Special Care Dentistry

Increasingly, the dental and healthcare profession is realising that the type of care and level of treatment offered to vulnerable people needs to be different that offered to other patients.

People, both young and old, can feel vulnerable in a dental environment for a number of reasons. They could have a phobia about dentistry or they may not have visited a dentist for a long time. More importantly, people with disabilities can feel particularly vulnerable. Special Care Dentistry is designed to offer this group of people a level of service and a type of treatment that they can feel comfortable with.

What does the job involve?

Special Care Dentistry is a newly recognised discipline within the dental profession. It focuses on delivering high quality care and treatment to people with conditions that render them mentally, intellectually, emotionally, socially or sensorialy disabled.

Special Care Dentists provide the same treatments and procedures as any other general dental practitioner, within an all-round dental experience that is tailored to this group of people. Practices are adapted and patients are treated in a way that removes pain, anxiety and haste. Special Care Dentists build their people skills so that they care build relationships with patients, their carers and their families, to improve the potential for care and treatment to take place.

What qualifications are required?

Special Care Dentistry only became recognised as a discipline in 2008, and prior to this qualified dentists have benefited from both formal and informal training in this field. By September 2010, Special Care Dentists will have to be registered with the General Dental Council and to be registered, they must hold a Certificate of Completion in Specialist Training

On top of this certificate, you also need the softer skills such as patience, customer care and empathy which will enable you to work effectively with a vulnerable group of people.

What career prospects are there?

Special Care Dentistry is a developing area of the dental profession that has significant potential. There is scope for people committed to this approach to build their own niche practices. Alternatively, many hospitals are also dedicating resources to supporting vulnerable people in their communities. In particular, many hospitals are capitalising on opportunities to link this kind of work with a broader programme of community education, welfare and care. Within this kind of setting, special care dentists can build different types of skills and knowledge.