Patient care relies on a great dental team. Without a skilled dental nurse, dentists simply cannot do their jobs. Successful four-handed dentistry is just one of many team concepts physically impossible without the chairside support of a dental nurse. Dental nursing is a rewarding career that has a positive impact on patients and colleagues alike. And as efforts to harness the benefits of skill mix continue to grow, so do further training opportunities for dental nurses.

Why dental nurses are key contributors to the dental team

There is no part of the dental surgery that operates smoothly without a dental nurse. A typical day is full of variety in treating patients of all ages and at any stage in their treatment journey. While the majority of time is spent working closely with the dentist, there is interaction between every member of the team: dentists, clinical dental technicians, hygienists, therapists, receptionists and practice managers.

In addition to providing chairside support and assisting with dental procedures in the surgery, other responsibilities include:

• Upholding high standards of infection control in clinical environments and the decontamination of instruments.
• Providing excellent customer service on reception, coordinating patient bookings and payments, as well as other administrative duties.
• Maintenance of dental equipment, materials and practice supplies.
• Involvement in maintaining patient records by making notes whilst the dentists is examining a patient.

What skills do dental nurses need?

Dental nurses are highly skilled members of the dental team. They need to be excellent communicators with both patients and colleagues, detail-oriented and able to work well under pressure. Each patient requires personalised dental treatments and procedures. Workloads remain ever-changing. This pace of change extends to the digital revolution in dentistry that now necessitates digital literacy. Given the inevitability of digital innovation, the dental nurse of the future is one who embraces new technologies and can adapt to change.

Why undertake further training?

Initial training to become a qualified dental nurse can take one of three forms. Studying a part time course approved by the GDC alongside working as a trainee dental nurse is the most common route. Full time study to gain a Certificate of Higher Education in Dental Nursing or undertaking an apprenticeship are alternative options to qualification. But in a profession of lifelong learning, the journey does not stop there. Qualified dental nurses can embark on additional training to widen their scope of practice. The GDC Scope of Practice document outlines additional clinical duties that a dental nurse could develop, such as intraoral photography and oral health promotion.

There are numerous personal benefits of increased self-awareness through identifying new skills and strengths. Further training is also the ultimate catalyst for professional development. By increasing their scope of practice, dental nurses can do more in whichever dental environment they choose to work in. A wider skillset is synonymous with improved employability in the long run. So career progression is not only a stimulating and rewarding experience, but can also increase earning potential.

What further training is available for dental nurses?

The traditional route has been for registered dental nurses to build on core skills by gaining a National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) post registration qualification.

There are seven post registration qualifications NEBDN offer, training for which should be accessed through NEBDN accredited centres. There are multiple training centres and providers who run NEBDN post certificate qualifications. Different factors will influence which course is best for each individual. Various methods of study are available, but online training is likely to remain a feature of many dental nurse courses due to pandemic restrictions. Final NEBDN exams are held in March and September of each year, but additional assessment activities will vary on the course structure. These can range from formative workplace assessment, a record of experience or portfolio of evidence to summative clinical assessment.

Although NEBDN post registration qualifications are a great starting point for for dental nurses looking for further training, there are also non-NEBDN courses that are worth exploring. The list of courses below have been selected on the basis of cost, course duration, how each course is delivered (including the option for flexible training) and past attendee reviews.

The Best Dental Dental Nurse Courses: An Overview

1. NEBDN Certificate in Dental Radiography

Dental nurses who achieve this qualification will be able to act under prescription as an IR(ME)R operator, in order to safely take intraoral and extraoral radiographs of patients.

Course provider: Smiles Dental Training.

Course duration: 6 months. Online training, requires completion of NEBDN online exam.

Cost: £700 (includes final exam fee).

2. ​BDA Education Certificate in Dental Radiography

This course leads to a nationally recognised qualification that entitles dental nurses to take radiographs unsupervised. It is carried out entirely online, including completion of online learning modules and a practical portfolio over 5 months. Assessment is a 1 hour online multiple-choice exam. £595 (+ £124 exam fee).

3. BDA Certificate in Oral Health Education

This online course develops communication skills needed to educate patients about oral health. It involves online learning modules, a practical portfolio carried out over 4 months and an online exam. This certificate is nationally recognised and qualifies dental nurses to work as Oral Health Educators within their practices. £595 (+ £124 exam fee).

4. NEBDN Certificate in Oral Health Education

Dental nurses can gain this certification to become qualified oral health educators.

Course provider: Dental Nurse Network.

Course duration: flexible (approximately 1 year). Requires completion of NEBDN online exam.

Cost: £695 (includes the £195 final exam fee). See the linked course website for positive testimonials from recent course graduates.

5. NEBDN Certificate in Fluoride Varnish Application

Dental nurses who achieve this qualification will be able to apply fluoride varnish under the prescription of a dentist or as part of a structured oral health programme. This is a newer NEBDN post registration qualification and there is no exam. Instead, completion of online learning tutorials and a Record of Competence portfolio is required.

Course provider: Dental Nurse Network.

Course duration: 6 months.

Cost: £395 (includes £95 NEBDN registration fee). See the linked course website for positive testimonials from recent course graduates.

6. NEBDN Certificate in Dental Sedation Nursing

Conscious sedation is key to enabling numerous patient groups, including anxious and phobic patients, to access dental care they otherwise could not tolerate. This qualification allows dental nurses to competently and confidently assist during routine conscious sedation procedures.

Course provider: Dental Sedation Courses.

Course duration: 1 year. Online training, requires completion of NEBDN online exam.

Cost: £899 (includes final exam fee).

Dental Sedation Courses also offer an alternative, lower cost course: Conscious Sedation For Dental Nurses (Intravenous & Inhalation). Course duration: 1 year. £499. This is IACSD accredited and involves a logbook of case studies and online assessments. This option does not lead to the NEBDN Certificate in Dental Sedation Nursing.

7. NEBDN Certificate in Orthodontic Nursing

This qualification provides skills and knowledge for dental nurses working in specialist practice who aspire to assist in orthodontic procedures.

Course provider: Bay Dental Training Services.‍

Course duration: 6-8 months. To be able to undertake this course, dental nurses need to be able to access orthodontic patients of all appliance types. Requires a Record of Competence portfolio and completion of NEBDN online exam.

Cost: £795 (includes the £195 final exam fee).

8. NEBDN Certificate in Dental Implant Nursing

This qualification enables dental nurses to gain an increased knowledge and understanding of implant dentistry. It is aimed towards dental nurses who wish to assist more confidently and competently throughout implant treatment.

• Course provider: Dental Training Ltd. Course duration: 6-8 months. To be able to undertake this course, dental nurses need to be able to access patients undergoing implant treatment. Requires a Record of Competence portfolio and completion of NEBDN online exam. £795 (includes the £195 final exam fee).
• In person courses are also available through Connect Dental (Reading),ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital (Manchester) and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (London).

9. Certificate in Impression Taking

Achieving this award demonstrates competence to take impressions unsupervised under prescription for applications such as study models, orthodontic appliances, bleaching trays and dentures.

Course provider: Dental Nurse Network.

Course duration: 3 months.

Cost: £110.

Requires online training module completion and portfolio of evidence. See the linked course website for positive testimonials from recent course graduates.

10. Level 2 Award in Clinical Photography

This award is for dental nurses who wish to undertake clinical photography as part of treatment planning and assessment. Teaching materials are provided online and assessment is by way of a portfolio of common photographic views.

Course provider: Delta Dental.

Course duration: 4 weeks.

Cost: £36.

Alternatively, the University of Birmingham run a free online course on FutureLearn - ‘Improving Your Image: Dental Photography in Practice’.

11. Certificate in Dental Practice Management & Dental Reception

The Certificate in Dental Reception course aims to equip dental nurses who have had no formal receptionist training with skills required in a reception role, such as customer service, marketing, information governance and complaints handling. The  Certificate in Dental Practice Management provides a foundation for those new to a practice manager role, including any individuals who have previously been dental nurses or receptionists.

• Certificate in Dental Reception course provider: Dental Nurse Network. Course duration: 3 months. £110. Requires online training module completion.
• Certificate in Dental Practice Management course provider: Dental Nurse Network. Course duration: 3 months. £149. Requires online training module completion.
• Dental Nurse Network also provide a Combined Certificate in Dental Reception & Management. This offers enrolment on both the management and reception courses at a reduced rate of £259. See the linked course website for positive testimonials from recent course graduates.

12. Level 3 Certificate in Practical Care Coordination/Treatment Coordination

A Treatment Coordinator (TCO) forms an important link between patients and the clinical team. Responsibilities range from discussing payment options with patients to following up on treatment plans to achieve high levels of treatment acceptance. While a dedicated TCO role within dentistry is relatively new, more practices are recognising the benefits that come with transferable skills gained from a TCO certification.

• Level 3 Certificate in Practical Care Coordination. Course Provider: Dawood & Tanner Academy. Flexible duration, distance learning. £1000.

An alternative is Laura Horton’s Treatment Coordination Course that is delivered over one day in London.

Course Provider: Horton Consulting.

Course Duration: 1 day

Cost: £381.

13. Level 3 Certificate in Mentorship Skills for the Dental Team

Achieving this qualification demonstrates the knowledge and skills for taking on a mentoring role for other team members, including for any dental nurses aspiring to or stepping into leadership roles.

Course provider: Dental Nurse Network.

Course duration: 6 months.

Cost: £299.

Requires online study module completion, and a reflective mentoring diary which demonstrates six hours of mentoring with a mentee.

154 Level 3/4 Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector

Also known as PTLLS, this is an initial teacher training qualification for those interested in dental nurse education, especially those already supporting student dental nurses in the workplace. This award covers the basics of teaching in continuing and adult education.

Course provider: City & Guilds. See their website for more information on finding an accredited college that provides teaching towards this certification.

What salary increase can dental nurses expect?

Wages of dental nurses have been a contentious topic for many years. Learning gained from these qualifications can be applied in general dental practice (both NHS and private, as well as specialist practice), hospital, community dentistry, and the armed forces. Salaries will depend on these dental settings, as well as individual working hours and location of the role.

For example, if directly employed by the NHS, the starting salary will usually be between Band 3 and Band 4 of the Agenda for Change pay rates, but with increasing levels of seniority, dental nurses can progress to Band 5 or higher. This differs from general practice, where pay for dental nurses is based on hourly rates ranging from £8 to £11.

According to the government’s National Career Service website, the average starting salary for dental nursing jobs is £20,329. This rises to £31,533 with more experience. At the time of writing, Glassdoor reports the national average annual salary to be £21,089 for a dental nurse working in the UK. But with extra responsibilities usually comes additional earnings.

In 2011, the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) issued guidelines showing the minimum salaries for dental nurses it considers acceptable. For a 37-hour week:

• A registered dental nurse should expect a salary from £20,000.
• An extended duties registered dental nurse (a dental nurse who holds and uses an NEBDN post-registration qualification) should expect a salary from £24,000.
• A senior dental nurse (who holds an NEBDN post-registration qualification and also has an additional supervisory function such as training other staff members) should expect a salary of at least £28,000.

So after successful completion of further training, registered dental nurses who take on extended duties (such as in specialist areas of orthodontics, radiography, sedation, oral health promotion etc.) could earn higher salaries of £28,000 to £30,000, a potential 40-50% pay increase.

Undergoing further training is a valuable next step for dental nurses who want to diversify and boost their career. Whether this enriches your day to day work, or results in a career path divergence towards a completely different direction, further learning all boils down to improving patient care. Career enjoyment and passion is a key part of this. Arguably more valuable that just your earnings moving up and to the right, is the exciting opportunity for personal growth and professional development. You are your own greatest asset, so investing in yourself is essential.