Role Characteristics
- Take responsibility for the decontamination of instruments
- Maintain dental operating equipment
- Ensure that all relevant materials and supplies are in place
- Look after patient records – including making notes when the dentist is examining a person
- Work closely with the dentist, responding quickly to requests
- Generally keeping the surgery ready for use
Skills
- Advice giving
- Customer service
- Operating equipment
- Organisation
- Team work
- Time Management
Day in the life
Watch this video to find out more about studying Dental Nursing at Leeds Dental Institute.
Routes into this role
Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.
- GCSEs
- BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels
- An apprenticeship
- Foundation degree
How to become
To become a Dental Nurse, you will need to complete a course approved by the General Dental Council (GDC). There are many ways to access this, and you can explore lots of current opportunities in the section below.
- Study a course or qualification – useful qualifications include GCSEs in English, Maths and Science-related subjects, alongside Health and Social Care or Public Services related courses, T Levels and BTECs.
You will then be eligible to study to be a dental nurse on a Level 3 Dental Nursing diploma or Dental Nurse apprenticeship, where you gain experience in the workplace while studying a qualification.
Some universities also offer an undergraduate degree in Dental Nursing, but these are less common.
Alongside education, you may also want to build some relevant work or voluntary experience in healthcare settings, customer service roles, or community health organisations and think about developing your communication, teamwork, organisation, attention to detail, and empathy skills.
Where can this role lead
From your role as a Dental Nurse, you could specialise in different areas of dental care by becoming a Dental Hygiene Therapist or Orthodontic Therapist. You could also complete additional education and training to become a Dentist.
Your experience supporting patients, assisting clinical procedures, and promoting oral health would also transfer well into sideways moves such as a Health Trainer, Public Health Practitioner, or Care Navigator where you would continue supporting people's health and wellbeing in different settings.
If you would like to work more directly with patient treatment and care, becoming an Adult Nurse, or Operating Department Practitioner could be a good next step.
Location
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Armed Forces
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Community Settings
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Hospitals
Working hours
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Full Time
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Part Time
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Weekdays
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Overtime
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Flexible Hours
Opportunities
Access to Higher Education (Science, Medical, and Health)
- Organisation
- Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
Leeds City College Health and Social Care courses
- Organisation
- Leeds City College
Volunteering in Health and Care
- Organisation
- Volunteering Opportunities
Dental Nurse Apprenticeships in The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
- Organisation
- The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
BSc Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy
- Organisation
- University of Leeds
Dental Nursing Apprenticeship
- Organisation
- Bradford College