Dental
nurses

Description

Dental nurses prepare patients for, and assist with, dental examinations, prepare and sterilise instruments and maintain case records.

Tasks

• prepares patient for examination
• prepares and sterilises instruments and follows guidelines to maintain sterile conditions within the surgery
• hands required equipment and medication to dentist during examination
• assists with minor treatment, such as preparing materials for fillings
• removes water and saliva from patient’s mouth during treatment
• maintains records, processes and mounts x?ray films and undertakes reception duties.

Educational Requirements

Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades. Training is available both off- and on-the-job. Most entrants work towards the National Certificate for Dental Nurses.