Dental Nurse Apprenticeship

Overview

As an Apprentice Dental Nurse, you\\\’ll support clinicians to deliver a range of high-quality dental treatments and help the smooth running of your surgery and the practice. You will enjoy being part of a team that\\\’s passionate about caring for patients and helping the nation smile. Alongside your role, you will achieve a level 3 in Dental Nursing.

The day-to-day duties of a dental nurse can span across all areas of the practice and can include:

Responsibilities

• Reception, including answering the phone and greeting patients
• Dealing with patient queries
• Taking payments
• Booking appointments and follow-ups
• Sterilising and preparing equipment for dentists
• Recording and dealing with patient records
• Supporting patients\\\’ well-being and dental experience
• Cleaning dental areas, including chairs
• Managing stock of equipment and supplies
• Any other duties to support the dentists and senior team to provide effective patient care
• 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
• Contribute to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures
• Undertake orthodontic assessment
• Obtain valid consent from patients explaining all the relevant factors and taking into account the legal requirements where appropriate within scope of practice
• Record an accurate and contemporaneous patient history
• Accurately record dental charting as carried out by other appropriate registrants
• Accurately record an oral health assessment
• Prepare records, images, equipment and materials for clinical assessment
• Process and manage dental radiographs and images
• Manage patient anxiety appropriately, effectively, and safely
• Monitor, support and reassure patients through effective communication and behavioural techniques
• Identify changes in the patient\\\’s reported oral health status and take appropriate action
• Make arrangements for follow-up care as prescribed by the operator
• Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment
• 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
• Implement, perform, and manage effective decontamination and infection control procedures according to current guidelines
• Prepare and maintain the clinical environment including the instruments and equipment
• 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
• Adopt an evidence-based approach to clinical practice
• Communicate effectively and sensitively, tailoring to context, by spoken, written and electronic means with all patients, including patients whose first language is not English
• Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records in accordance with legal requirements and best practice
• Communicate with care, compassion, empathy and respect in all professional interactions with patients, their representatives, the public and colleagues
• Give feedback effectively to other members of the team
• Respect the roles of dental and other healthcare professionals in the context of learning and working in a dental and wider healthcare team
• Demonstrate effective team working and 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
• 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
• Comply with systems and processes to support safe patient care
• Act in accordance with current best practice guidelines 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
• Act with integrity and ensure your actions maintain the trust of colleagues, patients, and the public
• 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 lead, manage and take professional responsibility for the actions of colleagues and other members of the team involved in patient care
• Where appropriate support patients to negotiate the barriers and challenges which prevent sections of the population accessing oral healthcare
• Treat your patients, members of the public and your colleagues with dignity and respect and without discrimination
• Support patients to make informed decisions about their care
• Demonstrate cultural competence, accepting and respecting the diversity of patients and colleagues
• Provide the best possible outcome for your patients by using your knowledge and skills, acting as an advocate for their needs where appropriate
• Speak up to protect others from harm
• Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention at a community and/or population level
• Proactively address discriminatory language, behaviour and microaggressions
• 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 environmental impacts of treatment methods in 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 and seek advice from supervisors or colleagues where appropriate
• Recognise personal assumptions, biases and prejudices and manage their impact on patient care and professional behaviour
• Recognise the impact of contextual factors on the health care environment and patient safety
• Demonstrate own professional responsibility in the development of self
• Develop and maintain professional knowledge and competence
• Demonstrate engagement with systems and personal strategies which promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing
• Demonstrate appropriate continuous improvement activities
• Recognise when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised
• Effectively manage your own time and resources
• Underpin all patient care with a preventive approach to long-term oral and general health

Qualifications

• GCSE in Maths & English (grade 4) or equivalent
• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Physical fitness
• Motivated to learn
• Desire to help
• Resilience

Additional Details

• You\\\’ll be joining the UK\\\’s leading dental network, delivering high-quality dentistry that makes people smile. You will have support to complete your level three apprenticeship via our trusted partner Tempdent and ongoing professional development.
• As Europe\\\’s largest dental organisation, mydentist is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable, and individual care. Start Your Journey: Build a fulfilling career with us, in a caring and inclusive team.
• Salary: £17,078.10 to £27,619.02, depending on age
• Hours: See schedule; 43 hours 30 minutes per week with various shifts
• Start date: 22 October 2025
• Duration: 1 year 6 months
• Qualification: Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship Standard (City & Guilds)
• Assessment: End Point Assessment (EPA) after portfolio
• Delivery: Online study with online teaching sessions
• Off-the-Job Training: Provided and paid for by employer
• Benefits: Health and wellbeing benefits, discounts, recognition schemes, indemnity insurance and GDC membership