Candidate name: Simona Camelia Sivu

Date: 23/07/2016
College: South London Academy

ASSIGNMENT 302
1.1 Explan what the roles and responsabilities of a dental nurse are

Dental nurses work along-side dentists assisting in the care of patients

including anything from a simple check up to advanced specialist treatment. It
is an important responsibility of the dental nurse to put people at ease and help
them feel comfortable and relaxed during their visit.
Dental nurses also provide advice and give instruction to patients helping
them to improve their oral hygiene. Other responsabilities include updating
notes for the patients records, preparing a range of dental materials for fillings
and impression taking, processing X-rays, sterilising instruments and providing
chair side support to the dentist and making sure health and safety standards in
the surgery are maintained.
The dental nurse needs to be able to communicate with:
- patients in a polite and confident manner and make them feel at ease
- careers who come with patients in a polite clear and confident manner and
also disclose the information that only patient wants them know
- colleagues in a professional and confident manner
- visitors to the dental practice in a professional manner
- other healthcare professionals, the receptionist regarding patients
appointments and information, the lab and technicians regarding patients lab
work and impressions and the date that the work will be back
- the hygienist if they are working with them regarding patients oral hygiene
instruction and treatment
- with all the different types of communication with people the dental nurse
will use various methods of communication emails, letters, verbal

communication, telephone conversations, text messages and in some cases

social media and the internet.
The dental nurse also need to maintain the dental records of the patients
whether they are using a computerised system or the hand written paper notes.
These must all be accurate when completing the patients charting or medical
history, completed in black ink and be legible. There must be no personal
reference to the patient and no judgements made about the patient and also must
be donein line with the data protection act. No information regarding the
patients must be disclosed to any person without the patients permission or
consent.
The dental nurse needs to:
-ensure an adequate supply of stock in both the surgery and stock cupboard of
materials, instruments, sundries and also X-rays
- keep a stock control of dental burs and disposable items, all this itemsneed to
have a stock control and a stock rotation system.
The dental nurse must be able to work with others and have team work
and work in a team (dental nurse, receptionist, dentist, laboratory technician,
hygienist) and also with external agencies (health authorities, corporate dental
practice, dental hospitals, community dentists, care homes, dental recruitment
agencies and GDC)
The dental nurse must apply safe working practices, comply with Health
and Safety at Work Act 1974, RIDDOR and COSHH, Manual Handling, Fire
Safety, Emergency First Aid, Radiation and X-rays.
The dental nurse need to ensure safe transportation of instruments,
sterilisation of all equipment, safe guarding of all vulnerable people, safe use of
materials and all equipment, safe disposal of all types of waste.
The dental nurse :
-must take responsabilities for their own actions
-need to be professional at all times
- must be registered with the GDC or if they are in training they must be
on a recognised and GDC approved training course.

The dental nurse must treat all patients and colleagues with dignity and
respect.
The qualified dental nurse must complete continuing professional
development through their registration with the GDC and keep an accurate
record of all CPD completed.

1.2 Explain the essential attributes of a dental nurse

The attributes of the dental nurse are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Ability to communicate
Intelligence
Ability to show initiative
Friendliness
Sense of loyalty and responsibility
Awareness that the first priority in the dental practice is the patient
Professional
Trustworthy
Appearance and manner of the dental nurse

The dental nurse should be smartly dressed in a clean pressed uniform, hair
should be clean and short or tied up, must not wear jewellery, make up should
be minimal and professional looking, nails should be short with no nail polish or
any false nails, shoes should be leather and closed.
The dental nurse should be calm and courteous and have a sympathetic
manner, friendly and cheerful disposition, have an alert mind, good
concentration and attention to detail.
All dental nurses with their attitude to work need to:
-put the patients interest first
-respect patients dignity and choices
-protect patients confidential information
-co-operate with other members of the dental team and other
healthcare colleagues in the interest of patients
-maintain their professional knowledge and competence
-be trustworthy

1.3 You need to summarise the professional standards for dental care
professionals (GDC)
The GDC has developed a new set of standards that effect all dental
professionals The standards atate. The document sets out the standards of
conduct, performance and ethics that govern you as a dental professional. It
specifies the principles, standards and guidance which apply to all members of
the dental team and it also sets out what patients can expect from their dental
professionals.
There are nine standards and these apply to all the dental team:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Put patient interest first

Communicate effectively with patients
Obtain valid consent
Maintain and protect patients information
Have a clear and effective complaints procedure
Work with colleagues is a way that is in patients best interests
Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and
skills
8. Raise concerns if patients are at risk
9. Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients confidence in
you and the dental professional

1.4 What are the organisational and legal requirements which apply
to the role of a dental nurse
The organisational and legal requirements which apply to the role of the
dental nurse is that you follow all the dental practices policies that they have on
health and safety, cross infection, radiography and radiation, materials and
equipment, equality and diversity, safeguarding vulnerable people and the care
quality commission (CQC).
The legal requirement are to abide by the dentist act, health and safety at
work act, manual handling, emergency first aid, data protection.

1.5 Explain how a dental nurse must work within professional

boundaries

The dental nurse should work within the professional boundaries by

practicing safely and effectively and making the quality of patients care first
concern. It is also important to keep the patient information confidential and to
respect their dignity. As well is important to work effectively with other team
members in the dental team, to be trustworthy and to maintain appropriate
boundaries in relationships with patients.

1.6 Explain the responsibilities of a dental nurse to safeguarding

patients
The dental nurse must take the appropriate action if necessary if concerns
are raised over the abuse of children and vulnerable adults; they should contact
the relevant authorities concern (social services, police, child line); they must
also know the correct way to refer their concerns because appropriate training is
given to all members of staff.

1.7 Explain the potential consequences of unprofessional behaviour

on:
a) The professional status of dental nurse
b) The public
c) The reputation of the employer

a) The registered professional status of a dental nurse could be taken away by

the GDC because of unprofessional behaviour. This could consist of fraud,
alchol abuse, drug abuse, theft, unprofessional behaviour towards patients, not
renewing the registration and still working.
The dental nurse will be reported to the GDC for investigation of conduct
and fitness to practice, a hearing will take place then and the final result would
include deregistration or suspension for a period of time.
b) The dental nurse needs to accept thet inappropriate behaviour with patients is
inacceptable. There are set boundaries that should not be crossed. Publishing

anything that effects the public or patient on social media sites should not be
under taken and not to friend any of patients on social media websites.
c) The dental nurse must not make any disparaging remarks about another
member of the dental teamwith patients or other members of staff and should
also not write any articles for magazines or papers if it will cause a conflict of
interest or embarrassment to the employer.

1.8 Explain the procedure for raising concerns and whistleblowing in

the workplace.
The dental nurse has a duty to protect patients and the publics safety. All
dental professionals have a professional responsibility to speak up if they
witness treatment or behaviour which poses a risk to patients or colleagues. The
dental nurse should take immediate or prompt action, protect patient
confidentiality, keep an accurate record of concerns and actions taken.
The dental nurse should follow the workplaces whistle blowing policy or
local safeguarding procedures, raise the concern internally keeping a clear
wrriten record of the concerns and any steps which it has taken, escalating the
concern internally, escalating the concern to a regulator, raising or escalating the
concern externally- going public.

2.1 Summarise the staffing model within the dental practice

The staff model in a dental practice will vary in the different types of
dental practice whether they are a corporate chain of dental practices or a small
dental practice that is either a private or NHS dental practice or a combination
of the two.

Corporate
Managing director : 1) HR Department
Finance Department
2) Marketing Department
Admin Department

1) HR Department and Finance Department :

a) Principal Dentist
Specialist Dentist
Asociate Dentists
b) Practice Manager
Secretary
2) Marketing Department and Admin Department
- Head Dental Nurse
- Qualified Dental Nurse
- Trainee Dental Nurse
- Cleaners

NHS or Private Dental Practice

Principle dentist, Asociate Dentist, Vocational Trainee:
1) Practice Manager - Head Dental Nurse
-Qualified Dental Nurse

2) Receptionist Trainee Dental Nurse

2.2 Explain the types of funding for dental practices

The types of funding in dental practice are private or NHS funding
The private dental practice will have health plans that patients purchase to
cover treatment and each plan will vary according to the cost of the cover that
patients want to purchse. Few companies that supply these plans are BUPA,
Denplan, Boots, AXA PPP.

The NHS funding is drawn down form the government these are called
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGS). The three bands of funding for NHS
treatment are:
1) Band 1 covers examination, diagnosis, x-rays, advice on how to
prevent, scale and polish, application of fluoride
2) Band 2 covers Band 1 plus further treatment such as fillings, root
canal work or removal teeth
3) Band 3 everything in Band 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures and
bridges.

Each dentist will have Universal Dental Activity (UDA). These are
allocated to catchment areas for the dentist to complete treatments for patients
and these are purchased of the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGS)

2.3 Explain the legal and ethical issues associated with managing a dental
practice
The practice must be managed according to the GDC standards, the
dentist Act, health and safety legislation, cross infection legislation, radiography
legislation, CQC visits.

- Patient autonomy- the right to make their own decisions regarding

treatment
- Nonmaleficience- a dentist must not cause unnecessary harm to patient
-a dentist must carry through all treatment till the end
- protect de health of the patient
- Staff must avoid interpersonal relationship
- Beneficience promoting or doing good
- Offer free or discounted treatment to the needy
- Report investigative findings to promote or safeguard the health of the
general public
- Reporting systems of any errors and abnomalitie

2.4 Explain the ergonomics within a dental practice

Dentistry is a social interaction between helper and recipient in their
limited job setting and with personal characteristics. A healthy dentist is one of
the most important component in a successful dental practice.
The problems can be avoided by increasing awareness of the postures
used during work, redesigning the workstation to promote neutral positions,
examining the impact of instrument use on upper extremity pain, and following
healthy work practices to reduce the stress of dental work on the practitioners
body. Recently, Ergonomics has become a popular term. The term has been
used with most professions but increasingly in the dental profession. It is a
discipline that studies workers and their relationship to their occupational
environment. This includes many different concepts such as, how dentists
position themselves and their patients, how they utilize equipment, how work
areas are designed and how all of this impact the health of dentists.
Importance of working posture:
The elements of an improper workstation setup force the dental
practitioner to assume many harmful postures when performing various
procedures on the patient. These positions put pressure on nerves and blood
vessels, cause excessive strain on muscles, decrease circulation and cause wear
and tear on the joint structures.

Working With Good Posture :

(1) Maintain an erect posture: by positioning chair close to the patient,
one can minimize forward bending or excessive leaning over the patient. Place
feet flat on the floor to promote a neutral or anterior tilt to your pelvis, which
keeps back aligned and promotes the natural curvatures of back.
(2) Use an adjustable chair with lumbar, thoracic and arm support. A
good chair is essential for maintaining good posture. A chair should have
important features like, adjustable height, width, tilt, backrest, seat pan and
armrests, because in most dental offices, many people of different sizes use the
same workstation.
(3) Work close to your body: Position the chair close to the patient and
position the instrument tray close to the chair. This way, dentist does not have to
overextend himself to reach the patient or instruments, putting excessive stress
on back, shoulders and arms.
(4) Minimize excessive wrist movements: Try to keep them in a neutral
position palms facing each other, shoulder width apart with wrists straight,
which puts wrist muscles and tendons in a much better relationship to perform
the work.
(5) Avoid excessive finger movements: When one can combine the
excessive forces needed to hold the instruments with the amount of repetitions
that he/she can perform each day, one can see the tremendous toll that this takes
on the small muscles of fingers. Retraining of shoulders and arms to position
hands rather than making the small, forceful movements with fingers.
(6) Alternate work positions between sitting, standing and side of patient:
Switching positions allows certain muscles to relax while shifting the stress
onto other muscles and increasing your circulation. Allow each side of your
body to share the stress rather than performing the same motion in the same way
which causes cumulative trauma in the overused side.
(7) Adjust the height of the chair and the patients chair to a comfortable
level: If dentists chair is too low and the patients chair is too high, this causes
elevation of shoulders and can lead to neck problems and can pinch nerves.
Alternately, if dentists chair is too high and the patients chair is too low, flexion
of neck down and bend wrists back to compensate can lead to neck and hand
problems.

(8) Consider horizontal patient positioning: If workstation allows the

patient to recline into a horizontal position, it will allow a dentist to sit above
the patients head with good ergonomic posture and he can use each arm equally
in more natural position.
(9) Check the placement of the adjustable light: Position the adjustable
light to avoid strain on the neck
(10) Check the temperature in the room: Temperature of workspace
should not be too cold because this will decrease the circulation and blood flow
of extremities.

2.5 Explain the role of the dental team

The role of the dental team is to make sure the patient is safe and well
care for during their treatment and everything goes as it should.
In dental practice is very important the professional appearance of the
dental team, their attitude, and their passion for being an outstanding caregiver
to the patients they serve.
The receptionist will make sure the appointment is booked correctly. The
dental nurse to greet the patient and make them feel at ease and make their
treatment go smoothly. The dentist to provide the correct treatment.

2.6 Explain how safe, high quality care can be achieved by

a) the contribution of team members
b) team work
c) observing the operator
Good dental care is delivered by a dental team. The quality of teamwork
is closely linked to the quality of care the team provides. All members of the

dental team contribute to the patients experience of dental treatment, and all
have a role to play in making the best possible contribution to patient care.
The dental team is the group of people who together provide care for a
patient. Teamwork means working together to provide good-quality dental
care. Dental teams can take many different forms, depending on the needs of
the patient. The dental team is not just limited to dental professionals
working together in the same practice.