OH7.2025 Provide chairside support during endodontic procedures

Overview

This standard is about providing chairside support during endodontic procedures. It is about anticipating clinical operators’ needs for equipment, instruments, materials and medicaments. Users of this standard will understand the purpose and reasons for non-surgical treatment, potential risks of treatments, and equipment, instruments, materials and medicaments involved. Dental procedures may be carried out in general dental practices, public dental services, hospital settings, domiciliary or other non-standard environments. Users of this standard will need to ensure their practice reflects up to date information and policies.

Knowledge and Understanding

1. The purpose of non-surgical endodontic treatment
2. Different forms non-surgical endodontic treatment may take including pulpotomies and pulpectomies
3. Non-surgical endodontic treatments and relationships to other dental treatments
4. Potential risks and complications that may arise during and after non-surgical endodontic treatment
5. Standard Infection Control Precautions and how to apply these
6. Functions of equipment, instruments, materials and medicaments used in non-surgical endodontic treatment, including:
• access
• isolation
• preparation
• measurement
• obturation
7. Functions of equipment, instruments, materials and medicaments used in administrating local anaesthesia
8. The importance of moisture control and isolation during non-surgical endodontic treatment
9. Methods of facilitating clear views of treatment areas for clinical operators and impact of doing this incorrectly
10.How to monitor and support individuals, and manage anxiety
11.Methods of cleaning and preparing root canals and how to apply these
12.The types of irrigation solutions and how to apply these
13.Methods for recording root length
14.Different materials used in the temporisation, obturation of root canals, and permanent restoration
15.Information required to support individuals following non-surgical endodontic procedures
16.Different methods of waste disposal and how to apply these

Performance Criteria

1. Retrieve and make available individuals records to identify planned treatments in accordance with workplace procedures
2. Apply Standard Infection Control Precautions and take other appropriate health and safety measures in accordance with workplace procedures
3. Select and arrange equipment, instruments, materials and medicaments in accordance with dental procedures, including:
• access
• isolation
• preparation
• measurement
• obturation
• restoration
4. Provide support during administration of local analgesia in accordance with dental procedures
5. Aspirate treatment areas and maintain clear fields of operation using instruments and materials appropriate to procedures
6. Monitor individuals during procedures to identify complications, taking necessary actions in accordance with workplace procedures and within your own scope of practice
7. Prepare and handle irrigation solutions in accordance with workplace procedures
8. Assist clinical operators in measuring and recording root length in accordance with dental procedures
9. Prepare materials and medicaments for temporary and permanent placement in canals and pulp chambers in accordance with dental procedures
10. Prepare and provide required restorative material to clinical operators in accordance with workplace procedures
11. Provide post-operative instructions to individuals in accordance with dental procedures
12. Dispose of waste in accordance with relevant legislation, guidelines, and workplace procedures

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. Final version approved February 2025.