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Dental Nurse

Dental Nurse Image

Dental nurses work as part of a dental team. They help dentists with all aspects of patient care. They assist dentists during treatments as well as possibly taking payments and dealing with paperwork.

The Work

You could be:

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

Many dental nurses work for private dental surgeons. A trainee might start on around £14,000 a year while a qualified nurse might start on around £18,000 to £20,000 a year.

Dental nurses who work for the National Health Service (NHS) are paid on the Agenda for Change scales. The current pay scales are from April 2022. They start off at Band 3, £23,914 to £25,808 a year. Qualified dental nurses are on Band 4, £25,914 to £28,187 a year.

Conditions

Workforce Employment Status

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Getting In

You must first complete a course approved by the General Dental Council (GDC), and then register with the GDC as a qualified Dental Nurse.

The GDC approves two qualifications that are available in Scotland: The National Diploma in Dental Nursing awarded by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN); and SVQ at SCQF Level 7 and PDA in Dental Nursing awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

The GDC website has details of qualifications recognised for registration. Most dental nurses work in general practice and hospitals. You might get a job in the community dental service or the armed services. Some companies have their own health centres and you may find work in one of these.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

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Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland
2022
5129
0.8 %
FALL
2027
5086
  United Kingdom
2022
61791
2.9 %
RISE
2027
63596

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What Does it Take?

You should be:

Training

Getting On

Video

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN)
Tel: 01253 338360
Website: http://www.badn.org.uk/
Twitter: @BADNUK

National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN)
Tel: 01772 429917
E-mail: info@nebdn.org
Website: http://www.nebdn.org/
Twitter: @NEBDNoffice

NHS Scotland Careers
Website: http://www.careers.nhs.scot
Website (2): https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
Twitter: @NHSScotCareers

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Health and Medicine

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