Dental assistants, also known as dental nurses, help dentists and dental hygienists by keeping patients comfortable and preparing them for treatment, maintaining patient records, and sterilising instruments. Dental nurses work in community dental services, general practices, and hospitals
Some dental assistants also perform office duties such as scheduling appointments, greeting patients, and ordering supplies. More experienced professionals may perform more technical tasks, such as working with x-rays, applying anaesthetics, making temporary crowns, or removing sutures. Important skills in this career include working well with others, reliability, and good manual dexterity.
Few professions that do not require a university degree are growing as rapidly as dental nursing. Both full-time and part-time dental nursing courses are widely available, and people can even train for this career through the Armed Forces.
General Dental Council (GDC) registration, which is required for dental nurses in the UK, can be obtained through working as a general dental assistant trainee or apprenticeship while studying part time. Entry level candidates earn between £15,860 and £18,827, while experienced team leaders earn between £21,176 and £27,625.