Dental core training in community dental services

Abstract

Community dental services (CDS) provide dental treatment for patients who cannot gain access or have treatment with their general dental practitioner. This includes groups of patients who are dentally phobic, medically compromised, or with physical or learning disabilities.

This paper provides insight into the experience and the challenges of working in CDS as a dental core trainee (DCT). The post involves an equal split in the management of paediatric and special care dental patients.

Patients seen in CDS can be split into cohorts such as paediatric, special care adults, dental anxious and others. Case discussions throughout the paper will illustrate commonly seen scenarios and exemplify patient management pathways though the service.

NHS England Education provide training for DCTs through study days which focus on dental disciplines specific to their post.

Key points

• Community dental services (CDS) provide dental treatment for many groups of patients who struggle to access general dental services. These patients may be adults or children who have learning disabilities, are dentally phobic, or have complex medical histories.

• This paper focuses on the experience, learning points and challenges overcome by a dental core trainee during their year-long post within CDS (South Tyneside and Sunderland Trust Hospitals).

• Skills and knowledge required to work at the level of a community dental officer is vast and multifaceted, however, it is rewarding sector of dentistry. Training posts within CDS enriches the skill set of the dentist, in turn improving the standard of care provided by the dental workforce.