Apprenticeship Dental Nursing

The apprenticeship in dental nursing is a 12-month government-funded course by City & Guilds, a Level 3 Extended Diploma. National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course
Dental nurse (level 3)

Monday to Friday, shifts to be confirmed; some evening and weekend work may be required depending on the rota.
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. Provide efficient and reliable chair-side support to the dental surgery.
The day-to-day duties of a dental nurse can span across all areas of the practice and can include:
Reception, including answering the phone and greeting patients
Supporting patients' well-being and dental experience
Cleaning dental areas, including chairs
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. Training provider

HARRIET ELLIS TRAINING SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Course contents

Identify relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy, recognising the diversity of anatomy across the patient population.
Evaluate the health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health.
Evaluate the scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and Biomaterials, their limitations and selection, with emphasis on those used in dentistry.
Identify the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma, explain local and national systems that safeguard the welfare of children and adults.
Identify the signs of normal and abnormal facial growth, physical, mental and dental development milestones and explain their significance.
Assess patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in respect of dental care and oral health.
Obtain valid consent from patients explaining all the relevant factors and taking into account the legal requirements where appropriate within scope of practice.
Accurately record dental charting as carried out by other appropriate registrants.
Accurately record an oral health assessment.
Process and manage dental radiographs and images.
Identify changes in the patient’s reported oral health status and take appropriate action.
Prepare, mix and handle dental materials.
Identify and explain the risks within and around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and effective manner.
Identify, assess, and manage medical emergencies.
Provide patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice, instruction, and intervention in a manner which is accessible, promotes self-care and motivates patients/carers to comply with advice and take responsibility to maintain and improve oral health.
Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions ensuring involvement of appropriate dental team members.
Communicate effectively and sensitively, tailoring to context, by spoken, written and or electronic means with all patients, including patients whose first language is not English, using representatives or interpreters where necessary, in relation to patients with anxious or challenging behaviour or special considerations such as emotional trauma and difficult circumstances, such as breaking bad news, or discussing issues such as alcohol consumption, smoking, or diet.
Communicate effectively by spoken, written and electronic means with colleagues from dental and other healthcare professions in relation to the direct care of individual patients, oral health promotion and raising concerns when problems arise, including where patients cause distress to staff.
Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records in accordance with legal requirements and best practice.
Respect the roles of dental and other healthcare professionals in the context of learning and working in a dental and wider healthcare team.
Contribute to your team in providing dental care for patients.
Where appropriate manage, refer or delegate work according to the scope of practice of members of the dental team, in line with competence and professional practice.
Take a patient-centred approach to working with the dental and wider healthcare team.
Raise concerns where appropriate about your own or others’ health, behaviour or professional performance.
Act in accordance with national and local clinical governance and health and safety requirements.
Act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, the delivery of healthcare and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients.
Demonstrate personal accountability to patients, the regulator, the team and wider community.
Work in partnership with colleagues to develop and maintain an effective and supportive environment which promotes the safety and wellbeing of the patient and dental team.
Where appropriate support patients to negotiate the barriers and challenges which prevent sections of the population accessing oral healthcare, including patients from marginalised populations and patients with protected characteristics.
Demonstrate cultural competence, accepting and respecting the diversity of patients and colleagues.
Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention at a community and or population level.
Proactively address discriminatory language, behaviour and microaggressions from colleagues, patients and other professionals.
Evaluate the role of health promotion in terms of the changing environment, community and individual behaviours to deliver health gain.
Evaluate and apply the evidence base in relation to the environmental impacts of common treatment methods and approaches to the delivery of oral healthcare.
Contribute positively to the healthcare communities of which you are a part.
Utilise the receipt of effective feedback in the professional development of self.
Demonstrate personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice.
Evaluate the impact of new techniques and technologies as they relate to dental nurse practice.
Accurately assess your own capabilities and limitations in the interest of high-quality patient care and seek advice from supervisors or colleagues where appropriate.
Recognise the impact of contextual factors on the health care environment and patient safety and manage this professionally.
Demonstrate own professional responsibility in the development of self.
Demonstrate engagement with systems and personal strategies which promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing.
Recognise when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised to a point of affecting an individual’s role or professional relationships.
Underpin all patient care with a preventive approach, that takes account of patient compliance and self-care, to contribute to the patient’s long-term oral and general health.
Identify relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy, recognising the diversity of anatomy across the patient population.
Evaluate the health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health.
Evaluate the scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and Biomaterials, their limitations and selection, with emphasis on those used in dentistry.
Identify the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma, explain local and national systems that safeguard the welfare of children and adults.
Identify the signs of normal and abnormal facial growth, physical, mental and dental development milestones and explain their significance.
Assess patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in respect of dental care and oral health.
Obtain valid consent from patients explaining all the relevant factors and taking into account the legal requirements where appropriate within scope of practice.
Accurately record dental charting as carried out by other appropriate registrants.
Accurately record an oral health assessment.
Process and manage dental radiographs and images.
Identify changes in the patient’s reported oral health status and take appropriate action.
Prepare, mix and handle dental materials.
Identify and explain the risks within and around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and effective manner.
Identify, assess, and manage medical emergencies.
Provide patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice, instruction, and intervention in a manner which is accessible, promotes self-care and motivates patients/carers to comply with advice and take responsibility to maintain and improve oral health.
Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions ensuring involvement of appropriate dental team members.
Communicate effectively and sensitively, tailoring to context, by spoken, written and or electronic means with all patients, including patients whose first language is not English, using representatives or interpreters where necessary, in relation to patients with anxious or challenging behaviour or special considerations such as emotional trauma and difficult circumstances, such as breaking bad news, or discussing issues such as alcohol consumption, smoking, or diet.
Communicate effectively by spoken, written and electronic means with colleagues from dental and other healthcare professions in relation to the direct care of individual patients, oral health promotion and raising concerns when problems arise, including where patients cause distress to staff.
Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records in accordance with legal requirements and best practice.
Respect the roles of dental and other healthcare professionals in the context of learning and working in a dental and wider healthcare team.
Contribute to your team in providing dental care for patients.
Where appropriate manage, refer or delegate work according to the scope of practice of members of the dental team, in line with competence and professional practice.
Take a patient-centred approach to working with the dental and wider healthcare team.
Raise concerns where appropriate about your own or others’ health, behaviour or professional performance.
Act in accordance with national and local clinical governance and health and safety requirements.
Act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, the delivery of healthcare and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients.
Demonstrate personal accountability to patients, the regulator, the team and wider community.
Work in partnership with colleagues to develop and maintain an effective and supportive environment which promotes the safety and wellbeing of the patient and dental team.
Where appropriate support patients to negotiate the barriers and challenges which prevent sections of the population accessing oral healthcare, including patients from marginalised populations and patients with protected characteristics.
Demonstrate cultural competence, accepting and respecting the diversity of patients and colleagues.
Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention at a community and or population level.
Proactively address discriminatory language, behaviour and microaggressions from colleagues, patients and other professionals.
Evaluate the role of health promotion in terms of the changing environment, community and individual behaviours to deliver health gain.
Evaluate and apply the evidence base in relation to the environmental impacts of common treatment methods and approaches to the delivery of oral healthcare.
Contribute positively to the healthcare communities of which you are a part.
Utilise the receipt of effective feedback in the professional development of self.
Demonstrate personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice.
Evaluate the impact of new techniques and technologies as they relate to dental nurse practice.
Accurately assess your own capabilities and limitations in the interest of high-quality patient care and seek advice from supervisors or colleagues where appropriate.
Recognise the impact of contextual factors on the health care environment and patient safety and manage this professionally.
Demonstrate own professional responsibility in the development of self.
Demonstrate engagement with systems and personal strategies which promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing.
Recognise when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised to a point of affecting an individual’s role or professional relationships.
Underpin all patient care with a preventive approach, that takes account of patient compliance and self-care, to contribute to the patient’s long-term oral and general health.
Training schedule
Dental Nurse (GDC 2023) Level 3 (A level) Apprenticeship Standard
The training will take place at the dental surgery
More training information
Off-the-job training is on average 7 hours per week
English (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check