Oral health practitioner

Reference Number: ST0542

Details of standard

Typical Job titles:

Oral Health Practitioner , Community Oral Health Educator, Oral Health Champion, Oral Health Ambassador, Oral Health Improvement Lead

Role Profile:

Oral Health Practitioners have a high degree of autonomy and have responsibility for working directly with patients performing a range of oral health preventive procedure which involve working in a patient’s mouth. The Oral Health Practitioner role complements the role of other dental professionals and fits in the dental career structure a higher level than a dental nurse but below a dental hygienist, hygienist / therapist or dentist. Working to the direction of a dentist you will take dental bacterial plaque indices and debris scores, apply fluoride varnish, take clinical photographs, take impressions and carry out tooth brushing in the patient’s mouth. You will prepare and maintain the clinical environment, carry out infection control and prevention procedures, and prepare, mix and handle bio-materials.  Often working alone in the community, you will deliver oral health prevention with patients, deliver oral health education and promotion to the public including clinical preventative advice interventions to targeted groups such as care givers for older people or ante-natal groups. You will provide integrated general, oral health advice and preventative treatments in line with treatment plans to the community your practice serves.  You will work with early years groups, primary and secondary schools, in care homes, in ‘care at home’ situations, in the child and adolescent mental health arena, in hospitals, in general dental practice or other healthcare and community settings to provide services.  This includes brief interventions such as targeted oral health advice to meet the needs of the individual. You will carry out general health screening activities, alongside oral health ones, to measure the holistic health of the individual you are working with eg checking for diabetes, blood tests or taking blood pressure. To become an Oral Health Practitioner, you must already be a dental nurse or other appropriate dental care professional registered with the General Dental Council eg an orthodontic therapist. You will work autonomously, including in people’s mouths, acting within your scope of practice and under referral of a registered clinician eg Dentist, Dental Hygienist or Dental Therapist whilst undertaking dental activities.

Day to day duties:

• work with people of all ages and cognitive abilities
• plan community based schedules and arrange sessions with stakeholders
• prepare the clinical equipment and records for each session
• prepare and maintain a clinical environment, infection control and prevention and prepare, mix and handle bio-materials on site –ie in the community setting
• check people’s mouths to take dental bacterial plaque indices and food debris scores
• use the dentist’s prescription to apply topical fluoride in the mouth
• take clinical photographs
• teach people how to carryout personal care tasks eg assist someone to brush their teeth or keep their mouth clean and fresh
• carry out general health screening activities eg finger-prick blood tests to check for diabetes or take blood pressure
• offer information, advice and guidance to people about their oral health and how to clean and maintain their teeth, gums and mouth.
• give motivational sessions to support behaviour change and motivate people eg to give up tobacco or improve their diet to support their oral health and t their overall health and wellbeing
• refer people to a dentist or other dental health practitioner as required
• signpost people to other health professionals

Entry:

To become an Oral Health Practitioner, you must already be a dental nurse or other appropriate registered dental care professional with the General Dental Council. 

Qualifications:

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to completing the end-point assessment.  For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.  

Progression:

As an Oral Health Practitioner, you may progress later in your career to a Dental Therapist or Dental Hygienist

Values:

You will be trustworthy, caring, honest, responsible, empathetic and committed

Behaviours:

You will treat people with dignity and respect. You will work as part of a team, having the courage to challenge areas of concern and working to evidence based best practice. You will be reliable and consistent, taking responsibility for the integrity of your own actions and completed work.

Level:

4

Duration:

Typically 14 -18 months

Review date:

After 3 years

Crown copyright © 2019. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence