Dental nurse

You could do a course at college that would give you the skills and knowledge to become a dental nurse.

Courses include a level 3 diploma in dental nursing and a T Level in Health.

The courses will usually be a mix of full-time study with work experience in a dental surgery.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

You could apply to do a Dental Nurse Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This takes up to 2 years to complete. You'll need to be working in a dental surgery to do the apprenticeship.

Armed forces

You could also do a dental nursing apprenticeship in the armed forces.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
• Army apprenticeships|https://jobs.army.mod.uk/regular-army/what-you-get/apprenticeships-skills/
• RAF apprenticeships|https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/apprenticeships
• Royal Navy apprenticeships|https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/joining-options/apprenticeships

You could start as a trainee at a dental practice. You could then study for a dental nurse qualification on the job. This is a common route to take to become a dental nurse.

Registrations

you'll need to register with the General Dental Council

Professional and Industry Bodies

You can join The British Association of Dental Nurses for professional development training.

Further Information

You can find out more about how to become a dental nurse from Health Careers .

In this role you could:

• sterilise instruments and pass them to the dentist
• prepare materials to make fillings
• remove water and saliva from the patient's mouth during treatment
• make sure the patient is comfortable
• tidy the surgery and keep records about each patient

You could work at a dental practice, at a health centre or in an NHS or private hospital.

You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.