Becoming a Dental Nurse
Dental Nurses provide chairside support to Dentists across the full range of treatment provision. They play a key role in the patient support aspects of the job and have responsibility for infection control and health and safety in the workplace.
Required Skills & Routes to Qualification
To be a Dental Nurse you will need to have excellent communication skills, a caring nature and be highly organised. Dental Nurses need to be friendly and approachable, reliable, calm, and be flexible enough to respond to unexpected situations as they arise.
NEBDN offer two types of qualifications that lead to General Dental Council registration; the Apprenticeship as one product and the Level 3 Diploma as the other. Through government Apprenticeship funding, Learners can do a fee-free Apprenticeship removing the need for trainees to financially contribute to their course, or as an alternative, the Level 3 Diploma for trainee Dental Nurses with flexible study/work hours.
Qualifications
Diploma in Dental Nursing
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare trainee Dental Nurses in the foundation of Dental Nursing, so they can demonstrate the highest standards in terms of knowledge, skills and professional attributes.
Dental Nurse Apprenticeship
This provides an alternative training route to preparing Dental Nurses in the foundation of Dental Nursing through funded delivery.
Dental Radiography
The purpose of this qualification is for registered Dental Nurses who would like to be more involved with patient care and would like to support their Dentists in the diagnosis and treatment planning by providing good diagnostic radiographs.
Dental Sedation Nursing
The purpose of this qualification is to achieve a balanced mixture of knowledge and practical skills, as well as demonstrating an appropriate professional attitude. To ensure our Dental Sedation qualifications reflect the areas of practice the Dental Nurse works in, we offer the following three options: Certificate in Dental Sedation Nursing, Award in Inhalation Sedation Dental Nursing and Award in Intravenous Sedation Dental Nursing.
Orthodontic Dental Nursing
The purpose of this qualification is to cover the biological background to Orthodontics and the various appliances used today and how to maintain them. This qualification also emphasises the medico-legal aspects of treatment and the importance of good communication between patient and the Dental team.
Special Care Dental Nursing
The purpose of this qualification is to ensure that you receive a broad range of knowledge and understanding relevant to Special Care Dentistry. This includes social and ethical issues, together with a working knowledge of the relevant current legislation and guidance.
Oral Health Education
The purpose of this qualification is to equip a Dental Nurse wishing to develop professionally to become an Oral Health Educator, with the knowledge and skills required to be able to effectively deliver Oral Health care messages, educate various patient groups and have the ability to adapt information and communication to the specific needs of the patient.
Dental Implant Nursing
The purpose of this qualification is to enable a Dental Nurse to be a vital part of the Clinical Implant team supporting the Dentist, whilst contributing to the meticulous planning and exacting standards to ensure an optimum result for each patient. You will gain an in-depth knowledge of pre and post-operative instructions, allowing you to give these confidently to the patient and their chaperone.
Fluoride Varnish Application
The purpose of this qualification is to support Dental Nurses’ development both professionally and on a personal level; developing self-confidence and self-belief. Through enhancing your skills, you work as part of a team educating and improving the oral health of patients.
Dental Careers
Embarking on an NEBDN qualification isn’t just about becoming a Dental Nurse. Our qualifications serve as a gateway to a multitude of professional avenues, each offering unique challenges and opportunities for growth. There is no end to the variety of rewarding career options awaiting those with an NEBDN qualification.
More Information
We currently work with over 100+ accredited Providers across the UK and Ireland. The Providers teach our qualifications to Learners and NEBDN support with exams as the Awarding Organisation.
If you are interested in becoming a Dental Nurse and taking the NEBDN Apprenticeship or Level 3 Diploma qualification, please click the button below to contact a Provider for details on pricing and curriculum. We advise you search for more than one Provider to get an idea of what they offer that best suits you, as some Providers also offer online and distance learning courses.
Provider fees for exams or course tuition will differ pending which Provider you select and the training method chosen. As your contract is with the Provider themselves, they will charge you directly for any exam or administration fees to NEBDN. For a list of Provider fees, please contact the provider directly.
There are three main routes to becoming a Dental Nurse; (a) finding employment (or a placement) and a Provider, (b) finding a Provider who arranges placements for you or (c) applying for a full-time course at a dental teaching hospital.
Once you are on a course of training you can expect it to last between 12 and 24 months. As part of your training you will be required to complete a portfolio of evidence of your competence to perform a range of clinical tasks. You will need the support of your Employer to be able to complete this effectively. The course will consist of topics such as Dental Disease, Regional Anatomy, Dental Materials and Radiography, as well as those related to each procedure you are likely to encounter in the workplace.
Training may be delivered in a variety of ways e.g. classroom based, distance learning or online, but this will depend on the Provider you have chosen.
After successfully completing your portfolio , you will be eligible for entry to the NEBDN assessments which each must be passed in order to achieve the qualification.
a. You will need to find employment (or a placement) as a trainee Dental Nurse in a dental practice. Once you have employment you can start to look for a training place with a Provider. In most cases your Employer will be able to recommend a Provider as they may have used them before. Don’t worry if the course does not start for a few months, you can keep your employment as a trainee for up to two years.
b. All Learners must be employed in a dental clinical environment prior to starting the NEBDN qualification. Any Learner who is not employed in a dental clinical environment will not be considered eligible to be an NEBDN Learner and cannot access the NEBDN Diploma or Apprenticeship qualification through our Providers. Search one of our accredited Providers. If you wish to sit an NEBDN qualification at the end of your training then you must ensure your Provider is on our accredited list.
c. Dental teaching hospitals provide all the training and clinical experience in one place but full-time places are limited. Check that the teaching hospital you have selected is one of our accredited Providers and contact them regarding their application process.
To apply as a Dental Nurse, there is a minimum age requirement of 16 years old.
The NEBDN assessment(s) you take will depend on which route to training you have chosen, Level 3 Diploma or Apprenticeship. Please see comparison document.
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