Dental Nursing - Training to Be a Dental Nurse

To become a dental nurse, there are two possible paths available to take. Dental nurses can apply for the National Certificate for Dental Nurses exam or take an NVQ (National Vocational Training) course that results in a recognized qualification. Both courses vary in the time they take to complete, those wishing to obtain the National Certificate should note that the certificate cannot be awarded unless candidates have more than two years of full-time teaching experience. Read more here about this article.

Entry requirements

You do not need any formal qualifications needed to complete a course that results in a formal dental nurse qualification, but certain subjects, Biology, Chemistry, English and Computer Science, which would be useful for candidates to understand well, as they are relevant. to the dental clinic.

Apply

The National Board of Dental Nurse Examiners, until recently, was in charge of the examination conducted to qualify as a dental nurse. The National Certificate was, for many years, the only course dental nurses could take to qualify, however from registration and other professional obligations e.g. CPDs have become compulsory, the alternative route - National Professional Qualification is available.

Courses are held in dental hospitals, technical colleges or elsewhere in the UK such as health centers if they are private courses. For more details on courses near you, it's best to contact NEBDN or the British Association of Dental Nurses for those interested in the National Certificate, and for the NVQ contact City and Guilds.

Your health records

Like many in the dental industry, it is important for dental nurses to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, this involves an initial blood test, followed by a series of vaccination shots and another blood test to make sure the vaccine has worked. You may need a "booster" injection, but this is becoming less and less common. As with all vaccinations, dental nurses should contact their own GP to arrange for this to be completed. If you work in a dental hospital, you will be asked to provide a detailed personal medical history.

In the course

The National Certificate usually takes approximately eighteen months to complete, as students typically go to university for a full day or a half day a week. Topics covered in dentistry are anatomy and physiology, anatomy of a tooth, medical emergencies, dental materials and instruments, dental treatment: fillings, crowns and bridges, dentures, implants, infection control and sterilization, health and safety, patient management, plus much more.

The National Certificate exams take a full day and are structured, consisting of;

Dental Nursing Written Examination

Part A includes multiple choice, label a diagram, and diagram-related short-answer questions, plus short-answer questions and dental charts.

Part B involves the writing of four essays (choose four of five specific questions)

Practical test

Spotter - Twenty dental items to be correctly identified.

Part A involves mixing a dental material

Part B involves ten chosen items that candidates must describe the correct function of Oral (living) involves a verbal question and answer session with the examiner

A new requirement to take the National Certificate exam is an experience log, which must be completed before candidates enter the exam; It is designed for dental nurses to provide evidence of practical skills within their job role. Divided into five sections and a case study, and is conducted during a training course. Course providers will provide information and advice for dental nurses who are required to complete an experience log.