This apprenticeship standard is in the process of being revised. In the meantime, the version below remains approved for delivery. Further details of this and other occupational standards in revision are available in the revisions status report. The date of last starts for this standard is the 31st August 2025.
A registered professional who fits, adjusts and removes braces to patient’s teeth.
This occupation is found in Dentistry.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to become a registered professional who fits, adjusts and removes braces to patient’s teeth, working to the prescription of an orthodontist or dentist competent in orthodontics. They provide holistic advice on maintaining oral and general health for patients who are undergoing orthodontic treatment.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with patients of all ages who present with dental malocclusions (problems with the development, alignment and the way teeth fit together), the wider orthodontic and dental team, parents, guardians and carers.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for undertaking reversible orthodontic procedures, which include bonding brackets on the teeth, fitting and changing wires and accessories that connect to the brackets, fitting removable appliances and retainers, following an appropriate prescription. They will respond appropriately to a treatment plan from the orthodontist, gaining valid consent from the patient and guardian, and giving appropriate advice. They will be able to make appliances safe in the absence of the dentist and respond appropriately to emergencies.
The scope of practice for orthodontic therapists is set out by the General Dental Council who regulate this occupation. Further details of the regulatory requirements can be found in the following General Dental Councils documents: ‘Preparing for Practice,’ ‘Standards for Education’ and ‘Standards for the Dental Team’.
Orthodontic Therapists work as part of wider dental team that includes dentists or orthodontists, dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, practice managers, administrators and laboratory staff. Depending on the practice they work in, Orthodontic Therapists may supervise colleagues, trainees or students. The dentist or orthodontist prescribes the treatments that an Orthodontic Therapist will carry out, including taking impressions, placing fixed brackets and arch wires on teeth, fitting tooth separators, undertaking radiographs and occlusal bite registration.
During the apprenticeship apprentices must be supervised by a suitably trained orthodontist on the specialist list maintained by the General Dental Council.
They must be a Registered General Dental Council dental nurse, dental hygienist, dental therapist or dental technician prior to commencing this apprenticeship
Must be registered on the General Dental Council Register as a registered dental nurse, dental hygienist, dental therapist or dental technician. Employers usually require applicants to have a period of clinical post-qualification experience (usually at least 2 years).
Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Work to current best practice for orthodontic therapy and patient care |
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Duty 2 Work safely and independently in a patient’s mouth in accordance with the orthodontist’s prescription |
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Duty 3 Use appropriate communication at all times and through all media |
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Duty 4 Involve patients, parents and guardians in the patient’s care and decision making |
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Duty 5 Take impressions or scans of the teeth |
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Duty 6 Identify, select and use equipment, instruments and materials |
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Duty 7 Clean and prepare tooth surfaces |
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Duty 8 Fit orthodontic appliances |
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Duty 9 Make a patient’s orthodontic appliance safe in the absence of the orthodontist |
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Duty 10 Change or repair archwires inside a patient’s mouth |
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Duty 11 Remove fixed appliances, orthodontic adhesives and cement |
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Duty 12 Provide holistic advice on maintaining oral and general health |
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Duty 13 Seek advice and receive referrals made by other healthcare professionals |
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Duty 14 Recognise and deal with medical emergencies |
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Duty 15 Be a reflective practitioner within the wider dental team |
K1: The General Dental Council scope of practice, your role as an orthodontic therapist and that of others in the dental team, local clinical guidelines and policies
Back to Duty
K2: The principles of an evidence-based approach to learning, clinical and professional practice
Back to Duty
K3: Ways to maintain your professional knowledge and competence
Back to Duty
K4: The principles of clinical decision making and your role in the decision-making process
Back to Duty
K5: What is meant by patient-centred care, the importance of safeguarding and your duty of care, the signs of abuse or neglect including local and national systems and ways to raise concerns where appropriate
Back to Duty
K6: The scientific principles of medical ionizing radiation and statutory regulations
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K7: Current health and safety policy legislation related to your role as an orthodontic therapist
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K8: The range of contemporary orthodontic treatment options, their impact, outcomes, limitations and risks
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K9: The need for an accurate and current patient history, the importance of each component of the patient assessment process and the needs of different patient groups including children, adults, older people or those with special care requirements throughout the patient care process
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K10: The importance of an orthodontist’s s prescription
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K11: The cause of malocclusion and its possible impact of a poor bite or malpositioned teeth on medical, psychological and sociological aspects of health.
Back to Duty
K12: The potential routes of transmission of infectious agents in dental practice, mechanisms for the prevention of infection, the scientific principles of decontamination and disinfection and their relevance to health and safety
Back to Duty
K13: A range of communication methods, including verbal and non-verbal, listening skills and be aware of the barriers to communication
Back to Duty
K14: The importance of maintaining confidentiality and protecting all data relating to patients and their treatment
Back to Duty
K15: The need to explain and check patients’ and guardians’ understanding of treatments, options, costs and informed consent
Back to Duty
K16: How to manage anxiety or challenging behaviour including relevant behavioural change techniques
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K17: How to manage lines of communication within your team or with wider healthcare professions
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K18: The principles of information governance
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K19: The use of a range of communication methods and technologies and their appropriate application in support of clinical practice
Back to Duty
K20: The importance of and the need to maintain accurate and current records in accordance with legal and statutory requirements and best practice
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K21: The need to treat all patients equally, with respect and dignity, appreciating the importance of patient and guardian choice
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K22: Dental, craniofacial anatomy and physiology relevant to orthodontic therapy, the range of normal human structures and functions and the principles that derive from the biomedical, behavioral and materials sciences as they apply to the practice of orthodontic therapy
Back to Duty
K23: A range of orthodontic equipment, instruments, materials and appliances such as braces, retainers, headgear, face bows, pliers, archwires, brackets, bands, cements and adhesives including their uses and limitations
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K24: The scientific principles underpinning the use of biomaterials and their limitations with emphasis on those used in dentistry
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K25: Different types of adhesives and cement, when to use them and how to apply or remove them from teeth
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K26: Types of instruments for cleaning and preparing tooth surfaces
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K27: A range of orthodontic appliances such as fixed and removable braces and retainers, their use and ways to fit them
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K28: Problems associated with orthodontic appliances, how to recognise them and the appropriate action to take
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K29: How archwires that fit into appliances affect the patient’s mouth, teeth and overall wellbeing and when to change or repair them
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K30: When and why appliances should be removed in accordance with the prescription
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K31: The cause of oral disease in relation to dental decay and gum disease and basic facial structure formation with a focus on abnormalities and acute conditions that may arise
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K32: The significance of changes in patients reported oral health
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K33: A range of common oral health problems and the need for appropriate follow-up care
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K34: The principles of preventive care and the importance of providing patients with comprehensive and accurate preventive education and instruction
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K35: The role of health promotion, how health promotion strategies are implemented including demographic and social trends and the principles of planning oral health care for communities to meet needs and demands
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K36: Ways to encourage self-care and motivation, the health risks of poor diet, substance misuse and substances such as tobacco and alcohol on oral and general health
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K37: The need to monitor and review treatment outcomes including when to seek advice
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K38: The referral process, the management and organisation of local referral networks
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K39: The importance of an appropriate and timely referral
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K40: The types of medical emergencies that may occur and ways to deal with them
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K41: The risks around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and efficient manner complying with current best practice guidelines
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K42: Your own role in relation to the rest of the dental team and to any trainees or students you may supervise including when to escalate and report
Back to Duty
K43: The importance of appraisal, training and ongoing review including ways to give and receive feedback
Back to Duty
K44: The importance of maintaining your own network of dental professionals, specialists and other stakeholders involved in the care and support of patients
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K45: The wider dental and healthcare system you work in
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K46: A range of reflective models and how to use them in your own practice and in maintaining your own professional development portfolio
Back to Duty
K47: The importance of quality and ways to encourage continual improvement
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S1: Adhere to legal and ethical responsibilities in line with General Dental Council requirements, taking responsibility for the integrity of own actions and completed work recognising the limits of your competence and experience
Back to Duty
S2: Identify normal and abnormal facial growth, physical, mental and dental development
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S3: Take a patient medical and social history, checking the patient’s level of experience and expectations
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S4: Carry out screening for the orthodontic need for treatment either under the direction of an orthodontist or direct to patients
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S5: Recognise the early stages of chronic problems with the soft tissues of the mouth
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S6: Recognise urgent care problems related to orthodontic treatment and take appropriate action in line with their scope of practice
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S7: Implement and perform effective decontamination and infection control procedures
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S8: Communicate appropriately, effectively and sensitively
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S9: Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
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S10: Assess and manage patient anxiety, discomfort or challenging behaviour through effective communication, reassurance and relevant behavioural techniques
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S11: Create, update and store contemporaneous patient records
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S12: Make effective decisions regarding the care of patients in line with the orthodontist’s treatment plan and in partnership with the patient and their parent/guardian
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S13: Put patients’ interests first and act to protect them
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S14: Respect patients’ dignity and choices obtaining and documenting valid consent for all treatments and personal care delivery
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S15: Take impressions or scans of patient’s teeth as prescribed by the referring practitioner
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S16: Use impressions or scans of the teeth to produce study models
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S17: Select and use the correct orthodontic equipment, instruments and materials to ensure appropriate and safe orthodontic care of the patient
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S18: Clean and prepare tooth surfaces ready for orthodontic treatment
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S19: Undertake a basic orthodontic assessment of a patient’s mouth
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S20: Fit the brackets and wires which make up braces in accordance with the prescription
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S21: Fit, adjust, remove or repair a range of orthodontic appliances that the patient may wear as prescribed by the orthodontist. In the absence of a prescription, be able to make safe removable and fixed appliance components
Back to Duty
S22: Make the appliance safe and ensure continuing care is provided as soon as possible
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S23: Insert, ligate, remove, trim or repair archwires from appliances under prescription
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S24: Remove the brackets and wires which make up appliances and the cement from the tooth surface that has held the bracket to the tooth safely and as prescribed, without causing damage to the tooth surface
Back to Duty
S25: Contribute to relevant tests and diagnostic procedures
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S26: Apply evidence-based oral health advice including toothbrushing, interdental cleaning, care of braces and removable orthodontic appliances, diet and hydration advice
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S27: Encourage and support self-care and motivation providing appropriate advice
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S28: Recognise and manage patients with acute oral conditions and know the referral process
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S29: Identify where patients’ needs may differ from the treatment plan or prescription and direct patients for advice where appropriate
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S30: Work with colleagues in a way that is in the patients’ best interests
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S31: Recognise and manage medical emergencies
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S32: Take part in appraisal and ongoing review
Back to Duty
S33: Co-operate with members of the wider dental or healthcare team, taking responsibility for establishing personal networks
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S34: Reflect on own practice, recognising how reflection can be used to continually improve the quality of patient care and professional development
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B1: Act in a manner consistent with the GDC standards for the dental team which include communication, professionalism, teamwork and clinical skills
Back to Duty
B2: Act in a non-discriminatory manner respecting diversity and upholding the rights, dignity and autonomy of others
Back to Duty
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
Level: 4
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
This is a regulated occupation.
General Dental Council (GDC)
Training provider must be approved by regulator body
4
13
this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.
Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date | Latest end date |
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1.1 | End-point assessment plan and funding revised | 01/07/2022 | Not set | Not set |
1.0 | Approved for delivery | 09/11/2020 | 30/06/2022 | Not set |
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