Dental Nurse Apprentice

Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an apprentice dental nurse to join our friendly team at Longfellow Road Dental Practice in Coventry. You will provide chair-side support to dentists, therapists, and hygienists throughout a range of dental procedures.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Dental nurse (integrated) (level 3)

Hours

Full-time hours including one late evening per week. Hours to be confirmed at interview.

40 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 31 July 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

5

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

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

Where you'll work

2-4 LONGFELLOW ROAD
COVENTRY
CV2 5HB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SANDWELL COLLEGE

Your training course

Dental nurse (integrated) (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Adhere to legal and ethical responsibilities in line with General Dental Council requirements
Take responsibility for the integrity of own actions and completed work, recognising the limits of your competence and experience
Comply with current best practice guidelines
Put patients’ interests first and act to protect them by working in a patient-centred way
Effectively manage own time and resources
Provide chair side support during dental procedures
Monitor, support and reassure patients throughout all aspects of their treatment, ensuring patient-centred care
Communicate appropriately, effectively and sensitively at all times and through all media
Respect patients’ dignity and choices and act without discrimination
Check that valid consent is obtained for all treatments and personal care delivery
Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
Work in the clinical environment in a safe and efficient manner
Select and prepare the correct equipment, instruments and materials
Carry out and record maintenance and testing of equipment in line with local policy, procedures and the scope of your own role
Manage and perform effective decontamination and infection control procedures complying with legislative, local and current best practice guidelines
Mix, handle, store and dispose of materials in line with manufacturers recommendations
Create and update accurate and current patient records, including social, medical and dental history, storing and archiving them securely and in line with legislation
Carry out processing of radiographs in line with local procedures and rules
Make effective decisions regarding the safety of patients when taking a radiograph
Deliver appropriate and current evidence-based oral and general health advice
Recognise and support action to deal with medical emergencies
Respond to medical emergencies and be competent in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Take part in appraisal and ongoing review processes
Take part in continuous professional development activities
Reflect on how your daily practice complies with the General Dental Council requirements for continual improvement
Comply with personal development planning as specified by the General Dental Council
Participate in quality improvement activities as required
Be collaborative and work as part of the team
Adhere to legal and ethical responsibilities in line with General Dental Council requirements
Take responsibility for the integrity of own actions and completed work, recognising the limits of your competence and experience
Comply with current best practice guidelines
Put patients’ interests first and act to protect them by working in a patient-centred way
Effectively manage own time and resources
Provide chair side support during dental procedures
Monitor, support and reassure patients throughout all aspects of their treatment, ensuring patient-centred care
Communicate appropriately, effectively and sensitively at all times and through all media
Respect patients’ dignity and choices and act without discrimination
Check that valid consent is obtained for all treatments and personal care delivery
Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
Work in the clinical environment in a safe and efficient manner
Select and prepare the correct equipment, instruments and materials
Carry out and record maintenance and testing of equipment in line with local policy, procedures and the scope of your own role
Manage and perform effective decontamination and infection control procedures complying with legislative, local and current best practice guidelines
Mix, handle, store and dispose of materials in line with manufacturers recommendations
Create and update accurate and current patient records, including social, medical and dental history, storing and archiving them securely and in line with legislation
Carry out processing of radiographs in line with local procedures and rules
Make effective decisions regarding the safety of patients when taking a radiograph
Deliver appropriate and current evidence-based oral and general health advice
Recognise and support action to deal with medical emergencies
Respond to medical emergencies and be competent in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Take part in appraisal and ongoing review processes
Take part in continuous professional development activities
Reflect on how your daily practice complies with the General Dental Council requirements for continual improvement
Comply with personal development planning as specified by the General Dental Council
Participate in quality improvement activities as required
Be collaborative and work as part of the team

Your training plan

College lessons are delivered by Sandwell College in the workplace/online. You will not be required to travel to the college site.

You will be trained in the Extended City and Guilds Level 3 Dental Nurse apprenticeship standard, which includes:

Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing
Emergency first aid in the workplace qualification at Level 3
End-Point Assessment (EPA)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

english and maths (grade 4/c)

Other in:

functional skills maths and english (grade level 2)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

You will require Hepatitis B immunisations and a clear DBS check to work in the clinical environment.

About this company

Our dental team is highly trained in the latest techniques and treatments and is committed to providing the highest levels of customer care. We look forward to welcoming you to our practice. We understand that going to the dentist can sometimes be a daunting experience but our comfortable surgery offers a feeling of relaxation to our patients and our caring team are trained to help nervous and phobic patients. It is our practice philosophy to promote dental health at all times.

https://longfellowdental.co.uk/our-practice/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

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
Implant nursing
Oral health education
Sedation dental 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

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: