Job Description
The role of an Apprentice Dental Nurse encompasses:
- Preparing and maintaining the dental equipment, instruments and materials within a dental surgery
- Carrying out infection control and decontamination procedures
- Recording dental charting carried out by clinicians
- Preparing, mixing and handling dental materials
- Providing chair-side support to dentists, therapists and hygienists throughout a range of dental procedures
- Providing support and reassurance to patients
- Providing administration support in making appointments, taking payments and dealing with paperwork
An experienced dental nurse will use his/her knowledge of dentistry to anticipate what is needed during treatment sessions, a skill that is highly valued by the clinician.
On completion of your probation period with the employer, you will be enrolled onto the college course and will gain a professional certificate - Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing at Level 3 which will enable you to register with the GDC as a dental care professional.
Personal Qualities :
- Apprentices must maintain a high level of personal hygiene presenting a clean, neat, tidy, smart, safe and practical appearance at work
- Apprentices attending training should not be wearing work uniform
- Work uniform must not be worn entering or leaving the practice
- Footwear should be of a nature that protects the apprentice, flat closed toe shoes (not fabric)
- Work tunics/scrubs should be presentable and clean every day
- Jewellery worn must be consistent with health and safety and professional standards and must not obstruct or prevent an apprentice carrying out their duties
- Small stud earrings and a wedding band are the only acceptable forms of jewellery
- Nails should be short and free of polish, false nails, including but not limited to, shellac, acrylic and gel will not be tolerated
- Hair must be kept clean and tied back
- Make up should be kept to a minimum to maintain a professional image
Skills Required :
- We expect a friendly, responsible attitude and positive approach to people
- The dental nurse must be well presented and show a willingness to study
- You must be team player with good written and verbal communication skills, excellent organisational skills and good manual dexterity
- You need to be able to adapt to new situations and work well using your own initiative
Future Prospects :
There are a wide range of opportunities available to enable registered dental nurses to extend their clinical duties and develop their knowledge and skills within particular areas of interest, for example:
- Dental radiography
- Oral health education
- Sedation dental nursing
- Implant nursing
- Orthodontic dental nursing
- Special care dental nursing
- Oral surgery dental nursing
- Taking dental impressions
- The application of topical fluoride
Dental nurses may also progress onto university to become a dental hygienist/therapist.
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