Dental Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

To carry out a comprehensive range of dental care as prescribed by a referring dental surgeon which falls within the legal remit set by the GDC to priority groups including children and adults with a wide variety of special care needs.

The successful post-holder will work as an autonomous practitioner operating within the codes of practice and professional guidelines as laid down by the GDC, with the responsibility to assess and analyse a range of options in the changing circumstances of the patient and to take appropriate action within the prescribed treatment plan.

Key Working Relationships

• Patients, their relatives and carers
• Community Dental Service
• Senior Community Dentists
• Community Dentists
• Oral Health Promotion
• Dental Nurses
• Administration Staff
• Other dental, health and social care professionals

3. Nature of the Service

The Community Dental Service provides dental care for identified client groups and specialises in the provision of dental treatment for patients with specific needs. These specific needs may include patients with physical and mental disability or impairment, patients with complex medical needs, patients requiring anxiety management and/or treatment with conscious sedation, patients with urgent and immediate dental needs who are unable to access NHS dental care in the GDS.

Care is provided from 12 community dental clinics across Staffordshire,

The Community Dental Service team comprises around 100 staff including the following

• Clinical Director Dental Services
• Senior Dentists
• Dentists
• Dental Therapists and Hygienists
• Senior Dental Nurses
• Dental Nurses
• Service support managers
• Receptionists
• Admin support

This post will include travelling and flexible team working across various clinics and in domiciliary settings as necessary.

4. Organisation Chart

5. Key Responsibilities/Duties

1

To carry out a comprehensive range of dental care on referral from a prescribing dentist which falls within the legal remit set by the GDC, and according to the needs of the service, to priority groups including children and adults with a wide variety of special care needs. This includes:

• Routine fillings in both adult and childrens teeth (including the treatment of root caries) including the checking and adjustment of occlusion.
• Scaling, polishing and root surface debridement of teeth.
• Fissure sealing of teeth.
• Administration of local anaesthetics by infiltration and/or block injection under prescription of a Dentist.
• Extraction of deciduous teeth.
• Pulp therapy treatment on deciduous teeth.
• Preparation and fitting of preformed crowns on deciduous teeth.
• Re-cementing of Crowns.
• Taking dental impressions.
• Take dental radiographs in line with ionising radiation regulations.

Record indices and monitor levels of disease.

Removing excess cement using instruments which may include rotary instruments.

Treatment of patients under conscious inhalation sedation.

To provide dental health education and preventive advice on a one to one basis and to then develop a home care plan for the individual patient to maintain oral health.

Application of Fluoride Varnish.

Providing dental health education on a one to one basis or in a group situation.

2

To provide for the specific needs of all disadvantaged groups and ethnic minorities, residing in the local community, in accordance with current service principles, policies and standards.

3

Working with the above groups to gain co-operation through motivation, empathy, persuasion and negotiation to achieve the clinical outcome prescribed by the dental practitioner

4

To maintain professional standards in the care and treatment of patients and participate in clinical governance procedures to ensure best practice.

5

Develop close working relationships with other dental and healthcare professionals, care staff and families to improve dental health within the community and promote the role of the Community Dental Service.

6

To actively participate in oral health promotion activities.

7

To attend and actively participate in peer group, staff and other service meetings as required

8

To be prepared to work in any clinic or other setting that is appropriate to the need of the Community Dental Service.

9

To provide urgent dental care where necessary subject to the approval of a registered dentist.

10

Participate in audit requirements as and when appropriate.

11

To assess and monitor patients for possible wider healthand social issues including: safeguarding; smoking; diet; and take appropriate action in accordance with GDC and trust policies.

12

Liaise with patients, carers, prescribing dentist and appropriate agencies as necessary, professionally, discretely and tactfully.

13

Assist and support colleagues in delivering ongoing developments within the dental services.

14

Directly supervise the work of the Dental Nurse in the surgery environment.

Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

• Full registration with general dental council

Qualifications

Essential

• Appropriate qualification for role

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of NHS dentistry

Desirable

• Previous CDS experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cross Street Clinic Burton-on-Trent - And other sites

Cross Street

Burton-on-Trent

DE14 1EG

Employer's website

https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)