The Apprenticeship in Dental Nursing

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.

Role Overview

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

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Apprenticeship Details

• Course: Dental nurse (level 3)
• Training provider: TEMP DENT DENTAL AGENCY LIMITED
• What you'll learn: Course contents include identifying anatomy, evaluating health risks, scientific principles of dental materials, identifying signs of abuse/neglect, assessing patient anxiety, contributing to diagnostic procedures, undertaking orthodontic assessment, obtaining consent, recording patient history and dental charting, preparing and managing dental radiographs, managing patient anxiety, monitoring and supporting patients, managing stock and equipment, infection control, managing medical emergencies, providing preventive advice, supporting patients with acute oral conditions, adopting an evidence-based approach, effective communication (spoken, written, electronic), maintaining patient records, acting with care, compassion, empathy, and respect, professional discussions, giving feedback, respecting roles of dental professionals, effective team working, managing/referring/delegating work, taking a patient-centred approach, raising concerns, complying with systems for safe patient care, acting in accordance with best practice and guidelines, acting within legal frameworks, acting with integrity, demonstrating personal accountability, working in partnership, leading/managing where appropriate, supporting patients to negotiate barriers to oral healthcare, treating patients with dignity and respect, supporting informed decision-making, demonstrating cultural competence, providing the best possible outcome, speaking up to protect others, evaluating health promotion, evaluating environmental impacts of dental treatments, contributing to healthcare communities, evaluating evidence, utilising feedback, demonstrating personal development planning, evaluating new techniques and technologies, assessing capabilities and limitations, recognising personal assumptions/biases/prejudices, managing contextual factors, demonstrating professional responsibility, developing professional knowledge and competence, demonstrating engagement with wellbeing strategies, demonstrating continuous improvement, recognising when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised, and effectively managing time and resources. The training also includes underpinning all patient care with a preventive approach.