Dental Therapist | The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Dental Therapist | The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Employer: The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Contract: Contract

Hours: Flexible

Disability Confident: No

Closing Date: 26/06/2026

About this job

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced dental therapist to join the Service on a 12 month fixed term maternity cover basis, 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 high levels of untreated decay, dental anxiety, complex medical conditions, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental ill-health, and socially excluded and hard‑to‑reach groups.
• Provide dental hygiene care to a wide range of patients.
• Plan, develop, implement and evaluate appropriate interventions to prevent disease and promote health for individual patients.
• Obtain a detailed dental history from patients and evaluate their medical history.
• Screen, record and monitor periodontal disease.
• Provide preventive oral care, liaise with dentists over treatment of caries, periodontal disease and tooth wear.
• Perform supragingival and sub‑gingival scaling and root debridement using manual and powered instruments.
• Use appropriate antimicrobial therapy to manage plaque‑related diseases.
• Adjust restored surfaces in relation to periodontal treatment.
• Apply materials such as fluoride and fissure sealants; give smoking cessation advice.
• Prescribe, take, develop and interpret dental radiographs.
• Administer infiltration and inferior dental block anaesthesia.
• Place emergency temporary dressings and crowns.
• Take impressions.
• Identify anatomical features, recognise abnormalities, interpret common pathology and conduct oral cancer screening.
• Refer patients to other healthcare professionals when necessary.
• Place rubber dam.
• Carry out direct restorations on permanent and deciduous teeth.
• Perform pulpotomies on deciduous teeth.
• Extract primary teeth.
• Place pre‑formed crowns on deciduous teeth.
• Plan the delivery of a patient’s care, including administration of inhalational sedation.
• Provide evidence‑based oral health education on a one‑to‑one basis or in a group setting.
• Deliver specific preventive advice on diet, oral hygiene instruction, fluoride use, smoking cessation and alcohol consumption.
• Maintain accurate clinical and statistical records using the R4 dental management system and other relevant digital platforms.
• Identify common medical emergencies and lead the dental team in appropriate first‑line management.
• Ensure health and safety responsibilities are met, including participating in clinical governance, audit, appraisal and continuing professional development activities.
• Supervise trainee dental nurses and provide chairside assistance as required.
• Monitor and maintain stock and supplies necessary for the service.
• Play a role in the annual BASCD Epidemiological Surveys run by Public Health England.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Full registration with the General Dental Council.
• Proven clinical care skills at a high standard.
• Excellent patient management skills and experience with a wide spectrum of patients.
• Ability to work flexibly across multiple sites within Wolverhampton.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.

Other Duties

• Identify, monitor and maintain appropriate supplies for the service.
• Actively participate in health and safety procedures and be responsible for own health and safety within the workplace.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the dental services and to the Trust’s corporate strategies and objectives.

EEO Statement

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We consider all applications without regard to age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, military status or any other protected characteristic.