Working as a dental nurse in the UK and its territories requires completing a course approved by the General Dental Counsel (GDC). This may be accomplished in two ways. You can secure a position as a trainee dental nurse and study on a part-time basis for the National Certificate awarded by the National Examining Board for Dental Nursing (NEBDN). The alternative is to study full-time at a GDC-approved university for the certificate.
Leeds Dental University offers both part-time and full-time courses of study for dental nursing. Courses include study in oral health education, sedation, orthodontics and special care. The 18-month full-time course involves trainees gaining experience in all departments of the school, where clinical assessments also will take place. Students also spend time with the trainers in the classroom to learn the underpinnings of dental science and work with an assessor to build a portfolio. Part-time students must already be working in a dental office to participate in the program. All applicants must be 16 years or older with an minimum 2 GCSE's (C grade or above) preferably in English and Math.
Portsmouth offers a 15-month course of full-time study in dental nursing. The coursework has been designed to address skills shortages in the field. The course of study includes infection control procedures, general and oral anatomy, law and ethics, preventative dentistry and patient management techniques. Purpose-built clinical facilities include a 24-bay treatment clinic, two private surgeries, a phantom head room, radiography suite and general teaching rooms. Admission to the program is limited to 20 students. Prospective students will be interviewed and should demonstrate motivation, commitment to the profession and excellent communication skills. All applicants also must have a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points (with a minimum of 40 at AS level) as well as grade C or above in math, English and science.
For London residents, Wisdom Dental is an accredited school with tutors who work closely with students. The school also has ESL teachers to assist non-native speakers of English. Wisdom offers a 12-month part-time course in dental nursing that begins every January. However, it also can customize program schedules to meet working students' needs. Home-learning courses are also available. Though Wisdom Dental does not specify academic requirements, applicants with prior experience in the dental field are preferred.