1. First of all, what is a dental nurse?
A dental nurse is a healthcare professional who supports the dentist during dental treatments. They help to provide care and treatment for patients of all ages, including children and babies. Dental nurses are responsible for the smooth running of the dental practice ensuring equipment is clean and safe to use for the treatment of patients.
You may find that working as a dental nurse can be incredibly rewarding. Offering a stable income and flexible working hours, it's a great career option for anyone interested in dentistry. The role also provides an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. By helping them maintain oral health, you can improve their overall quality of life, leading to greater self-confidence and happiness.
2. What are the entry requirements?
If you're thinking of pursuing this role, the qualifications you'll need to succeed will vary depending on the type of course. These include apprenticeship or diploma and entry requirements for both can be found below. A google search will bring up various providers of courses. Some are online whereas others will ask you to attend college once a week. We have put together an in-depth comparison between the two courses which can be found in our recent blog post here.
| Diploma with Cavity Training | Apprenticeship |
| No formal entry requirements | GCSE Grade 4/C in Maths and English or completion of Level 2 Functional Skills |
| 16 years or older | 16 years or older |
| Employed as a trainee dental nurse | Employed as a trainee dental nurse |
| Hepatitis B vaccinations | Hepatitis B vaccinations |
| Disclosure barring service checks | Disclosure barring service checks |
3. Speak to any dental friends
If you have an acquaintance or friend that is a dental nurse or other type of dental professional go and ask about their experience. Gather as much information as you can before making a decision.
4. Research course providers
A simple Google search will bring up course providers. The choice purely depends on your personal commitments, finance and future prospects. You can find out more about this and the options available to you in our blog here.
We hope that this article has helped you kick start your dental nursing research. You are on a great path to a beautiful career and we wish you the very best of luck!