Dental Nurses: glorified cleaners or skilled professionals?
The aim of this session is to enhance understanding of the scope of practice and career development opportunities available to dental nurses in the UK, in line with General Dental Council standards, while promoting professionalism, teamwork and high-quality patient care.
Objectives
By the end of this session participants will have been:
- Introduced to the scope of practice for dental nurses, including extended duties, as defined by the General Dental Council.
- Introduced to a range of career progression pathways available within dental nursing, including education, leadership and specialist roles.
- Provided with insight into the role of dental nurses in delivering high-quality patient care through teamwork and effective communication.
- Encouraged to reflect on and challenge common misconceptions surrounding dental nursing to strengthen professional identity.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this session participants should be able to:
- Describe the scope of practice and extended duties of dental nurses in accordance with General Dental Council standards.
- Identify appropriate career progression pathways within dental nursing and relate them to their role in supporting patient care.
- Explain how dental nurses contribute to high-quality patient care through effective teamwork and communication within the dental setting.
- Reflect on their professional role and challenge common misconceptions about dental nursing in order to strengthen professional identity and confidence.
General Dental Council eCPD outcomes: B, D.
