Dental Technician - Prosthodontics(XR05)

Posting date:	19 June 2025
Salary:	£31,049.00 to £37,796.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£31049.00 - £37796.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	10 July 2025
Location:	Leeds, LS2 9LU
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	C9298-LDI-090

Summary

Job Title: Dental Technician Reports to: Chief Technician Band: 5 Department: Dental Production Laboratories Location Leeds Dental Institute AfC Job No: 860a 2. JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY Support the work of the relevant technical department in the effective and timely production of custom made medical devices and other technical work including: (Conservation Posts) a range of single crown & bridge units, post & cores, temporary units, bite raisers, splints, study models, Denar articulations and diagnostic wax-up units for clinical treatment planning, plus some of the more complex crown and bridge work as appropriate for own development. (Prosthodontic Posts) a range of removable full and partial acrylic and metal based dentures, repairs, relines, additions, bite raisers, splints, study models and articulations. May also include also some of the more complex prosthodontic work as appropriate for own development. (Orthodontic posts) a range of removable appliances, immediate retainers, vacuum formed appliances, bite raisers, splints, study models and repairs, plus some of the more complex orthodontic work as appropriate for own development. To develop own skills, knowledge and experience within dental technology and to keep abreast of new and developing technologies. An example of this is in the use of Cad-Cam technology which is increasingly being used with in our production workflows. Customer base is approximately 470 undergraduate dental students and approximately 100 postgraduate students and clinical staff, within several clinical specialities including Conservation, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontology, Childrens, Acute Care, and Sedation. Work load and type may vary throughout the year depending upon academic and clinical requirements and trends and a flexible approach will be required. 3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART Dental Technical Services Manager Chief Technicians (3) & Max Fac Prosthetist (1) Senior Dental Technicians (10) Dental Technicians (7) Lab Admin Co-ordinator (1) Receptionist (1) Domestic support (2) 4. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY To provide technical support in the laboratory to major specialised services, producing a range of dental technical work and some specialised work as required. To attend appropriate departmental meetings as required To ensure the equipment used within the laboratory is in safe working order, reporting defects to the Head of technical services and / or LDI Workshop. To partake in the routine maintenance of laboratory equipment (eg replacing dust filters, cleaning sand blasters etc) and keep personal work areas clean and tidy. To comply with the requirements of the Medical Devices Directive within the Prosthodontic Laboratory, ensuring appropriate quality records are kept and procedures adhered to. To follow Health and Safety standards in all areas of the dental laboratory, where all technical staff use a range of potentially hazardous materials and equipment and may encounter highly unpleasant fumes and body fluids. To undertake appropriate training and participate in regular appraisals to: maintain and develop skills and knowledge necessary for the job ensure that all statutory requirements in respect of Continuing Professional Development are satisfied. 5. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are: Patient-centred Collaborative Fair Accountable Empowered All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values Additionally the following are core values which relate specifically to this post: The post holder will be required to develop and maintain good working relationships with all staff and students, providing a professional, efficient and effective service to all customers of the Dental Laboratories 6. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients. By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change. WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition. 7. INFECTION CONTROL The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment. 8. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system 9. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. 10. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role. 11. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS The post-holder can expect to liaise daily with all members of the dental laboratory staff group (shown on the organisational chart). There will also be regular contact with dental clinical staff, students, tutors and nurses. Occasionally there may be a requirement to communicate with other staff of the Dental Hospital such as maintenance staff, porters, domestic or admin staff. Methods of communication will predominantly involve face to face discussion and written / printed documentation but may also include other media including e-mail, telephone, etc. 12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS i) PHYSICAL EFFORT: The role involves a very high degree of manual dexterity and hand to eye co-ordination. The post holder is responsible for producing custom- made dental appliances many of which are very intricate in their nature for example the carving of individual teeth in wax , working with delicate precision attachments and implant components or manipulating fine wires to make clasps and springs for dental appliances, all of which also requires a high degree of accuracy. This element of the job will occur for several hours each day, usually whilst sitting which can have a detrimental effect in terms of neck and back discomfort or pain and other related postural problems. Additionally the nature of this work often gives rise to eye strain and discomfort. Other aspects of the role involve standing for up to an hour at a time whilst casting dental impressions and other plaster work. ii) MENTAL EFFORT: The intricacy and accuracy of the work requires periods of intense concentration on a daily basis, usually for up to a half of the working day. Many of the appliances made by the post holder are non-routine and require detailed planning and consideration with regards to the design. The majority of appliances require discussion between the post holder and the dental clinician or clinical undergraduate, who, as a trainee dentist is reliant on the expertise and advice of the post holder to ensure that the appropriate information is recorded when the patient is present. Regular interruptions to work from clinical staff, nurses and reception staff are the norm. iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT: Generally, emotional effort is rare. The role involves occasional contact with patients, some of whom have had traumatic or surgical loss of dental or facial tissue. The extent to which this may affect the post holder is a matter of conjecture. iv) WORKING CONDITIONS: Frequent regular use of a range of potentially hazardous materials including acids, methyl methacrylate and other solvents and may encounter highly unpleasant dust and fumes. Also handles dental impressions and other components on a daily basis which may be contaminated with body fluids including blood and saliva. Frequent regular use of high speed rotating cutting and grinding instruments and machinery and also metal melting and casting equipment. All risks are minimised by strict Health and Safety procedures which includes the need to wear full face visors, dust masks and gloves often for several hours each day. This prolonged use of PPE can be restrictive making working conditions less comfortable