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Glossary
Clinician
The dentist or another member of the dental team who works directly with patients.
Continuing professional development
An ongoing commitment to learning in various forms, which maintains and enhances professional standards of work.
Current best practice guidelines
Written guidelines for agreed ways to carry out treatments and care for patients. Often, these are put together by healthcare professionals based on the best available evidence. These guidelines are constantly added to and reviewed. Over time, the guidelines recommended as best practice will change to take account of new evidence.
Dental hygienist
Dental professionals who are permitted to carry out the following kinds of work under the direction of a registered dentist who has examined the patient and indicated in writing the treatment to be provided: cleaning, scaling and polishing teeth; applying certain materials or medicaments; administering local anaesthetic and giving dental hygiene advice. If trained to do so, a dental hygienist can place temporary fillings; re-cement crowns; take impressions; administer inferior blocks (under supervision) and take radiographs. Currently they work in Community or hospital dental services or in General Dental Practice.
Dental nurse
Person who assists the dentist at the chair-side during dental treatment, acts as a chaperone, often has administrative duties and infection control responsibilities. They cannot provide dental treatment.
Dental team
All those in a dental practice or community dental clinic, both administratively and clinically, that are involved in the care of patients on their dental visit. Members may include dentists, hygienists, therapists, dental nurses, dental technicians and reception staff.
Dental technician
An individual who makes dental appliances and restorative
devices such as dentures, to the specifications of a dentist.
Dental therapist
A dental professional who is able to carry out certain dental work, including teeth cleaning and simple fillings, under the direction of a registered dentist. A dental therapist also has a role in educating patients on how to effectively maintain their oral health.
Disclosure Scotland
Disclosure Scotland is part of the Scottish Criminal Record Office. Its aim is to improve public safety and to help employers and voluntary organisations in Scotland to make safer recruitment decisions. The service is responsible for issuing three levels of certificates - Basic disclosures, Standard disclosures and Enhanced disclosures.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is inflammation and bleeding of the gums.
Mixed dental practice
A dental practice which is partly NHS and partly private.
National Dental Advisory Committee
A committee of dentists who provide professional advice to the Chief Dental Officer on a range of issues about dentistry. It takes part in compiling reports and consultation exercises initiated by the Scottish Executive and the Department of Health. The committee has a membership of 14 dentists with representation from academics, public health, hospital, community and specialist dentists along with the Dental Director of NHS Education in Scotland.
Oral health
Oral health concerns the health of all the parts of the mouth and oral cavity. This includes the soft areas such as the tongue and cheeks, the gums and the teeth.
Orthodontics
Part of dentistry concerned with facial growth and development, including development of the teeth and jaws.
Out-of-hours arrangements
Arrangements for services outside the normal opening hours, including weekends and holidays.
Patient care record
An integrated, multi-disciplinary record of all care assessment and treatment, including the dental component. Entries are made by all members of the dental care team. Your patient care record contains personal information, administration details and clinical information.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a destructive gum disease where plaque bacteria damage can cause loss of the tooth supporting tissues.
Protocol
A code of correct conduct.
Risk management
Risk management involves identifying, assessing, controlling, monitoring, reviewing and auditing risk.
Salaried dentists
Dentists employed by NHS Boards. The NHS Boards manage the premises and staff are salaried. These practices offer general dental services often in those areas where NHS care provision is limited.
Stakeholder
Anyone who is interested or involved in dental services (for example, dentists themselves and their patients).
Treatment plan
A written record that may include a summary of your dental problems, list of treatment proposed, preventative advice, likely future dental care needs, recall intervals and an estimate of costs.
Urgency
In dentistry the word urgency refers to situations where a dental problem needs treatment as a priority. For example, severe dental pain not controlled by over the counter painkillers, bleeding that will not stop, severe infection, injury from trauma, lesions in the mouth that may be oral cancer.
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