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Apprenticeship training course

Oral health practitioner (level 4)

There are 9 training providers who offer this course. Check if a training provider can deliver this training in the apprentice's work location.

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Information about Oral health practitioner (level 4)

Performing a range of oral health preventive procedures which involve working in a patient's mouth.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • How to apply the legislation, policies and local ways of working related to your role What person centred care, valid consent, duty of care, safeguarding, diversity, equality and inclusion mean and why they are important.
  • Relevant dental oral and craniofacial anatomy and physiology and their application to patient management.
  • The range of normal human structures and functions, with particular reference to dental caries, oral medicine, periodontal disease and dental treatment and how this relates to working in the mouth.
  • A range of preventative oral and general health procedures used in your role. How to select techniques according to the individual’s need.
  • How to adapt your techniques and solve problems to suit individuals .with special requirements, within your area of competence.
  • How to maintain a clinical environment. How to control and prevent infection. The x-rays, photos and records you are required to take and keep.
  • A range of general health screening activities related to your role and the population you work with eg recognising an abnormality and referring appropriately.
  • Normal parameters associated with blood pressure and blood sugar levels. How to carry out physiological measurements and what steps to take if results are outside the norm.
  • How, why and when to take and process finger-prick blood samples.
  • Which other services are available in your area, what they provide and how people can access them.
  • Legislation on prescription-only medicines.
  • The types of medical emergency that may arise and ways to address them.
  • General health systems and be able to review their relationship to oral health using high quality evidence such as research documents.
  • How to outline the basic principles of population health, including demographic, social, UK and international oral health trends; a range of common risk factors.
  • Determinants of health inequalities and how they are measured.
  • Guidelines for best practice including national and local health initiatives.
  • The needs of different patient groups you work with across the age range including those who are nervous, have learning disabilities, have mental health conditions or phobias, require palliative care or have cognitive impairment such as dementia.
  • How diet, nutrition and hydration link with systemic and oral health including obesity.
  • Ways to encourage self-care and motivation.
  • Behaviour change and the theories that underpin models of learning in individuals and groups to change behaviour.
  • Theories and concepts of motivational interviewing; different ways to support behaviour change according to whether you are working with an individual (e.g. in dental surgery) or with carers (in schools, homes or care homes) or on a group basis.
  • A range of methods of communicating with individuals across the age range.
  • How to check you have been understood.
  • Barriers to communication and a range of ways to overcome them.
  • When to refer or escalate if something is outside of your scope of practice.
  • GDC Guidelines for handling complaints.
  • The principles relating to evidence-based approaches to learning, clinical and professional practice and decision making; including using a range of sources of evidence.
  • The consequences of your actions, attitude and behaviour.
  • How to assess and reflect upon your own capabilities and limitations.

Skills

  • Put patient’s interests first, maintaining a caring approach towards them.
  • Treat people with dignity, respecting their choices, gaining valid consent for all treatments and respecting confidentiality.
  • Work autonomously in people’s mouths to take dental bacterial plaque indices and food debris scores.
  • Use a range of personal oral care tools.
  • Autonomously plan practice sessions in the community.
  • Prepare the clinical equipment and records for each session.
  • Prepare and maintain a clinical environment, adhering to infection control and prevention.
  • Prepare, mix and handle bio-materials.
  • Take dental bacterial plaque indices and food debris scores in the mouth of individuals.
  • Select preventative strategies that are appropriate to the individual and adapt appropriately for individuals with special requirements.
  • Undertake general health screening including checking for diabetes, taking blood pressure readings and taking finger-prick blood for blood tests.
  • Refer individuals to other services if necessary.
  • Refer individuals to other services if necessary.
  • Carry out intra and extra oral photography.
  • Recognise and manage medical emergencies.
  • Plan clinical preventative session.
  • Deliver brief clinical preventative advice interventions to targeted groups.
  • Encourage self-care and motivation.
  • Provide oral and general systemic advice e.g. tobacco cessation or diet advice.
  • Prepare, deliver and evaluate oral health messages to groups or individuals.
  • Support individuals and groups to change their behaviour.
  • Provide motivational interviews.
  • Determine and implement strategies for improving oral health in the community.
  • Communicate effectively with and about patients, their representatives and the dental team, and with carers, other healthcare workers or schoolteachers.
  • Escalate any issues when they are outside your scope of practice.
  • Handle complaints effectively and within GDC guidelines.
  • Manage your own time, resources and personal behaviour.
  • Be proactive in your own development, willing to commit to lifelong learning by use of a Personal Development Plan (PDP), personal reflection and continuous improvement.

Behaviours

  • You will treat people with dignity and respect.
  • You will work as part of a team, having the courage to challenge areas of concern and working to evidence based best practice.
  • You will be reliable and consistent, taking responsibility for the integrity of your own actions and completed work.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Health and science
Qualification level
4
Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
Course duration
14 months
Maximum funding
£9,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Community oral health educator
  • Oral health ambassador
  • Oral health champion
  • Oral health improvement lead
  • Oral health practitioner

View more information about Oral health practitioner (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.