The Dental Core Trainee

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Information about being a Dental Core Trainee (DCT) in the Scotland Deanery, including helpful hints, guidelines for working in hospitals, an introduction to the Public Dental Service, and links to training guidance and curriculum.   

Role of the Dental Core Trainee
A patient lying in the dentist's chair, having an examination. Dental check up. A young female dentist wearing blue goves and an eye mask, in blue uniform, examining the teeth.

To ensure you get the most from your Dental Core Training year, improve patient experiences and work well as part of the team, follow these helpful hints.

  • Contribute enthusiastically to the clinical activity in your department / service.
  • Engage with your clinical trainers by asking questions, being flexible in your approach and looking for feedback.
  • Be proactive in your relationship with your Educational Supervisor (ES) by setting up meetings, reviewing your PDP and keeping your Turas Eportfolio up-to-date.
  • Communicate effectively by checking emails, returning phone calls and keeping your team aware of planned or unscheduled absences.
  • Ensure you complete patient admin in a timely fashion, support your colleagues and strive to give the best possible care to your patients.
  • Be prepared to contribute openly to educational events, by participating in discussion during the course and also by giving constructive feedback after.
When Using the Clinical Skills Room
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Dental Core Training Curriculum

It is important to read and be familiar with the Dental Core Training Curriculum

It contains information about the mandatory outcomes, competencies and assessment

It can be found on the Copdend website - click the link in the picture to go to the curriculum

Dental Gold Guide

The Dental Gold Guide has been produced by the UK Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors (COPDEND)

It outlines the Dental Core Training processes 

It can be found on the Copdend website - click the link in the picture to go to the Dental Gold Guide

Guidelines for DCTs in Oral and Maxillofacial units
decorative front page of pdf file Joint Guidelines for Dental Core Training in Hospitals. Text of the document  is boardered by the COPDEND logo on the left and the British association of oral and maxillofacial surgeons logo on the right

Guidelines for DCTs in Oral and Maxillofacial units

Public Dental Service

The Public Dental Service (PDS), known as the Community Dental Service in other parts of the UK, provides specialised and specialist care for children and adults where carrying out treatment in a General Dental Practice setting may not be appropriate. Examples include the dentally anxious, medically complex, those with a learning disability, the dependent elderly and vulnerable children.

Young woman with cerebral palsy in a wheelchair. At home with her carer. Looking at computer screen, smiling. Using technology to communicate.

•Patients are usually accepted on a referral basis for all or part of a course of treatment. The referrer can be a dentist or another health or social care professional, e.g. GMP, Health Visitor, Social Worker. Patients are usually returned to the referring dental practice for ongoing care, or asked to register with a dental practice if they are unregistered.

•Some patients may be registered with the service on a continuing care basis if there is no realistic chance of them ever being able to receive care in General Dental Practice.

•The PDS also delivers a safety net service for people who do not have a registered dentist and require urgent emergency treatment.

The delivery of oral care by the PDS may be delivered in a variety of  settings including clinics within health centres, dental centres, prisons, special schools and hospitals, as well as care homes and domiciliary care. 

In addition to the delivery of oral health care, the PDS supports a range of oral health improvement initiatives aimed at priority groups whose oral health and access to oral care is poorer than the general population, through Oral Health Improvement Teams. The programmes which are supported by Scottish Government include Childsmile (children), Open Wide (adults with additional support needs), Smile4Life(homeless), Mouth Matters (prison population) and Caring for Smiles (dependent elderly).

The PDS is also involved in the National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) in schools to monitor the oral health of the child population.

decorative A woman in uniform, with a lanyard and identity badge standing outside a building beside a large van with a Childsmile logo on the side.

Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR)

Patients seen in PDS clinics are treated under the SDR, therefore need to have GP17 forms completed and are liable for charges, as in General Dental Practice.

Even for those who may already have had experience of the SDR, there may be items that you are not familiar with and be unsure of how to record shared care. Your educational or clinical supervisor will advise you about this and will help to complete the forms with you if necessary. 

Claims are sent electronically through R4 and prior approval is also required when relevant. R4 is the electronic patient recording system used in the PDS and you will be given training in R4 at the start of your placement.

Click the link in the picture for further information about SDR