design. The majority
of appliances require discussion between the post holder and the dental
clinician or clinical undergraduate, who, as a trainee dentist is reliant on
the expertise and advice of the post holder to ensure that the appropriate
information is recorded when the patient is present.
Regular
interruptions to work from clinical staff, nurses and reception staff are the
norm.
iii)
EMOTIONAL EFFORT: Generally, emotional effort is rare. The role involves
occasional contact with patients, some of whom have had traumatic or surgical
loss of dental or facial tissue. The extent to which this may affect the post
holder is a matter of conjecture.
iv)
WORKING CONDITIONS: Frequent regular use of a range of potentially hazardous
materials including acids, methyl methacrylate and other solvents and may
encounter highly unpleasant dust and fumes.
Also
handles dental impressions and other components on a daily basis which may be
contaminated with body fluids including blood and saliva.
Frequent
regular use of high speed rotating cutting and grinding instruments and
machinery and also metal melting and casting equipment.
All
risks are minimised by strict Health and Safety procedures which includes the
need to wear full face visors, dust masks and gloves often for several hours
each day. This prolonged use of PPE can be restrictive making working
conditions less comfortable.
