Certificate of competence in fluoride application (CPD-HULL19JAN17)

This course is mapped to the COPDEND Standards for Dental Educators 2013 and the General Dental Council Standards for Education (2015).

It is designed to give Dental Nurses the skills and knowledge required by dental nurses working in primary general dental practices to apply fluoride varnish products as prescribed by appropriately registered practitioners for individualised oral health care plans.

It  intends to address skills and knowledge appropriate for health workers whose work roles may require the application of fluoride varnish in accordance with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements and which follows the General Dental Councils Scope of Practice as an extended duty for dental nurses.

Please note the following:

• The practical skills for this competency will be achieved through the support, training, advice and observation from a GDC registered Dentist or Hygiene Therapist who will act as the Dental Nurse work-based clinical supervisor.
• The clinical supervisor will be responsible for signing the work-based logbook and ensuring that the applicant is safe to practice. The work-based logbook, containing ten case studies, must be brought to the seond session for verification of clinical competency.
• Dental Nurse applicants must ensure they have personal, employer or Crown indeminity in place to undertake this course and be up to date with basic life support training. You may be required to produce this evidence upon request.
• The Certificate of Competence in Fluoride Application will be issued subject to satisfactory completion of the work-based logbook and theoretical summative knowledge assessments.
• Both sessions MUST be attended.
• The work-based logbook MUST be completed by the second course session date.
• The course Tutors reserve the right to withhold a Certificate of Competence if it is deemed that the appropriate level of competence necessary was not achieved.
• Any false declarations of competence and experience will be viewed as very serious and may be referred to the dental regulator.

Mandatory: Dental Nurse

To provide theoretical knowledge and the practical skills (achieved through a work-based logbook under the supervision of a clinical supervisor) required for the candidates to competently apply topical fluoride to children and adult patients on the prescription from a dentist.

By the end of the course the candidates will be able to;

• Explain the aetiology of dental caries and describe the mechanisms of fluoride in caries prevention
• Describe GDC ‘Standards for the Dental Team’ and relate it to their role in patient care
• Exhibit knowledge and understanding of the process and procedure of topical fluoride application through the work-based logbook
• Demonstrate competence in the procedure of topical fluoride application for adults and children, achieved through direct observation from the work-based Mentor
• Complete any written work as directed by the course Tutors and complete the work-based logbook containing ten case studies prior to the second course session.