CertHE Dental Nursing
- UCAS code: B751
- Mode of study: Full time
- Duration: 1 year
- Entry requirements 2013: 80 points from 1 A level or 2 AS Levels in a pure Science subject. All applicants are subject to interview. All offers are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and Occupational Health clearance.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5550
Email: sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: Dental Academy
This course is only available to UK and EU applicants.
Course overview
This programme allows the student to gain both an academic award and a professional registration as a dental nurse. Core subjects are studied jointly with the BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy students during Year one of their award. Students will not be required to pay tuition fees.
Admission to the programme is limited to 20 students. All students meeting the entry requirements will be interviewed. Early application is recommended to meet the UCAS deadline of 15 January. Interviews will be held in March.
At interview candidates will be asked to present a topic of their choice for five minutes to the interview panel. The aim of the presentation is to grade the candidate in relation to communication skills; the topic is not graded and the subject area does not influence the outcome of the interview.
At interview all potential applicants to the programme are expected to demonstrate the following:
- motivation and commitment towards the role of the dental nurse
- an understanding of the work of the dental nurse
- an ability to communicate effectively
- an ability to operate as part of a team
- a genuine interest in the care and treatment of patients
Professional accreditation
Our courses are validated by the University of Portsmouth and accredited by the General Dental Council, enabling you to register and work in the dental care sector.
Course content
This programme is designed to ensure students are able to safely and competently support the operator and patient during treatment. As such, knowledge, skills and professionalism are key elements within the award. During the programme the following examples of subject areas will be covered:
- academic skills
- general anatomy and physiology
- oral anatomy and physiology
- health safety and infection control procedures
- human and oral diseases (pathology and microbiology)
- instruments, materials and equipment associated with a range of dental procedures
- methods of assisting the operator during a range of dental treatments
- patient management techniques
- preventive dentistry
- dental public health
- law and ethics
- reflective practice and professionalism
- assisting the operator during dental radiographic procedures
Career prospects
Dental nurses are dental care professionals and are valuable members of the dental team, contributing significantly to the care of patients undergoing treatment. Successful completion of this programme will allow students to:
- gain registration with the General Dental Council (GDC)
- gain employment within all sectors of dentistry, e.g. general dental practice, hospital dental services, the Armed Forces and the salaried dental services
- apply to study a variety of post-registration courses, e.g. radiography, oral health education etc
- apply to the University of Portsmouth for a place to study BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy (it should be noted that this is not a guaranteed route of entry)
Facilities and features
The Dental Academy also provides dental training for undergraduate King’s College London Dental Institute students. Joint training for dental care professionals and undergraduate dentists will take place under the same roof to develop the concept of a dental team working within a primary dental care setting.
Our programmes are delivered in recently expanded purpose built clinical and academic facilities. The building includes two clinics (44 dental treatment bays), two individual surgeries, a phantom head room, radiography suite, four radiography booths and excellent teaching rooms.
To broaden the range of hands-on experience, some student learning occurs outside the University in community settings. Outreach increases the diversity of practise, widening your skills base. It may take, for example, the form of work placements in community surgeries, oral health promotion and supervised toothbrushing in infant schools, helping staff to develop oral care plans in residential homes, working along side others in the dental team to provide dental screening to offenders in the probation service and work experience in maxillofacial departments in local hospitals
You will also have access to resources within the Faculty of Science and the University Library, student advice services, sports facilities and the Students’ Union.
The School does not offer shortened courses for applicants with dental hygiene, dental therapy or dental qualifications gained overseas.