Dentists with Special Interests
What are Dentists with Special Interests?
A dentist with a special interest (or DwSI) is a dental practitioner working in a primary care environment, who provides special interest services in addition to having a generalist role.
Since 1 April 2006, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have been given the responsibility for determining oral healthcare needs in their area and commissioning services accordingly. The advent of DwSIs allows PCTs to contract general dental practitioners who have developed special interests where there is a local need.
A scheme for DwSIs has been developed by the Department of Health and the FGDP(UK), who see it both as an aid to delivering enhanced services within primary care and a means of encouraging dentists to develop their practice within the NHS.
National Guidelines for the Appointment of DwSIs
In order to ensure quality and safety of care for patients, national guidelines and competencies for the scope of treatment that can be undertaken by DwSIs have been jointly developed by the Department of Health and the FGDP(UK).
Individual DwSIs will be required to demonstrate knowledge, skills and experience in their special interest area to a PCT against a national competency framework.
The scheme was launched in 2006 with the publication of competency frameworks in minor oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics and endodontics, with a competency framework in conscious sedation launched in January 2008.
The FGDP(UK) has also worked with NHS Primary Care Contracting to develop a competency framework for prison dentists, launhed in November 2007.
Competency frameworks published to date:
Competencies and guidance in leadership and management was also published in April 2008. Visit Guidelines for standards in the development of leadership and management in the dental health sector to find out more.
A competency framework in research should be published in 2008.
 Futher information for dentists
Futher information for PCTs
Futher information for patients
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