Dental Therapist

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm, at Pennfields Medical Centre and Pendeford Health Centre

To work flexibly within a dental team providing high quality dental care, as prescribed by a registered dentist, for a wide spectrum of patients including adults, children, patients with special needs medically compromised patients and hard to reach groups.

To undertake clinical duties within their scope of practice to support the on-going development of the service, to meet the needs of the local population and provide a true Special Care Dentistry.

Communicate with a range of patients and their families on individual clinical issues and communicate with all members of the clinical team and peers in an appropriate way and also with other health and social care professionals involved in the care of patients.

The post holder will ensure his or her own Continuing Professional Development is maintained.

The post holder will be required to work in the specialist clinical disciplines of Special Care Dental.

To supervise trainee and unqualified staff, as required, in the department.

To Work within codes of practice and professional guidelines.

To be accountable for own professional actions under General Dental Council guidelines

To ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organisational and departmental objectives

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 disabilites

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 (eg 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

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Essential