An essential part of any dental team, the dental nurse works closely with a qualified dentist or oral surgeon, ensuring dental sessions run as smoothly as possible. Duties undertaken by a dental nurse include preparing and maintaining the clinical environment, charting during examinations, preparing and mixing materials, and providing support to patients during treatment
The General Dental Council requires all nurses to be suitably qualified. Recognised qualifications include: NEBDN National Certificate, NVQ Level 3 in Oral Healthcare, SVQ Level 3 in Oral Healthcare, Certificate of Proficiency in Dental Nursing and Certificate of Higher Education in Dental Nursing
Hours are generally between 08:30 and 17:30, Monday to Friday, with the possibility of Saturday and late-evening work. Openings exist in NHS and private practices, hospitals, prisons and the Armed Forces. Employees, who must be registered with the General Dental Council, receive between £12,000 and £15,000 per annum, with hospital rates from £18,000 to £21,000.