A Career in. Clinical Dental Technology

Transcription

1 A Career in Clinical Dental Technology

2 The role and responsibility of the Clinical Dental Technician Clinical Dental Technicians (CDTs) are members of a group of dental care professionals (DCPs) who work as part of the dental team. The main type of work they undertake is in the provision of dentures. A CDT may set up an independent practice but must have the correct protocols in place to enable referral to an appropriately qualified and registered dental professional, should they be faced with a patient whose needs are out with their scope of practice. They specialise in the manufacture and fitting of removable dental appliances directly to patients. Working independently they can provide patients who have no natural teeth with full dentures. They can also provide removable appliances in the form of partial dentures, mouth guards and anti snoring devices under the prescription of a dentist.

3 The role of a Clinical Dental Technician The role of a CDT encompasses: the taking of a detailed dental history and relevant medical history undertaking clinical examinations distinguishing between normal and abnormal consequences of ageing recognising abnormal oral tissues and related underlying structures and making appropriate referrals to a dental professional taking and processing radiographs and other images related to providing removable dental appliances performing technical and clinical procedures related to providing removable dental appliances fitting removable appliances provide appropriate advice to patients

4 Training Clinical Dental Technician Training in Scotland is presently available as a part-time course where students attend three days per week for approximately ten months. It begins with an intensive introductory clinical skills course lasting 20 days spread over seven weeks. It contains lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations and exercises on typodonts (dental models). Participants will rehearse the clinical techniques and carry out the laboratory procedures associated with the provision of removable dentures and appliances for patients. The introductory period concludes with a summative assessment of the work-to-date and an oral assessment. Satisfactory completion of this part of the programme is necessary before a student may proceed to the remainder of the course. After completion of the introductory clinical skills course, participants will receive supervised clinical training and face to face teaching on a weekly basis. A range of teaching methods will be used including lectures, seminars, case presentations, written assessments and interval assessments. Participants will be expected to undertake significant additional directed reading and self-directed learning both before and during the course The trainee clinical dental technicians will develop their clinical practise alongside other members of the dental team, comprising consultants, specialists, specialist registrars, postgraduate Masters degree students in prosthodontics, senior house officers, vocational trainees and trainees in dental hygiene and dental therapy. There is an emphasis on the dental team providing high quality care and patient management. During the last three months of the course, each participant will spend one day each week treating patients. Immediately following satisfactory completion of the course, there will be the opportunity for participants to sit the examination for the Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The examination consists of written papers, case presentations and oral examinations. Successful completion of the examination will lead to the award of the Dip. CDT (RCS Ed).

5 The entry requirements Applicants must hold a recognised qualification in Dental Technology and be registered as a Dental Technician with the General Dental Council. Extensive current experience in removable prosthetic dental technology is a further requirement. Positive and recent changes to the profession Compulsory Registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) Clinical Dental Technicians in training will already be GDC registrants as Dental Technicians. Registration must be maintained during training.

6 General Dental Council Ethical Standards The General Dental Council aims to protect patients within the United Kingdom by regulating dental professionals, assuring the quality of dental education and setting standards for conduct that all dental professionals must adhere to. For more information on the GDC, access their website at The GDC require that all registered DCPs complete at least 150 hours of Continued Professional Development (CPD) every five years to maintain registration. Of these, 50 must be verifiable CPD in specific subjects. 50 Hours Verifiable CPD Medical Emergencies 10 Hours per cycle Complaints Handling Radiography and Protection 5 Hours per cycle Legal and Ethical Issues Decontamination 5 Hours per cycle Compulsory CPD provides evidence that DCPs : knowledge is up to date and relevant to their practice, professional performance is up to the standards needed to maintain registration, behaviour meets the standards set out in the GDC s guidance Standards for Dental Professionals.

7 Contact details The following regional contacts can provide information on training and development opportunities for DCPs in your area. Aberdeen Dental Education Centre Argyll House Foresterhill Cornhill Road Aberdeen AB25 2ZR T F E caroline.taylor@nes.scot.nhs.uk Dental Office NHS Education for Scotland The Centre for Health Science Old Perth Road Inverness IV2 3JH T F E Teresa.Ross@nes.scot.nhs.uk Edinburgh Postgraduate Dental Institute Fourth floor, Lauriston Building Lauriston Place Edinburgh EH3 9HA T F E liz.hutchison@nes.scot.nhs.uk West of Scotland Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education 1st Floor Clifton House Clifton Place Glasgow G3 7LD T F E margaret.saunderson@nes.scot.nhs.uk Dundee Dental Education Centre Frankland Building Smalls Wynd Perth Road Dundee DD1 4HN T F E anne.crowe@nes.scot.nhs.uk

8 Published by NHS Education for Scotland Floor 5, Thistle House 91 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5HE Tel: Fax: