The impact of the Oral Health Practitioner Apprenticeship

The new Level 4 Oral Health Practitioner Apprenticeship is set to transform opportunities for Dental Nurses, providing a structured pathway for skill development, career progression, and enhanced patient care. We sat down with Michael Wheeler, Dental Hygienist and Dental Workforce Lead Tutor at the NHS, to discuss his role in the apprenticeship's development and the impact it will have on the dental sector.

1. What role did you play in bringing the OHP Apprenticeship to life?

"I co-chaired the dental trailblazer group with Professor John Darby, to define the apprenticeship standard, and then worked with the Royal Society of Public Health to ensure that the actual curriculum guidance met the apprenticeship standard, and ensured it was placed on the OFQUAL register of regulated qualifications. Which makes it the only regulated qualification in oral health in England."

2. Can you share a bit about your background and what led to your key role in developing the new Level 4 Oral Health Practitioner Apprenticeship?

"By background I am a Dental Hygienist and therefore oral health prevention is at the heart of everything I do. I had been involved with the development and teaching of a Level 5 Foundation Degree in Dental Nursing for which there was a strong emphasis on oral health education and promotion, as that programme embraced most of the additional skills that Dental Nurses are able to undertake in line with their “scope of practice”.

Around 2016, I was involved with workforce planning for the NHS. A common complaint from many Dental Nurses was a lack of opportunity to undertake direct preventive care, further skills escalation and when available, the costs are high. When my role within what was Health Education England embraced apprenticeships; this provided a funded route of training for Dental Nurses, but in the case of the Oral Health Practitioner Apprenticeship, provided a great opportunity to design a programme of learning that embraced many of the additional skills a Dental Nurse can undertake. Plus provide an opportunity to carry out both oral health education and promotion in line with flexible commissioning guidance that was under development."

3. What inspired you to get involved with the development of the new Oral Health Practitioner apprenticeship?

"To provide a greater opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills of Dental Nurses, and to encourage both recruitment and retention, but also provide a true regulated qualification in oral health. One which can lead to other roles such as entry into Dental Hygienist and wider public health roles. In addition it provides a formal regulated qualification that NHS commissioning teams can use as a standard when commissioning the preventive aspects of “flexible commissioning” at practice level."

4. Can you share insights into the collaborative process of creating the program? What goes into creating a new apprenticeship?

"It is a complex process, that involves many agencies. Firstly, we needed to demonstrate that it was true role, which is not without its challenges! Then bringing many agencies together e.g. Dental Nurse groups, NHS England, and the General Dental Council to define the apprenticeship standard, which acts as a template for the curriculum. This then goes through various routes of agreement within the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE)."

5. What has been the most rewarding part of your involvement in developing this apprenticeship?

"I led on the delivery of the first cohort that we ran as a pilot through NHS Thames Valley dental deanery. It was seeing the amazing transition in this cohort from being enthusiastic Dental Nurses, to maintain that enthusiasm but gain confidence and a real understanding in delivering both oral health education and promotion."

6. What are the standout features of this apprenticeship, and how do they benefit both learners and dental practices?

"It really develops their role as a Dental Nurse and as effective Oral Health Practitioners. For all dental environments, not only general dental practice, it helps support retention of the Dental Nurse workforce and enriches their role. And as explored above, if an NHS practice is working with their local commissioning team and wishing to embrace the full dental team, working and utilizing Dental Nurses to deliver both in practice oral health education and wider community oral health promotion, this apprenticeship sets a standard that hopefully NHS commissioners should be aware of."

7. How do you see this program shaping the future of oral health care and the roles within the dental sector?

"It is encouraging that in some areas, NHS commissioners are seeing the value of having an appropriately trained workforce to help support the NHS 10-year plan, for which one aim is to move from sickness to prevention. This in itself provides the opportunity to rethink how we not only deliver oral health care, but it also provides an opportunity for a whole tram approach to improve oral health."

8. How does the apprenticeship support the career growth of participants?

"In two ways, for those thinking of progressing to be a Dental Hygienist or Dental Therapist, undertaking this apprenticeship provides an opportunity to develop actual clinical skills. But more importantly, it introduces them to a higher level of study and understanding of study methods. In addition, if a Dental Nurse is considering moving to a wider public health role, then undertaking this apprenticeship gives them a good understanding of the wider public health agenda."

9. What makes this apprenticeship a strategic investment for businesses looking to grow and innovate in the dental sector?

"As explored above, it gives an opportunity to make greater use of the workforce to deliver both oral health and systemic health advice, which is always welcomed by patients. It will help support retention of the Dental Nurse workforce, especially at a time when Dental Nurse recruitment and retention is challenging in many areas of England. The training investment is minimal as of course 95% of the training fees are paid for by the apprenticeship levy, or it's free for large companies and NHS trusts. If a dental practice holds an NHS contract, then in many areas the 5% contribution costs made be made through what is termed a levy transfer.

Also, prevention is at the heart of all oral health care. Many totally private practices have seen the advantages of using Dental Nurses in delivering oral health advice especially to children, and in the NHS, utilising the new “flexible commissioning“ guidance so that Dental Nurses can be utilised to support commissioned activity with the practice and wider afield, e.g. toothbrushing in schools."

11. What practical skills and experiences can apprentices expect to gain, and how will these prepare them for real-world challenges?

"The oral health practitioner apprenticeship was designed to bring together most of the additional skills that Dental Nurses can undertake, therefore by undertaking one qualification, they will gain skills (and the under-pinning knowledge) in:

• Undertaking plaque scores and delivering OHI in the dental surgery and wider community settings
• Applying topical fluoride (to the prescription of a Dentist)
• Taking impressions and carrying out intra oral scanning
• Carrying out intra and extra oral photography
• Undertaking a standard NHS health check"
  
  

12. Why is now the ideal time for employers and aspiring oral health practitioners to explore this apprenticeship?

"There is a growing awareness that the basic old dental health message is changing with the realisation that good oral health is an integral part of systemic health. There is growing awareness of this, and therefore undertaking the apprenticeship now, put employers and Dental Nurses at the forefront of this change."

13. We have recently welcomed our first learners on to this apprenticeship. What outcomes are you most excited to see from the first cohort?

"I hope as I outlined above the leaners themselves see a change in their level of knowledge and grow in confidence in carrying out both oral health education and wider public facing oral health promotion.  Although the most exciting development will be to see the real utilisation of their knowledge and skills not only in general practice but in improving the wellbeing of more vulnerable groups."

14. If you had any advice for dental practices considering enrolling an apprentice on to this apprenticeship, what would that be?

"Act now, support your dental nurse workforce and value their contribution and professionalism, by enrolling them onto the apprenticeship programme."  

15. Similarly, what advice would you give to aspiring apprentices thinking about enrolling on to this course?

"It is a great way to enrich your role as a Dental Nurse. Undertaking the apprenticeship will help improve your confidence, under pinning knowledge of oral health care, and provide a spring box to wider roles not only within the dental team, but wider public health roles. And of course, its free to undertake, but it does take a lot of commitment and determination to succeed."

16. If you could describe this apprenticeship in three words, what would they be?

"An opportunity to develop"

This apprenticeship represents a significant step forward for the dental profession, empowering dental nurses with new skills and career opportunities while enhancing patient care. If you're an employer or an aspiring apprentice, now is the time to take advantage of this transformative opportunity. 

View the apprenticeship brochure here. 

Ready to find out more or begin the enrolment process? Contact our team today by emailing info@tempdent.co.uk or call us on 020 8371 6700.