The National Diploma in Dental Nursing
What is the Course About?
The National Diploma in Dental Nursing (Accreditation with Exam Board Pending)
A recognised dental nursing qualification which covers all outcomes described within the GDC Preparing to Practice document.
The purpose of the qualification is to prepare trainee dental nurses in the foundations of dental nursing so they can demonstrate the highest standards in terms of knowledge, skills and professional attributes.
This curriculum is based on the GDC registration requirements for dental nurses and the national occupational standards for dental nursing published by Skills for Health. It sets out the knowledge, skills and behavioural requirements that should be developed and demonstrated. These are set out in terms of professional knowledge and competence.
Assessments during training and in the Examination will cover any of the knowledge and performance competencies set out in this curriculum – indeed, most if not all of them will be assessed at some stage of training or in the examination.
The qualification is assessed using a formative workplace assessment, the Record of Experience (ROE), which enables the workplace team to become an integral part of the training of the trainee dental nurse.
The summative assessment comprises a written (Single Best Answer (SBA) and Extended Matching Questions (EMQ) and practical (Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) component aimed at assessing knowledge and decision making to demonstrate trainee dental nurses' understanding and competence. The summative assessment also adheres to current educational best practice.
The assessment methods for each of the knowledge and performance competencies set out in this curriculum are aligned to each competency.
The curriculum is set out in modules. Each module describes a different area of professional practice:
Module 1: Professionalism and the Role of the Dental Nurse
AIM: To discuss the roles and responsibilities of a dental nurse including their professional responsibility and to enable dental nurses to understand the importance of adhering to professional, ethical, legislative and local policies relevant to working within the dental setting.
Module 2: Health and Safety
AIM: To identify and manage risks and hazards in the workplace in line with current legislative frameworks, government policies and accepted good practice
Module 3: Dealing with Medical Emergencies
AIM: To provide appropriate support in emergency situations and understand the role of the dental team within these situations.
Module 4: General, Dental and Regional Anatomy
AIM: To demonstrate an understanding of General, Dental and Regional Anatomy and the relevance to patients’ treatment needs.
Module 5: Oral Disease
AIM: To demonstrate an understanding of common oral diseases, including oral cancer and their effect on the oral cavity.
Module 6: Prevention of Oral Disease
AIM: To demonstrate the preparation of the dental environment and support the operator during a variety of preventative procedures
Module 7: Assessment
AIM: To demonstrate the preparation of the dental environment and the support of the
operator during an oral health assessment. To demonstrate an understanding of current
legislation relating to confidentiality. To demonstrate support during the taking of dental
images, processing images and maintaining quality in accordance with relevant legislation and policy.
Module 8: Restorative Dentistry
AIM: To demonstrate the preparation of the dental environment and support the patient
and the operator during the provision of restorative procedures.
Module 9 Child Dental Health
AIM: To demonstrate the preparation of the dental environment and support the patient
and the operator during the provision of restorative and orthodontic procedures. To
demonstrate appropriate patient management and communication techniques.
Module 10: Minor Oral Surgery
AIM: To demonstrate the preparation of the dental environment and support the patient
and the operator during the minor oral surgery. To demonstrate appropriate patient
management and communication techniques.
Module 11: Pain and Anxiety Control
AIM: To demonstrate the preparation of the dental environment and support the patient
and the operator during the provision of pain and anxiety control. To demonstrate
appropriate patient management and communication techniques.
What are my progression and career options?
Practice manager
If you've been working as a dental nurse for some time and have extensive experience, you could consider becoming a practice manager. They manage finances, direct staff, deal with patients and their concerns and ensure that hygiene standards are met. Whilst this role involves moving away from dental nursing and taking on all aspects of running the business it can be an extremely rewarding job progression. Seeing your staff happy and the dental practice growing reflects a good practice manager.
Clinical trainers
Clinical trainers are responsible for the training and development of trainee dental nurses. They provide them with the skills to work on their own, as well as mentoring their progression through the role:
• Courses develop their theory knowledge, clinical skills, and professional practice.
• Mentoring and coaching provide guidance on how to perform tasks and give alternatives and suggestions of improvement for trainees.
• You will need to be able to coach staff effectively, so they feel confident in carrying out their work safely and efficiently.
• You will need good communication skills so that you provide appropriate feedback to each trainee.
Specialisations for dental nurses
If you wish to be more involved in the patient journey you could further train to enable the undertaking of certain procedures on your own. Generally, acquiring the specialisation qualification will also mean an increase in pay.
Radiography
If you become a radiography specialised dental nurse you will be able to take and interpret various types of x-rays under the dentist’s prescription. Such a position is very useful in increasing efficiency in the practice especially in specialised ones like orthodontics.
Oral health educator
This is suited for dental nurses passionate about oral health education. Oral health educators help patients to improve and maintain oral hygiene to various types of patients by adapting communication and advice to the specific needs of the patient
Fluoride varnish application
With this qualification you will be able to apply fluoride varnish on patients teeth under the prescription of a dentist or as part of a dental health programme. This can be in the dental practice or within a community-based programme.
Dental implants
If you have a particular interest in surgery, implant dentistry might be an option for you. This area of dentistry specialises in surgical procedure together with expertise to restore dentition. The reason that patients may need an implant is caries, trauma or malignancy.
Dental sedation
Patients sometimes cannot have dental treatment in the dental practice because they are too anxious or have phobia. With dental sedation they have medication which helps relax and enable them to be treated. Most of the dental sedation is performed in the community which involves more members of the team to ensure patients are monitored closely during the procedure and afterwards.
Orthodontic dental nurse
This area of dentistry specialises in alignment of the teeth and jaws and any dental treatments will be performed by dentists. It is an area which requires a great deal of organisation and attention to detail as you will be handling lots of small objects like brackets that are stuck to the teeth. Here you will see predominantly children of various ages so it’s perfect for any that enjoy working with young patients.
How will I be assessed?
Complete a Record of Experience (RoE), or Record of Competence (RoC)
Complete the national dental nursing examination is in two parts and you will need to pass Part 1 before you can take Part 2.
Part 1 is a written exam consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and extended matching questions (EMQs). Part 2 is a practical examination consisting of a series of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). These clinical examinations are designed around simulated situations which you may commonly encounter in the workplace.
Once you have passed Part 2 of the examination you will be awarded the National Diploma in Dental Nursing and you will be eligible to apply for registration with the General Dental Council as a qualified Dental Nurse.
Entry requirements
Be at least 16 years old and legally allowed to work in the UK, IOM or Channel Islands.
There is a large theoretical/academic aspect of this course, although not enforced it is strongly recommended to have GCSE English and Maths at Grade C or above (equivalent qualifications accepted including function skills/key skills).
Student must be working as a Dental Nurse in Dental Practice or Hospital/Community Clinic.