Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Orthodontic therapist (integrated) standard?
Knowledge
K1: The General Dental Council scope of practice, your role as an orthodontic therapist and that of others in the dental team, local clinical guidelines and policies
K2: The principles of an evidence-based approach to learning, clinical and professional practice
K3: Ways to maintain your professional knowledge and competence
K4: The principles of clinical decision making and your role in the decision-making process
K5: What is meant by patient-centred care, the importance of safeguarding and your duty of care, the signs of abuse or neglect including local and national systems and ways to raise concerns where appropriate
K6: The scientific principles of medical ionizing radiation and statutory regulations
K7: Current health and safety policy legislation related to your role as an orthodontic therapist
K8: The range of contemporary orthodontic treatment options, their impact, outcomes, limitations and risks
K9: The need for an accurate and current patient history, the importance of each component of the patient assessment process and the needs of different patient groups including children, adults, older people or those with special care requirements throughout the patient care process
K10: The importance of an orthodontist’s s prescription
K11: The cause of malocclusion and its possible impact of a poor bite or malpositioned teeth on medical, psychological and sociological aspects of health.
K12: The potential routes of transmission of infectious agents in dental practice, mechanisms for the prevention of infection, the scientific principles of decontamination and disinfection and their relevance to health and safety
K13: A range of communication methods, including verbal and non-verbal, listening skills and be aware of the barriers to communication
K14: The importance of maintaining confidentiality and protecting all data relating to patients and their treatment
K15: The need to explain and check patients’ and guardians’ understanding of treatments, options, costs and informed consent
K16: How to manage anxiety or challenging behaviour including relevant behavioural change techniques
K17: How to manage lines of communication within your team or with wider healthcare professions
K18: The principles of information governance
K19: The use of a range of communication methods and technologies and their appropriate application in support of clinical practice
K20: The importance of and the need to maintain accurate and current records in accordance with legal and statutory requirements and best practice
K21: The need to treat all patients equally, with respect and dignity, appreciating the importance of patient and guardian choice
K22: Dental, craniofacial anatomy and physiology relevant to orthodontic therapy, the range of normal human structures and functions and the principles that derive from the biomedical, behavioral and materials sciences as they apply to the practice of orthodontic therapy
K23: A range of orthodontic equipment, instruments, materials and appliances such as braces, retainers, headgear, face bows, pliers, archwires, brackets, bands, cements and adhesives including their uses and limitations
K24: The scientific principles underpinning the use of biomaterials and their limitations with emphasis on those used in dentistry
K25: Different types of adhesives and cement, when to use them and how to apply or remove them from teeth
K26: Types of instruments for cleaning and preparing tooth surfaces
K27: A range of orthodontic appliances such as fixed and removable braces and retainers, their use and ways to fit them
K28: Problems associated with orthodontic appliances, how to recognise them and the appropriate action to take
K29: How archwires that fit into appliances affect the patient’s mouth, teeth and overall wellbeing and when to change or repair them
K30: When and why appliances should be removed in accordance with the prescription
K31: The cause of oral disease in relation to dental decay and gum disease and basic facial structure formation with a focus on abnormalities and acute conditions that may arise
K32: The significance of changes in patients reported oral health
K33: A range of common oral health problems and the need for appropriate follow-up care
K34: The principles of preventive care and the importance of providing patients with comprehensive and accurate preventive education and instruction
K35: The role of health promotion, how health promotion strategies are implemented including demographic and social trends and the principles of planning oral health care for communities to meet needs and demands
K36: Ways to encourage self-care and motivation, the health risks of poor diet, substance misuse and substances such as tobacco and alcohol on oral and general health
K37: The need to monitor and review treatment outcomes including when to seek advice
K38: The referral process, the management and organisation of local referral networks
K39: The importance of an appropriate and timely referral
K40: The types of medical emergencies that may occur and ways to deal with them
K41: The risks around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and efficient manner complying with current best practice guidelines
K42: Your own role in relation to the rest of the dental team and to any trainees or students you may supervise including when to escalate and report
K43: The importance of appraisal, training and ongoing review including ways to give and receive feedback
K44: The importance of maintaining your own network of dental professionals, specialists and other stakeholders involved in the care and support of patients
K45: The wider dental and healthcare system you work in
K46: A range of reflective models and how to use them in your own practice and in maintaining your own professional development portfolio
K47: The importance of quality and ways to encourage continual improvement
Skills
S1: Adhere to legal and ethical responsibilities in line with General Dental Council requirements, taking responsibility for the integrity of own actions and completed work recognising the limits of your competence and experience
S2: Identify normal and abnormal facial growth, physical, mental and dental development
S3: Take a patient medical and social history, checking the patient’s level of experience and expectations
S4: Carry out screening for the orthodontic need for treatment either under the direction of an orthodontist or direct to patients
S5: Recognise the early stages of chronic problems with the soft tissues of the mouth
S6: Recognise urgent care problems related to orthodontic treatment and take appropriate action in line with their scope of practice
S7: Implement and perform effective decontamination and infection control procedures
S8: Communicate appropriately, effectively and sensitively
S9: Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
S10: Assess and manage patient anxiety, discomfort or challenging behaviour through effective communication, reassurance and relevant behavioural techniques
S11: Create, update and store contemporaneous patient records
S12: Make effective decisions regarding the care of patients in line with the orthodontist’s treatment plan and in partnership with the patient and their parent/guardian
S13: Put patients’ interests first and act to protect them
S14: Respect patients’ dignity and choices obtaining and documenting valid consent for all treatments and personal care delivery
S15: Take impressions or scans of patient’s teeth as prescribed by the referring practitioner
S16: Use impressions or scans of the teeth to produce study models
S17: Select and use the correct orthodontic equipment, instruments and materials to ensure appropriate and safe orthodontic care of the patient
S18: Clean and prepare tooth surfaces ready for orthodontic treatment
S19: Undertake a basic orthodontic assessment of a patient’s mouth
S20: Fit the brackets and wires which make up braces in accordance with the prescription
S21: Fit, adjust, remove or repair a range of orthodontic appliances that the patient may wear as prescribed by the orthodontist. In the absence of a prescription, be able to make safe removable and fixed appliance components
S22: Make the appliance safe and ensure continuing care is provided as soon as possible
S23: Insert, ligate, remove, trim or repair archwires from appliances under prescription
S24: Remove the brackets and wires which make up appliances and the cement from the tooth surface that has held the bracket to the tooth safely and as prescribed, without causing damage to the tooth surface
S25: Contribute to relevant tests and diagnostic procedures
S26: Apply evidence-based oral health advice including toothbrushing, interdental cleaning, care of braces and removable orthodontic appliances, diet and hydration advice
S27: Encourage and support self-care and motivation providing appropriate advice
S28: Recognise and manage patients with acute oral conditions and know the referral process
S29: Identify where patients’ needs may differ from the treatment plan or prescription and direct patients for advice where appropriate
S30: Work with colleagues in a way that is in the patients’ best interests
S31: Recognise and manage medical emergencies
S32: Take part in appraisal and ongoing review
S33: Co-operate with members of the wider dental or healthcare team, taking responsibility for establishing personal networks
S34: Reflect on own practice, recognising how reflection can be used to continually improve the quality of patient care and professional development
Behaviours
B1: Act in a manner consistent with the GDC standards for the dental team which include communication, professionalism, teamwork and clinical skills
B2: Act in a non-discriminatory manner respecting diversity and upholding the rights, dignity and autonomy of others
Duty 1
DUTY: Work to current best practice for orthodontic therapy and patient care
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K6
K7
S1
B1
B2
Duty 2
DUTY: Work safely and independently in a patient’s mouth in accordance with the orthodontist’s prescription
K8
K9
K10
K11
K12
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
B1
B2
Duty 3
DUTY: Use appropriate communication at all times and through all media
K13
K14
K15
K16
K17
K18
K19
K20
S8
S9
S10
S11
B1
B2
Duty 4
DUTY: Involve patients, parents and guardians in the patient’s care and decision making
K15
K21
S12
S13
S14
B1
B2
Duty 5
DUTY: Take impressions or scans of the teeth
K22
S15
S16
B1
B2
Duty 6
DUTY: Identify, select and use equipment, instruments and materials
K23
S7
S17
B1
B2
Duty 7
DUTY: Clean and prepare tooth surfaces
K24
K25
K26
S18
B1
B2
Duty 8
DUTY: Fit orthodontic appliances
K25
K27
S15
S19
S20
B1
B2
Duty 9
DUTY: Make a patient’s orthodontic appliance safe in the absence of the orthodontist
K28
S21
S22
B1
B2
Duty 10
DUTY: Change or repair archwires inside a patient’s mouth
K29
S23
B1
B2
Duty 11
DUTY: Remove fixed appliances, orthodontic adhesives and cement
K25
K30
S24
B1
B2
Duty 12
DUTY: Provide holistic advice on maintaining oral and general health
K31
K32
K33
K34
K35
K36
S25
S26
S27
B1
B2
Duty 13
DUTY: Seek advice and receive referrals made by other healthcare professionals
K37
K38
K39
S28
S29
S30
B1
B2
Duty 14
DUTY: Recognise and deal with medical emergencies
K40
K41
S31
B1
B2
Duty 15
DUTY: Be a reflective practitioner within the wider dental team
