Apprentice Dental Nurse - Mydentist

As an Apprentice Dental Nurse, you’ll support clinicians to deliver a range of high-quality dental treatments and help the smooth running of your surgery and the practice. You will enjoy being part of a team that’s passionate about caring for patients and helping the nation smile. Alongside your role you will achieve a Level 3 in Dental Nursing.

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

Responsibilities

• Reception including answering the phone and greeting patients
• Dealing with patient queries
• Taking payments
• Booking appointments and follow ups
• Sterilising and preparing equipment for dentists
• Recording and dealing with patient records
• Supporting patients' wellbeing and dental experience
• Cleaning dental areas including chairs
• Managing stock of equipment and supplies
• Any other duties to support the dentists and senior team to provide effective patient care

Requirements

• Understanding of relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy.
• Evaluation of health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health.
• Evaluation of scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and biomaterials, their limitations and selection.
• Identification of the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma, and explanation of safeguarding systems.
• Identification of the signs of normal and abnormal facial growth, and developmental milestones.
• Assessment of patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations.
• Contribution to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures.
• Undertaking orthodontic assessment.
• Obtaining valid consent from patients.
• Recording an accurate and contemporaneous patient history.
• Accurately recording dental charting.
• Accurately recording an oral health assessment.
• Preparation of records, images, equipment and materials for clinical assessment.
• Processing and management of dental radiographs and images.
• Management of patient anxiety appropriately.
• Monitoring, supporting and reassuring patients.
• Identification of changes in the patient’s reported oral health status and taking appropriate action.
• Making arrangements for follow-up care.
• Providing chairside support to the operator during treatment.
• Preparation, mixing and handling of dental materials.
• Identification and explanation of risks within and around the clinical environment.
• Implementation, performance, and management of effective decontamination and infection control procedures.
• Preparation and maintenance of the clinical environment, instruments, and equipment.
• Identification, assessment, and management of medical emergencies.
• Providing patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice and instruction.
• Support for the management of patients with acute oral conditions.
• Adoption of an evidence-based approach to clinical practice.
• Effective and sensitive communication with patients, including those with communication challenges.
• Effective and sensitive communication with the public.
• Effective communication with colleagues from dental and other healthcare professions.
• Maintenance of contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records.
• Communication with care, compassion, empathy and respect.
• Appropriate and effective communication in professional discussions.
• Giving feedback effectively to other team members.
• Respecting the roles of dental and other healthcare professionals.
• Demonstration of effective team working.
• Contribution to team efforts in patient care.
• Management, referral, or delegation of work according to scope of practice.
• Adoption of a patient-centred approach.
• Raising concerns about own or others’ performance.
• Compliance with systems and processes for safe patient care.
• Acting in accordance with current best practice guidelines.
• Acting in accordance with national and local clinical governance and health and safety requirements.
• Acting within legal frameworks.
• Acting with integrity.
• Demonstration of personal accountability.
• Partnership with colleagues to develop a supportive environment.
• Management and professional responsibility for actions where appropriate.
• Support for patients to negotiate barriers to accessing oral healthcare.
• Treating patients, the public, and colleagues with dignity and respect.
• Supporting patients to make informed decisions.
• Demonstration of cultural competence.
• Providing the best possible outcome for patients.
• Speaking up to protect others from harm.
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention.
• Proactive addressing of discriminatory language and behaviour.
• Evaluation of the role of health promotion.
• Evaluation and application of evidence in relation to environmental impacts of treatment methods.
• Positive contribution to healthcare communities.
• Evaluation of an evidence base.
• Utilisation of feedback for professional development.
• Demonstration of personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice.
• Evaluation of the impact of new techniques and technologies.
• Accurate assessment of own capabilities and limitations.
• Recognition and management of personal assumptions, biases, and prejudices.
• Recognition of the impact of contextual factors on patient safety.
• Demonstration of professional responsibility in self-development.
• Development and maintenance of professional knowledge and competence.
• Engagement with systems and strategies for maintaining wellbeing.
• Demonstration of appropriate continuous improvement activities.
• Recognition of when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised.
• Effective management of own time and resources.
• Underpinning patient care with a preventive approach.
• GCSE in Maths (grade 4) - Desirable
• GCSE in English (grade 4) - Desirable
• Share any other relevant qualifications and industry experience, as the apprenticeship can be adjusted.