Oral health practitioner
Health and science
Level 4 -
Performing a range of oral health preventive procedures which involve working in a patient's mouth.
Reference: OCC0542
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3213/02 Dental hygienists
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Genix Healthcare, Rederick’s Dental, Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust, Bramcote Dental Practice, Bloxham Dental Practice, SCA Group, Family Dental Practice South Norwood, Care Dental Windsor, Westbridge Dental Practice Oxford, Abbey Dental Surgery Slough
Summary
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.
Performing a range of oral health preventive procedures which involve working in a patient's mouth.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Genix Healthcare, Rederick’s Dental, Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust, Bramcote Dental Practice, Bloxham Dental Practice, SCA Group, Family Dental Practice South Norwood, Care Dental Windsor, Westbridge Dental Practice Oxford, Abbey Dental Surgery Slough
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Plan community based schedules and arrange sessions with stakeholders.
Duty D2
Prepare the clinical equipment and records for each session.
Duty D3
Prepare and maintain a clinical environment, infection control and prevention and prepare, mix and handle bio-materials on site –ie in the community setting.
Duty D4
Check people’s mouths to take dental bacterial plaque indices and food debris scores.
Duty D5
Use the dentist’s prescription to apply topical fluoride in the mouth.
Duty D6
Take clinical photographs.
Duty D7
Teach people how to carryout personal care tasks eg assist someone to brush their teeth or keep their mouth clean and fresh.
Duty D8
Carry out general health screening activities eg finger-prick blood tests to check for diabetes or take blood pressure
Duty D9
Offer information, advice and guidance to people about their oral health and how to clean and maintain their teeth, gums and mouth.
Duty D10
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.
Duty D11
Refer people to a dentist or other dental health practitioner as required.
Duty D12
Signpost people to other health professionals.
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
Health and science