Apprentice Dental Nurse - Oxford

Temple Street Dental Practice, United Kingdom (OX4 1JS)
Closes in 23 days (Friday 23 October 2026)
Posted on 29 September 2026

Summary

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.

Wage: £12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Work

What you'll do at work

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

Where you'll work

26 Temple Street, Oxford
United Kingdom OX4 1JS

Training

Training course

Dental nurse (level 3)

What you'll learn

• Identify relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy
• Evaluate the health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health
• Evaluate the scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and Biomaterials
• Identify the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma
• Assess patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in respect of dental care and oral health
• Contribute to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures
• Obtain valid consent from patients
• Record an accurate and contemporaneous patient history
• Accurately record dental charting
• Accurately record an oral health assessment
• Prepare records, images, equipment and materials for clinical assessment
• Process and manage dental radiographs and images
• Manage patient anxiety appropriately, effectively, and safely
• Monitor, support and reassure patients through effective communication and behavioural techniques
• Identify changes in the patient’s reported oral health status and take appropriate action
• Make arrangements for follow-up care as prescribed by the operator
• Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment
• Prepare, mix and handle dental materials
• Identify and explain the risks within and around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and effective manner
• Implement, perform, and manage effective decontamination and infection control procedures according to current guidelines
• Prepare and maintain the clinical environment including the instruments and equipment
• Identify, assess, and manage medical emergencies
• Provide patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice, instruction, and intervention
• Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions
• Adopt an evidence-based approach to clinical practice
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with all patients
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with the public
• Communicate effectively with colleagues from dental and other healthcare professions
• Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records
• Communicate with care, compassion, empathy and respect in all professional interactions
• Give feedback effectively to other members of the team
• Respect the roles of dental and other healthcare professionals
• Demonstrate effective team working
• Contribute to your team in providing dental care for patients
• Raise concerns where appropriate about your own or others’ health, behaviour or professional performance
• Comply with systems and processes to support safe patient care
• Act in accordance with current best practice guidelines
• Act in accordance with national and local clinical governance and health and safety requirements
• Act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, the delivery of healthcare and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients
• Act with integrity and ensure your actions maintain the trust of colleagues, patients, and the public
• Demonstrate personal accountability to patients, the regulator, the team and wider community
• Work in partnership with colleagues to develop and maintain an effective and supportive environment which promotes the safety and wellbeing of the patient and dental team
• Support patients to negotiate the barriers and challenges which prevent sections of the population accessing oral healthcare
• Treat your patients, members of the public and your colleagues with dignity and respect and without discrimination
• Support patients to make informed decisions about their care
• Demonstrate cultural competence, accepting and respecting the diversity of patients and colleagues
• Provide the best possible outcome for your patients by using your knowledge and skills, acting as an advocate for their needs where appropriate
• Speak up to protect others from harm
• Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention at a community and or population level
• Proactively address discriminatory language, behaviour and microaggressions from colleagues, patients and other professionals
• Evaluate the role of health promotion in terms of the changing environment, community and individual behaviours to deliver health gain
• Contribute positively to the healthcare communities of which you are a part
• Evaluate an evidence base
• Utilise the receipt of effective feedback in the professional development of self
• Demonstrate personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice
• Evaluate the impact of new techniques and technologies as they relate to dental nurse practice
• Accurately assess your own capabilities and limitations in the interest of high-quality patient care and seek advice from supervisors or colleagues where appropriate
• Recognise personal assumptions, biases and prejudices and manage the impact of these on patient care and professional behaviour with colleagues, patients and wider society
• Recognise the impact of contextual factors on the health care environment and patient safety and manage this professionally
• Demonstrate own professional responsibility in the development of self
• Develop and maintain professional knowledge and competence
• Demonstrate engagement with systems and personal strategies which promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing
• Demonstrate appropriate continuous improvement activities
• Recognise when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised to a point of affecting an individual’s role or professional relationships
• Effectively manage your own time and resources
• Underpin all patient care with a preventive approach, that takes account of patient compliance and self-care, to contribute to the patient’s long-term oral and general health