Apprentice Dental Nurse

The apprenticeship in dental nursing is an 18-month government funded course by City & Guilds, a Level 3 Extended Diploma. Alongside your learning, your job role within the practice will entail assisting dentists, sterilising & preparing equipment, reception duties, and supporting patient experience.

Requirements

• Desirable qualifications:
  • Maths (grade 4)
  • English (grade 4)
• Skills:
  • Administrative Skills
  • Analytical Skills
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Care Skills
  • Initiative
  • IT Skills
  • Logical
  • Non-judgemental
  • Number Skills
  • Organisational Skills
  • Patience
  • Physical Fitness
  • Presentation Skills
  • Problem Solving Skills
  • Teamworking
  • Communication Skills

Responsibilities

• This role will provide efficient and reliable chairside support to clinicians while ensuring high standards of patient care, confidentiality, and GDPR compliance.
• Day-to-day Dental Nurse duties may include:
  • Welcoming patients and assisting with appointment scheduling
  • Handling basic patient enquiries professionally and appropriately
  • Preparing surgeries, sterilising instruments, and maintaining infection control to CQC standards
  • Assisting clinicians during treatments and accurately updating patient records in line with GDPR
  • Supporting patients’ comfort, reassurance, and overall dental experience
  • Monitoring and managing stock, equipment, and surgery readiness
  • Maintaining clean, safe, and fully equipped clinical areas
  • Upholding patient privacy, dignity, and confidentiality at all times
  • Collaborating with dentists and the wider team to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality care

Training

• Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
• Training provider: TEMP DENT DENTAL AGENCY LIMITED
• Training course: Dental nurse (level 3)
• Course contents include:
  • Identifying relevant dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy.
  • Evaluating health risks associated with drug use on oral and general health.
  • Understanding scientific principles of dental materials and biomaterials.
  • Identifying signs of abuse and neglect, and safeguarding procedures for children and adults.
  • Recognising signs of normal and abnormal facial growth and developmental milestones.
  • Assessing patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in dental care.
  • Contributing to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures.
  • Undertaking orthodontic assessment.
  • Obtaining valid consent from patients.
  • Recording accurate and contemporaneous patient history.
  • Accurately recording dental charting and oral health assessments.
  • Preparing records, images, equipment, and materials for clinical assessment.
  • Processing and managing dental radiographs and images.
  • Managing patient anxiety effectively and safely.
  • Monitoring, supporting, and reassuring patients through communication and behavioural techniques.
  • Identifying changes in reported oral health status and taking appropriate action.
  • Making arrangements for follow-up care.
  • Providing chairside support to the operator during treatment.
  • Preparing, mixing, and handling dental materials.
  • Identifying and explaining risks within the clinical environment and managing them safely.
  • Implementing effective decontamination and infection control procedures.
  • Preparing and maintaining the clinical environment, instruments, and equipment.
  • Identifying, assessing, and managing medical emergencies.
  • Providing preventive advice, instruction, and intervention to patients/carers.
  • Supporting the management of patients with acute oral conditions.
  • Adopting an evidence-based approach to clinical practice.
  • Communicating effectively and sensitively with patients, representatives, the public, and colleagues.
  • Maintaining contemporaneous, complete, and accurate patient records.
  • Demonstrating effective team working.
  • Managing, referring, or delegating work according to scope of practice.
  • Taking a patient-centred approach.
  • Raising concerns about own or others' health, behaviour, or professional performance.
  • Complying with systems and processes to support safe patient care.
  • Acting in accordance with current best practice guidelines, clinical governance, and health and safety requirements.
  • Acting within legal frameworks informing personal behaviour and healthcare delivery.
  • Acting with integrity to maintain trust.
  • Demonstrating personal accountability.
  • Working in partnership to develop and maintain a safe and supportive environment.
  • Leading, managing, and taking professional responsibility where appropriate.
  • Supporting patients to negotiate barriers to accessing oral healthcare.
  • Treating patients, the public, and colleagues with dignity and respect.
  • Supporting patients to make informed decisions about their care.
  • Demonstrating cultural competence.
  • Providing the best possible outcome for patients by using knowledge and skills.
  • Speaking up to protect others from harm.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention.
  • Addressing discriminatory language, behaviour, and microaggressions.
  • Evaluating the role of health promotion.
  • Evaluating and applying the evidence base in relation to environmental impacts of treatment methods.
  • Contributing positively to healthcare communities.
  • Evaluating an evidence base.
  • Utilising feedback for professional development.
  • Demonstrating personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice.
  • Evaluating the impact of new techniques and technologies.
  • Assessing own capabilities and limitations.
  • Recognising and managing personal assumptions, biases, and prejudices.
  • Recognising and managing the impact of contextual factors on patient safety.
  • Demonstrating professional responsibility in self-development.
  • Developing and maintaining professional knowledge and competence.
  • Demonstrating engagement with systems and strategies for wellbeing.
  • Demonstrating appropriate continuous improvement activities.
  • Recognising when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised.
  • Effectively managing own time and resources.
  • Underpinning patient care with a preventive approach.
• Training schedule:
  • Provided by Tempdent: Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship, Functional Skills (if applicable)
  • Flexible online delivery model
  • Quarterly start dates throughout the year
  • Induction and regular progress support

Benefits

• Wage: £18,720 a year
• Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm (40 hours a week)
• Duration: 1 year 6 months
• Start date: Monday 11 May 2026

About an inclusive dental practice

An inclusive dental practice offering mixed NHS and private treatments, focused on developing the next generation of dental nurses.

After this apprenticeship, a career in dental nursing can grow in many rewarding directions. With experience, you could progress into roles such as Senior Dental Nurse, Lead Nurse, Treatment Coordinator, or Practice Manager. With further training, you could develop into a Dental Hygienist or Dental Therapist, delivering preventative, restorative, and routine treatments to patients. You could also specialise as an Orthodontic Therapist, working with dental professionals to improve the alignment and appearance of patients’ teeth. The dental sector offers clear progression routes, recognised qualifications, and ongoing professional development to support your long-term career goals.

Application Process

• Closes in 15 days (Friday 8 May 2026)
• After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
• Sign in or create an account

Contact

• The contact for this apprenticeship is: TEMP DENT DENTAL AGENCY LIMITED
• The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025323.