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.
Duration: 17 months
The apprentice will attend college classes in person, or remotely, for a full day every week and will also receive one-to-one support in the workplace with a dedicated Learning and Skills Coach.
The apprentice will complete an End Point Assessment with the awarding body NCFE which consists of three discrete assessment methods.
Assessment method 1: MCQ exam
Assessment method 2: Observation of practice
Assessment method 3: Professional discussionFor Level 4 apprenticeships, the College only accepts applicants with a grade 4 or above in both English or mathematics. However, employers set their own recruitment criteria and, in many cases, require applicants to hold a grade 4 or above in both subjects as part of their entry requirements.
Positive Futures is a set of essential qualities, embedded throughout your study programme, that we seek to develop in all students:
- Commitment
- Collaboration
- Confidence
- Resilience
You will also engage in the Positive Futures Careers Programme, developing key employability skills through a diverse range of activities including work placements, volunteering, employer talks, industry study visits and employment and university fairs.
As a Bury College student you will have access to a wide range of enrichment opportunities which will contribute to your personal growth and development and support your academic studies.
These may include:
- Art Club
- Chess Club
- Dance, Drama and Singing Workshops
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Gaming Hub
- Music Club
- Pride Club
- Student Ambassador Scheme
- A wide range of sport including Badminton, Cricket, Football, Fitness Training, Nerf, Netball, Volleyball and Table Tennis.
Please Note: We attempt to ensure that all information contained within this website is correct and up-to-date. However, some details may change as we review and update our provision. Although every effort is made to provide the teaching, examination, assessment and other services detailed on this website and in our other publications, Bury College cannot guarantee the provision of such programmes, services, facilities and fees. Bury College reserves the right to amend, withdraw, alter or amalgamate any of the courses, locations and facilities detailed within at any time. Should circumstances require such amendments, Bury College undertakes to use all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to those services and most importantly to students.
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