Dental therapist shares multidisciplinary hospital care insights
Insight into how dental therapists expand patient access in hospital oncology teams and why secondary care training matters.
Rhianna Clarke, a dental therapist working across hospital, private practice, and education settings, describes how her role in multidisciplinary teams at St George's Hospital in Tooting delivers critical care for oncology patients and those with complex dental needs. Her work spans pre-radiotherapy assessments, periodontal and restorative treatment, trauma management, and implant care, with particular focus on preventing complications such as osteoradionecrosis.
The role of dental therapists in hospital-based oncology care
Clarke emphasises that dental therapists and hygienists are central to multidisciplinary pathways, often building the strongest relationships with patients and positioning themselves to identify and escalate clinical concerns early. She notes that consultants rely on therapists to prevent complications and that this collaboration improves workflow and patient safety. Her work in new-patient oncology clinics twice weekly involves oral health education and motivating patients towards prevention, while her remaining clinics handle treatment-based cases for oncology patients alongside those with severe trauma, implants, or tooth wear.
Barriers and opportunities for the profession
Clarke identifies workforce investment and increased autonomy as key priorities for supporting dental therapists and hygienists in hospital settings. She advocates for more undergraduate training focused on secondary care, arguing that current primary care-centred education leaves clinicians unprepared for hospital-based roles. Despite the emotional demands of oncology work, Clarke states that the role allows therapists to use the full range of their clinical skills and deliver tangible improvements in patient outcomes across complex cases.
Frequently asked questions
What role do dental therapists play in hospital oncology teams?
Dental therapists conduct pre-radiotherapy assessments, deliver oral health education, provide periodontal and restorative care for oncology patients, and identify complications such as osteoradionecrosis early. They often build the strongest relationships with patients and advocate for their needs across the multidisciplinary team.
How does secondary care training differ from primary care training for dental therapists?
Primary care training leaves dental therapists unprepared for hospital-based roles. Clarke advocates for more undergraduate training focused specifically on working within secondary care settings to better equip clinicians for the complexity and pace of hospital practice.
What patient outcomes has Clarke observed in her hospital role?
Clarke reports tangible improvements in oral health across complex cases, including successful restorative work such as composite bonding for hypodontia and management of severe xerostomia in oncology patients undergoing radiotherapy.
What barriers do dental therapists face in hospital pathways?
Clarke identifies insufficient workforce investment and limited autonomy as key barriers. She argues that greater resources and increased clinical independence would better support dental therapists in delivering multidisciplinary hospital care.
