What Are the Main Types of Dental Nurses?

To become a dental nurse could be a great career choice. It’s a varied job, it offers employment security, and one of the main benefits is the feeling of satisfaction that comes, day in, day out, from making the lives of other people a little better. In dental care, dental nurses are essential members of the dental team who provide support for dentists to deliver good quality care to patients. There are different types of dental nurses, each of them specialising in different parts of dental care.

• General Dental Nurse: A general dental nurse is a generalist who works in general dental surgeries, helping with routine check-ups, fillings, extractions and anaesthetic care.
• Orthodontic Nurse: A nurse who specialises in orthodontics who assists an orthodontist with procedures such as fitting of braces and other braces and corrective appliances.
• Paediatric Dental Nurse: Specialises in children’s dentistry by helping to manage the specific needs of younger patients in both general and specialised paediatric dental practices.
• Surgical Dental Nurse: Surgical dental nurses usually work in hospitals or specialist dental clinics, providing support for complicated procedures such as dental surgeries, extracting teeth, or inserting implants.
• Community Dental Nurses: Dental nurses who work within the community offer vital dental care services, including to older people, those with disabilities, and those in rural communities.

What Does a Dental Nurse Do?

The role of a dental nurse is wide-ranging and plays a vital part in a dental practice. The following outlines some of the main responses:

• Helping the Dentist: dental nurses prepare the surgery for the dentist, making sure that the correct equipment and instruments are available and sterilised. They also help the dentist during a procedure, handing out instruments and mixing materials that the dentist may need, as well as sucking out saliva.
• Patient Care: Dental nurses are responsible for making patients comfortable, from putting them at ease before the treatment in the waiting area to helping them during the procedure and afterwards. They also explain the procedure and answer any questions.
• Record Keeping: Dental nurses are responsible for maintaining accurate records. This includes updating patient records with the details of the treatments, managing appointments and keeping dental records up to date with regard to data protection.
• Infection Control: In a dental environment, it’s important to be ‘sterile’ – being clean to keep out germs and stop infections. Dental nurses decontaminate instruments, clean the surgery, and follow strict infection control procedures to make sure everybody isn’t swapping germs.
• Radiography: Dental nurses can be qualified to take dental X-rays under the guidance of a dentist. This needs to be done after additional training and certification.
• Administration: Dental nurses can be asked to perform a wide range of administrative tasks; for example, they will be responsible for scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and checking the stock levels of dental supplies.

Average Dental Nurse Salary

The wages of dental nurses in the UK are slightly different according to where they are working, how much experience they have, and the kind of practice. Here is a general outline.

• Entry-Level Dental Nurse: A newly qualified dental nurse can expect to earn between £19,000 to £23,000 per year, reflecting the starting level in general dental practices.
• Experienced Dental Nurse: As an experienced dental nurse, you could earn between £23,000 and £28,000. Experienced nurses working in specialist practices (for example, orthodontics or surgery) can earn even more.
• Senior Dental Nurse: Senior roles, which can involve training junior staff or managing a dental practice, can pay £28,000 to £34,000 or more.
• Private Practice: A dental nurse in a private practice can earn more money, especially in larger cities or in a practice providing specialised treatments.

Dental Nurse Skills

A skilled dental nurse combines a whole range of technical skills and interpersonal abilities with particular personal qualities to cope in a busy clinical environment. Essential skills include:

• Attention to detail: Dental nurses need to be meticulous in their work, especially when helping to perform complex procedures, keeping records and adhering to health and safety standards.
• Communication Skills: Good interpersonal communication with patients, dentists, and other health professionals is a must: for example, a dental hygienist needs to explain the procedure to the patient first clearly and reassuringly.
• The agility of Hands: The ability to work with precise hand tools is essential. This is important in assisting during procedures.
• Empathy and Compassion: In our profession, we have regular patients who might be anxious or in pain, and having empathy and compassion is a great way to put patients at ease and help them feel better.
• Organisational skills: Being able to juggle several tasks at once, such as preparing the surgery for the day, keeping records and supporting the dentist during procedures, demands good organisational skills.
• Infection Control Knowledge: Having knowledge of infection control protocols and implementing them is important to maintain a sterile environment in dental surgery.
• Flexibility: your ability to cope with changing situations, such as if there is an emergency in surgery or a shaky patient.

Dental Nurse Tips

If you are aspiring to be a dental nurse, here are some practical tips: 

• Try to get experience: If you can, try to get work experience or shadowing in a practice to get a feel for what the role of a dental nurse entails and whether or not it’s the job for you.
• Keep Up-To-Date: Dentistry constantly evolves with new techniques, materials, and regulatory issues. Always keep up to date by attending courses and workshops and reading literature.
• Get the basics right: Build a sound knowledge of dental anatomy, infection control and patient care. The dental nurse’s role is built on these.
• Develop your soft skills: Communication, empathy and teamwork are as important in dentistry as technical skills. Work on developing these soft skills.
• Get more qualifications: As your career progresses, you can obtain further qualifications. You could do “hands-on” radiography or obtain qualifications in orthodontics or oral surgery. These could lead to further work opportunities.
• Network: Become a member of a professional body, such as the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN). It’s a great way to meet other dental professionals, access resources and keep up with industry news.
• Be Patient-Centred: Keep the patient’s best interest in mind. When patients have a good experience, their care is more effective. Also, it generates positive word of mouth about the practice.

Dental Nurse Requirements

If you want to become a dental nurse in the UK, you must meet certain requirements. These include educational qualifications, training and registration with a professional body.

• Qualifications: You’ll need at least four GCSEs in grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, Maths and a science subject. Some courses have different entry requirements, so it’s best to check with the training provider.
• Take a dental nursing course: You’ll need to do an approved dental nursing course, such as the National Diploma in Dental Nursing or a Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing. You can take these courses with many training providers such as colleges and dental schools.
• Work Placement: You will have to work in a dental practice during your studies. This gives you practical experience and is an essential part of the training.
• Professional Registration: Once qualified, you must register with the General Dental Council (GDC). Registration with the GDC is compulsory for anyone who wishes to work as a dental nurse in the UK and must be maintained for life.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD): In an attempt to ensure that you stay at the forefront of dental care, Dental nurses are required to participate in a process of continuing professional development (CPD). This might include attending courses, seminars, and workshops to update your knowledge and skills.

How to Become a Dental Nurse

The route to becoming a dental nurse in the UK consists of several stages, all designed to prepare you for this fulfilling profession:

• Educational Requirements: You will need to have the right GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications). If you don’t have the qualifications you need, you can try taking other courses to get the right grades.
• Picking the Right Course: Research and select a suitable approved course for dental nursing, taking into account course content, length of course and reputation of the training provider.
• Apply for the Course: After you’ve decided on your course, apply to the training provider. For some courses, an interview or further tests will be part of the application process.
• Get a Work Placement: Part of your training involves working in a dental practice, which your training provider will normally set up for you, but occasionally you’ll have to find one yourself.
• Finish Your Training: Learn how to do your job by going to your classes, doing your homework and working on your placement. This is how you learn to be an excellent dental nurse.
• Register with the GDC: After completing your course, you will need to apply for registration with the General Dental Council in order to practise as a dental nurse in the UK.
• Start your career: Having your GDC registration in hand, you are now a qualified dental nurse and ready to begin your career working in general practice, orthodontics, or a hospital setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Be a Dental Nurse?

If you are drawn to people, take an interest in healthcare issues and want to work in a team in a position that helps people look after their teeth, then becoming a dental nurse could be a great career choice. It’s a varied job, it offers employment security, and one of the main benefits is the feeling of satisfaction that comes, day in, day out, from making the lives of other people a little better.

Is Dental Nursing a Good Career Choice for You?

Is this the job for you? Dental nurses need to be organised, have excellent communication skills and be happy working in a busy clinical environment. It offers a combination of hands-on patient care, technical work and the chance to specialise further.

Dental Nurse Salaries

The average salary for dental nurses varies depending on experience, where you work, and what sort of practice you’re in. Still, entry-level roles start around £19,000, with opportunities to progress to higher wages as you gain experience and build up your skills in areas such as orthodontic or surgical nursing.

Which Qualifications Can Help with a Career in Dental Nursing?

The most important qualification is a recognised diploma in dental nursing, such as the National Diploma in Dental Nursing. Other courses that you can take that will enhance employability and career opportunities include certificates in radiography, oral health education or dental sedation nursing.

Do I Need to Be an Experienced Dental Nurse to Get Started?

Not at all; you can start your training without any previous experience. Relevant work experience or voluntary work in a healthcare setting is an advantage when applying for dental nursing courses.

Dental Nursing Career Outlook

There is a demand in the UK – oral health is important in this country, and there are many opportunities to work in general practices, hospitals, specialist clinics, research facilities and much more. The job is secure, and there are plenty of opportunities to move into senior or specialised roles.

Dental Nurse Hierarchy and Progressing Within the Role

From trainee to junior dental nurse, you could then become a senior dental nurse, lead dental nurse, practice manager or specialist nurse in areas such as orthodontics or oral surgery; further qualifications and experience could lead to teaching, research or dental hygiene.

Dental Nurse Exit Options and Opportunities

There are also a number of exit routes for the dental nurse, such as going into further dental training to become a dental hygienist or dental therapist and then moving into healthcare management. Dental nursing gives many transferable skills from which other health-related careers can benefit.