Dental Nursing is a profession in the health care sector, and mainly focused on the care of adults and children focusing on improving the quality of life. Dental Nurses day-to-day duties involve providing chairside support to a dental therapist or hygienist. They ensure that the dental clinic as well as all the instruments are kept sterile and free of bacteria, and viruses. Nurses job description normally includes being organized, polite, having good language skills and being able to operate under pressure. Nurses prepare the instruments for each procedure, take care of infection control, sterilization of the equipment and surfaces. Sometimes they might be asked to take care of the patient, making sure they feel comfortable. Anytime a dental nurse is on shift, they must closely follow the procedures as required by the General Dental Council.
General Dental Council (GDC)
General Dental Council is an independent organization that regulated all dental care professionals in the UK. This includes all dental nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, and technicians. GDC has created a set of dental standards, they hold a register of qualified dental professionals as well as assure the quality education and investigate any concerns about treatments and conduct. Dental nurses in the UK must closely follow the rules and regulations set out in the GDC scope of practice. It sets out the abilities and skills for every staff member in the dental practice. The Scope of Practice may expand after the qualification to help people develop additional skills and provide deeper knowledge about dentistry.
How to Become a Dental Nurse in the UK?
People of age 16+ who wish to become a dental nurse must take an accredited dental nursing course. People can usually work as trainee dental nurses without any academic qualifications, but to progress to become a qualified dental nurse, they would need to take an accredited course in dental nursing, either part or full time. Providers will usually have a minimum requirement of 2 GCSEs in English language and maths or a science subject. There are many course providers in the UK, with Dental Tutors being a leading provider for years. Their online dental nurse course is highly recommended by previous students and their reviews just speak for themselves. The course usually lasts for 12 to 18 months, and students must pass 2 exams to receive the qualification. During the course they would also need to complete the practical assignments and get those signed by their dentists. This means that working in a dental clinic as a trainee is a must, otherwise student cannot complete the course. After successfully passing the dental nurse exams, students receive the National Diploma certificate and the GDC number, allowing them to work anywhere in the UK as a qualified dental nurse. People can later proceed in different career paths such as radiology, oral hygiene, implant nursing and others.