Band 7 Staff Dental Hygienist

Job responsibilities

Permitted duties of the Dental Hygienist:

1. Education of patients on the causes and prevention of periodontal diseases and dental caries.

2. Identification of risk factors for the dental diseases, including medical and social risk factors and the provision of appropriate counselling advice, including:-

Medical history

Diet analysis and nutritional guidance

Advice in the use of fluoride agents

The benefits of smoking cessation and accessing cessation services

3. Motivate patients to maintain a high standard of oral hygiene.

4. Monitor patients progress using appropriate indices:-

Bleeding and plaque indices

Detailed pocket charting

Mobility index

Furcation index

5. Perform supra- and subgingival scaling of teeth including polishing, allowing removal of hard and soft deposits and stains.

6. The provision of comprehensive specialist periodontal invasive root debridement therapy using Gracey area curettes and high-speed ultrasonic device.

7. Provision of a thorough prophylaxis which will include the finishing and polishing of restorations.

8. Teach home care procedures for artificial prostheses, e.g., full, or partial dentures and obturators.

9. Provision of oral health advice to both individuals and groups by designing a home care plan in consideration of the individual needs of the patient and liaising with carers of the special needs groups.

10. Selection and application to the teeth of prophylactic materials and medicaments such as topical fluorides.

11. Application of preventative fissure sealants.

12. Administration of local infiltration analgesia.

13. Replacement of crowns with temporary cement in an emergency.

14. Selection of a suitable material and provision of a dental dressing provided the dressed restoration is lost during the course of the hygienists normal treatment.

15. The preparation of orthodontic patients pre-treatment and assessment of their oral care capabilities and motivation for treatment.

16. The care and management of orthodontic patients, including support with oral hygiene compliance and the removal of excess bonding cement using instruments which may include rotary instruments, ultrasonics and sonics after the removal of orthodontic brackets.

17. Taking impressions of patients teeth and jaws.

18. The taking of intraoral and extraoral radiographs, provided core knowledge is maintained according to Trust guidelines.

19. The taking, recording and monitoring of detailed medical histories for all patients, liaising with prescribing dental surgeon and adjusting treatment plans where the medical history is compromised.

20. Administer prophylactic antibiotic cover as necessary to medically compromised patients following a prescription from a registered dentist, and clarification of INR readings.

21. The teaching and supervision of BDS degree students.

22. Communicate treatment requirements and options to patients, parents and carers in order to obtain informed consent.

23. Administration of inferior dental block analgesia under prescription from a Dentist or under a Patient Group Directive (PGD) if trained.

24. Treat patients under conscious sedation if required, provided a dentist remains in the room throughout the treatment.

Whilst the post holder will work to prescription provided by the qualified member of staff, they must exercise their own careful judgement within the scope of the treatment plan and should exercise flexibility in the interpretation of the prescription. The Dental Hygienist is responsible and accountable for his/her own professional actions.

General Duties

1. To be fully conversant with basic first aid and resuscitation techniques, attending regular training.

2. Comply with local rules relating to radiography, IRMER and the Dental Radiographic Quality Assurance Audit Policy.

3. Comply with the departmental and Trust policy on the control of infection.

4. Assess new instruments in terms of performance and feedback evaluations.

5. Adhere to Trust policy on Manual Handling, participating in mandatory training.

6. Actively participate in Team Briefing meetings and peer group reviews.

7. Participate in the training of other grades of Trust staff as required.

8. Participate in activities related to the promotion of quality of service, including schemes for clinical audit and standard setting.

9. Participate in such continuing professional development and training that may be necessary for personal development, as identified jointly with the head of the service.

10. Ensure effective and efficient use of resources.

11. Agree personal objectives related to the delivery of the service. Agree and manage time effectively to ensure that the workload is scheduled and completed on time.

12. Administrative duties include monitoring of referrals and managing appointments directly with patients and reception staff.

13. Monitor personal workload and communicate to clinical lead periodic variations in service requirements

14. Support the clinical team in reviewing services and implementing service developments, proposing changes and innovations

15. Contribute to the development, interpretation, implementation, and review of national and local policies as well as the services policies, procedures and standards

To undertake other duties commensurate with this grade of post in agreement with the relevant line manager.

To minimise the Trusts environmental impact wherever possible, including recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel. Where the role includes the ordering and use of supplies or equipment the post holder will consider the environmental impact of purchases.

Qualifications / training

Essential

• Degree in Dental Hygiene/Therapy
• Compulsory annual registration with the General Dental Council with a specific medical or dental society is advisable
• Personal indemnity insurance
• Current GDC registration.
• Inferior dental nerve block analgesia
• Local infiltration analgesia

Desirable

• Placement of temporary dressings
• Recementing of crowns
• Dental radiography
• Dental impressions

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience in working/dealing with special needs groups including the elderly, young patients, medically compromised patients and those patients with differing abilities and behavior.

Desirable

• Extensive experience in dental software packages.

Skills/knowledge Range and level of skills Depth and extent of knowledge

Essential

• Communication and empathetic skills beyond those required for routine dental care in general dental practice
• Analytical and problem solving skills appropriate to the provision of specialist care in a specialist environment
• Collaborate and interact professionally with individuals
• Maintain knowledge of current dental hygiene practice
• Highly specialist manual dexterity
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative
• Analytical and organisational skills
• Computer literate
• Assessment of own workload to accommodate service need.
• Supervision and direction of dental nurse providing chairside and clerical support.
• Participate in and evaluate audit and research.
• Highly specialist fine manual dexterity.
• Perform accurate specialist diagnostic tests.
• Receive and analyse complex information and determine individual care packages.
• Concentrate for long periods of time.
• Work under pressure and on own initiative.
• Be competent in dealing with emotional and distressing situations and possible verbal aggressive behaviour.
• Literate and numerate.
• Inform practical/policy changes via monthly Team Briefings.
• Instruct and teach BDS degree dental students and evaluate clinical performance.
• Provide counselling and advice to patients, carers and fellow
• Maintain and update theoretical and practical knowledge in order to obtain professional qualifications.
• Familiarity with all policies and procedures determined locally and within the PCT.
• Good knowledge of all dental equipment related to specialty.
• Ability to source knowledge in order to provide clinical care under quality assurance.

Desirable

• Management of patients who have undergone ablative and corrective surgery and those with cleft palate or oro-facial anomalies/disease
• Research performed to International good clinical practice (GCP) standards and maintenance of confidential care record files.
• Knowledge of the specific needs of patients with HIV disease, organ transplants and those with complex dermatological conditions (e.g., Epidermolysis Bullosa) to enable safe practice.
• Knowledge of dental software packages.

Personal qualities

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Professional approach.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Problem-solving skills
• Prioritising and planning skills.
• Commitment to personal development.
• Flexible and responsive to change
• Motivated.
• Empathise with patients/carers/relatives.
• Responsible and accountable for own professional actions.
• Willing to work in other areas of the Hospital in order to accommodate service requirements, as directed by the Head of Department.
• Work with direct supervision and make appropriate clinical decisions.
• Work in confined spaces which may require periods of sitting or standing
• Safe use of specialist dental and dental radiography equipment if required.

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).