Dental Therapist in Wolverhampton

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
• Experience dental anxiety
• Have complex medical conditions
• Have physical disabilities
• Have learning disabilities
• Experience mental ill-health or live with mental health conditions
• Are socially excluded and unable to access dental care in the General Dental Service (e.g. 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 patients 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 using the R4 dental management system and other relevant digital platforms.
• 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 trusts 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 departments 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 workplace.

Individual Responsibilities

• The post holder is expected to adhere to Trust policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the requirements of 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.