Join mydentist as a student dental nurse, and you’ll learn how to deliver outstanding patient care while being supported by the UK’s leading dental provider. While you study, you'll play a vital role in one of more than 530 modern dental practices, each with its own friendly and experienced team working to help the nation smile.
As a student dental nurse, we register you on to our in-house (NEBDN accredited) level three qualification fully funded by mydentist, think of it as an in-house apprenticeship. As a student dental nurse, you will earn £10.70 per hour if you are under 21 and £11.44 per hour if you are 21+ years old (April 2024 career structure pay rates). Once qualified your earnings start to rise and you receive a newly qualified bonus payment.
By choosing mydentist, you’ll join a team built on an inclusive and collaborative culture where respect is a given, and we all achieve as one. If you’re seeking a career that offers training, stability, and support, join us and be part of a passionate team dedicated to caring for patients and putting smiles on faces.
With more than 530 locations across the nation, we are likely to have a practice close by your home. We offer stable hours and can support you to achieve a balance between your life and career. Supporting you to achieve your dental nursing qualification and GDC registration as you embark on the limitless possibilities of your new career. As you grow personally and with any changing circumstances during your career with us. And, when the day is done, your work is too.
Quality, affordable dentistry is in demand, and you'll play your part in delivering it as part of the largest dental network in the UK. We are shaping the way we deliver dentistry, we are growing and investing in our practices and our people. This creates opportunities for our people. You can be confident you are supported by a recognised and respected dentistry brand who have exciting plans for the future.
We provide you with opportunities to learn alongside friendly teams that support one another. Whilst completing your dental nurse qualification you will have a mydentist nurse mentor and the support of the Academy. You are never alone while learning and managing your nursing responsibilities.
You don’t need specific qualifications to become a student dental nurse, however, you will need to be employed for a minimum of 16 hours a week as a student in order to work toward the qualification to become a qualified dental nurse.
Our in-house diploma course entry requirements are a minimum of English GCSE grade 4/C or above. If you do not meet this requirement, at interview stage, we can allow you to complete an online English Assessment. To qualify for enrolment, you would need to achieve a minimum level 2. These results are issued instantly.
We partnered with the NEBDN back in 2016 to develop an in-house fully-funded and fully accredited 12-18 month training and mentoring programme for our student nurses.
The same course would cost around £2,000 if you trained through an external provider. All whilst in permanent employment with mydentist and a good entry level salary for your training period compared to apprenticeship minimum wage.
We know that many people prefer to learn on the job whilst earning.
You’ll also have everything you need to study for your NEBDN Diploma including study time during your working hours, allowing you to become a GDC registered dental nurse. The programme does include written and practical exams. We have successfully supported a huge number of mydentist students to become our qualified dental nurses over the years. You will be in safe hands.
To train and develop your career working towards a vocational qualification with a mix of on the job and online training.
The environment in a dental surgery is fast paced and ever changing, so you need to be prepared for anything! You will take an active role in ensuring you’re always prepared by staying incredibly organised. From paperwork, to patient schedules, and exam room prep, there are many ways organisation will help you be successful.
This is an important trait to ensure patient safety and comfort in the surgery. In order to be successful, you’ll need the ability to concentrate on and pay attention to even the smallest details.
It’s fair to say you’ll be working with your hands a lot! And when you’re assisting the dentist, you’ll be working in a tight space on a small part of the body. Having great control of the small muscles of your hands and fingers is important. Great hand-eye coordination is also a must as you’ll need to work precisely with small tools and instruments.
You will play an important role in patient satisfaction – you’ll often be the first and last person a patient interacts with! The way you act and present yourself is reflective of the overall practice. What does this mean?
This is vital in any workplace, but especially in a practice. For the day to run smoothly and on-schedule, you’ll need to work effectively as a team player. You will be a liaison between different parties, so you’ll need to communicate effectively with various types of people – from patients of all ages to dental staff and dentists. Great chairside manner is key!
A big part of being a good communicator is knowing how to listen. You will interact closely with patients every day. Your ability to correctly respond to patient’s concerns or questions starts by lending an ear and listening well. Additionally, you’ll need to have good listening skills in order to correctly follow instruction. This requires you to be able to;
You’ll have to balance all your duties in a smooth and effortless manner. Between preparing examination rooms and sterilising equipment, you’ll need to be ready to answer phone calls, greet and escort patients, answer insurance and billing questions, and assist the other dental staff with procedures. You should enjoy juggling multiple tasks in the span of an hour or even a few minutes, in order to succeed in this role.
A high proportion of the population suffer from anxiety about going to the dentist. You need to be aware of this common phobia and provide a compassionate, empathetic attitude to patients at all times. You want to help patients feel calm and do your best to ensure they feel relaxed and confident throughout their appointment.
If you’re not excited about the thought of assisting and helping others, then a career in dental assisting may not be for you. You should love and take pride in doing everything you can to work as a team and support your dentist. You’ll be working chairside for a high proportion of your day;
Determination and strong work ethic will go a long way toward your successful career as a dental nurse. No day will be the same. You’ll have with busy days, some unhappy (and happy) patients, problems to solve, and more. If you are resilient and dedicated to always giving your best you are likely to take these more challenging days in stride!
Megan joined mydentist in 2023 as a student dental nurse. Inspired to apply for her apprenticeship due to her interest in cosmetic dentistry, learn more about how Megan made the move from working in social media to building her dream career with UKs leading provider of dentistry.
View video*Some practices also offer a location premium, this is factored into the rates in our adverts where applicable.
Our in-house programme is the National Diploma in Dental Nursing with the NEBDN (National Exam Board for Dental Nurses). We are an accredited course provider, and the course itself is the equivalent of a Level 3.
Our diploma is an online/distance learning programme, with a mix of eLearning on our own in-house LMS system and a work based record of experience, which is completed on an online platform called Pebblepad.
We hold 3 revision workshops leading up to your first exam. These are regionally-based and full-day sessions to give you the best chance at passing the exam.
Once coursework is complete you will sit a written and a practical examination. Both are completed online. The written exam is 100 questions (multiple choice and extended matching answers) and you will have 2 hours to complete this.
The practical exam (also referred to as the Observed Structural Clinical Examination or OSCE exam) is in two parts, an online workbook section and a zoom call with an examiner.
We allow students a retake of the exam free of charge to give them an additional opportunity to pass.
You will be appointed a practice-based mentor and witness to support you throughout your course. You will also have a marker who will mark your record of experience portfolio. For any other support, you are able to contact our Academy team at any time, and there are student dental nurse online drop-in sessions with an Academy Trainer should you need further help.
We're proud to be a place where every colleague can be themselves. With flexibility and choice that enables you to balance your life and career, you can make a real difference through the work what you do.
We're building the UK's leading network of dental practices, shaping the way we deliver dentistry and creating opportunities for everyone. With aspiring career pathways, you can build and develop a career that supports you and your goals.
We take pride in the outstanding care we offer our patients and the support we give each other. Whether it's through our practice teams or support centre functions, there's always someone to turn to. All of us, working collaboratively to achieve together.
There’s never been a better time to join mydentist. Find out more about our current student dental nurse vacancies below.
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