Dental Nurse

This Advanced dental nurse apprenticeship standard will provide you with a level 3, qualification. This apprenticeship standard was approved on the 12/11/2015 and typically takes 18 months to complete. However, it is important to note that the duration of the apprenticeship standard stated does not include the End-Point Assessment period.

Dental nurses assist with the roles of other dental health professionals. One of the primary roles of a dental nurse is to provide chair-side support to dentists, and ensuring a high quality of patient care is always the top priority.

You will gain specialist knowledge, including a thorough understanding of oral anatomy, factors that affect oral health, and routes of transmission and methods of protection against infectious agents. You will also develop a range of practical skills such as preparing the clinical environment before dental procedures, testing of equipment and advising patients on oral health maintenance.

This apprenticeship offers the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the clinical responsibilities of a dental nurse, and you will gain the relevant qualifications to apply to the General Dental Council for professional registration as a dental nurse.

Dental nurses are registered professionals, required to work within the standards and regulations of the General Dental Council Scope of Practice. You must comply with ethical standards at all times and demonstrate a strong commitment to high-quality patient care. There are a variety of clinical environments where you could work, ranging from small dental surgeries to dental hospitals.

• Dentist
• Dental hygiene nurse
• Dental technician
• Dental therapist
• Orthodontic therapist

Visit the dental nurse apprenticeship standard, on the Institute for Apprenticeships site, to find further information on skills and knowledge learnt, assessment methods and more.