NEBDN Diploma in Dental Nursing
What is the Course About?
New for 2025 - This qualification is designed to prepare trainee Dental Nurses in the foundations of dental nursing so they can demonstrate the required standards in terms of knowledge, skills and behaviours. Upon achievement of the qualification, they can apply to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a Dental Nurse. This qualification is available across the United Kingdom and Isle of Man.
The Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing is recognised by the GDC as meeting their Standards for Education and appropriately preparing learners for professional practice.
The NEBDN diploma is generally recognised worldwide including countries, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and UAE.
On successful completion you will be allowed to use the post nominals RDN (Registered Dental Nurse) and/or NEBDN (Year).
Credits: 43
Module 1: Professional Practice within the Dental Setting
This unit will introduce the roles and responsibilities of practicing as an autonomous professional Dental Nurse. The Dental Nurse must use judgment and integrity to stay within the scope of practice and the legal and ethical boundaries of the profession whilst being a committed advocate for oral health, promoting good oral health and sustainable service provision for communities across the population. The key areas of professionalism for a Dental Nurse are set around ethics and integrity, leadership and social accountability.
Module 2: Leading, Managing and Team Working within the Dental Setting
This unit will introduce the roles and responsibilities of professional leadership within the dental team and partnership working with patients, dental teams and health and social care professionals. The Dental Nurse will demonstrate leadership and social accountability, work effectively in a team, and protect others' well-being.
Module 3: Communication in the Dental Setting
This unit will introduce effective communication in the dental setting, maintenance of records and the importance of confidentiality. Dental Nurses will use interpersonal skills and emotional awareness to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues, underpinned by caring, empathic and respectful behaviour.
Module 4: Inclusive Practice
This unit will introduce practise in a non-discriminatory and inclusive manner. The Dental Nurse should recognise the impact of equality, diversity and culture and positively contribute to the healthcare communities they are a part of.
Module 5: Clinical and Technical Practice - Assessment and Diagnosis of Patients
This unit will introduce routine Dental Nursing clinical and technical procedures relating to patient assessment and diagnosis. Dental Nurses must possess the underpinning knowledge and skills to carry out non specialist clinical and technical procedures, including patient assessment and diagnosis.
Module 6: Clinical and Technical Practice - Treatment Planning and Onward Referring
This unit will introduce routine Dental Nursing clinical and technical procedures relating to treatment planning and patient onward referral. Dental Nurses must possess the underpinning knowledge and skills to carry out non-specialist clinical and technical procedures, including patient onward referral.
Module 7: Promoting Oral Health
This unit will introduce the promotion of oral health to individuals and the wider population. Dental Nurses should be committed advocates for oral health, raising awareness of the role good oral health plays in preventing ill health amongst the population and addressing priority health needs for the communities of which they are part.
Module 8: Health and Well-being - Own and Others in the Team
This unit will introduce the importance of good health and well-being to individuals and the wider population. Dental Nurses should be aware of a range effective strategies to manage the personal and emotional challenges associated with work. Dental Nurses should be able to engage with systems and strategies which safeguard their own well-being and recognise when and how to take action if the well-being of others is compromised to the point of affecting individual roles and professional relationships.
Module 9: Continued Professional Development
This unit will introduce the continued reflection on, reviewing and developing one's practice quality. Dental Nurses should be able to demonstrate their professional responsibility to develop and maintain their professional knowledge and competence through continuous improvement activities.
Module 10: Respond to Risks and Medical Emergencies
This unit will introduce aspects of responding to risks and medical emergencies in the dental setting. Dental Nurses play a key role in identifying and responding to situations that may affect patient’s health and safety, and they must know how to deal with emergency situations within their scope of practice.
Conduct, fitness to practise and raising concerns
Learners undertaking this qualification are expected to maintain a high standard of professionalism and conduct themselves in line with the GDC’s Standards for the Dental Team and NEBDN’s Learner Conduct Policy. If UCM or NEBDN, as the Awarding Organisation, identify a failure to meet the appropriate standards of professionalism, there may be an obligation to report the incident to the GDC, which could affect current or future registration as a dental professional. Learners must adhere to the Student Fitness to Practise Policy.
Will I need a DBS check for this course?
Yes – To be carried out by the Dental Practice Employer.
Will I need any specific resources, uniform and/or kit?
Uniform will be provided by the Dental Practice Employer.
What are the days and hours of the course?
You will be required to attend one evening per week for 3 hours from 6pm – 9pm.
Will I undertake work experience as part of the course?
You will be required to be employed within a dental practice for a minimum of 16 hours chairside in surgery.
Opportunities to visit UCM
NA
Useful links
UCM Course Lecturer Chris Forrest. RDH, RDT.
chris.forrest@ucm.ac.im
UCM Admissions
applications@ucm.ac.im
NEBDN
www.nebdn.org
The British Association of Dental Nurses
www.badn.org.uk
Society of British Dental Nurses
www.sbdn.org.uk
What are my progression and career options?
Practice manager
If you've been working as a dental nurse for some time and have extensive experience, you could consider becoming a practice manager. They manage finances, direct staff, deal with patients and their concerns and ensure that hygiene standards are met. Whilst this role involves moving away from dental nursing and taking on all aspects of running the business it can be an extremely rewarding job progression. Seeing your staff happy and the dental practice growing reflects a good practice manager.
Clinical trainers
Clinical trainers are responsible for the training and development of trainee dental nurses. They provide them with the skills to work on their own, as well as mentoring their progression through the role:
• Courses develop their theory knowledge, clinical skills, and professional practice.
• Mentoring and coaching provide guidance on how to perform tasks and give alternatives and suggestions of improvement for trainees.
• You will need to be able to coach staff effectively, so they feel confident in carrying out their work safely and efficiently.
• You will need good communication skills so that you provide appropriate feedback to each trainee.
Specialisations for dental nurses
If you wish to be more involved in the patient journey you could further train to enable the undertaking of certain procedures on your own. Generally, acquiring the specialisation qualification will also mean an increase in pay.
Radiography
If you become a radiography specialised dental nurse you will be able to take and interpret various types of x-rays under the dentist’s prescription. Such a position is very useful in increasing efficiency in the practice especially in specialised ones like orthodontics.
Oral health educator
This is suited for dental nurses passionate about oral health education. Oral health educators help patients to improve and maintain oral hygiene to various types of patients by adapting communication and advice to the specific needs of the patient
Fluoride varnish application
With this qualification you will be able to apply fluoride varnish on patients teeth under the prescription of a dentist or as part of a dental health programme. This can be in the dental practice or within a community-based programme.
Dental implants
If you have a particular interest in surgery, implant dentistry might be an option for you. This area of dentistry specialises in surgical procedure together with expertise to restore dentition. The reason that patients may need an implant is caries, trauma or malignancy.
Dental sedation
Patients sometimes cannot have dental treatment in the dental practice because they are too anxious or have phobia. With dental sedation they have medication which helps relax and enable them to be treated. Most of the dental sedation is performed in the community which involves more members of the team to ensure patients are monitored closely during the procedure and afterwards.
Orthodontic dental nurse
This area of dentistry specialises in alignment of the teeth and jaws and any dental treatments will be performed by dentists. It is an area which requires a great deal of organisation and attention to detail as you will be handling lots of small objects like brackets that are stuck to the teeth. Here you will see predominantly children of various ages so it’s perfect for any that enjoy working with young patients.
How will I be assessed?
• Portfolio of Evidence
The Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) will assess the skills assessment criteria and selected knowledge assessment criteria. The portfolio of evidence is completed digitally via the online portfolio platform Pebble-Pad.
The portfolio is graded pass or fail.
• Knowledge Test
The Knowledge Test consists of a 65 question, 90-minute Multiple Choice Question assessment, and is graded pass or fail.
• Professional Discussion
The Professional Discussion is an assessment, lasting 60 minutes, with 10 minutes reading time.
The Professional Discussion will be based upon the nine duties of the Dental Nurse, indicative of the role of the Dental Nurse and in line with the Scope of Practice set out by the GDC. The Professional Discussion will be completed with an Assessor and is based on knowledge and practical activities completed in the workplace that are related to the nine duties of the Dental Nurse. It is carried out online and is set and externally marked by NEBDN. It is graded pass or fail.
Entry requirements
The qualification is suitable for Learners aged 16+ who are currently employed as a trainee Dental Nurse. It is delivered and assessed in English. Learners must be sufficiently fluent in written and spoken English to communicate effectively with patients, their relatives, the dental team, and other healthcare professionals in the UK. (GDC Standards for the Dental Team, 2.1.2)
Learners must also be able to meet the work-based clinical requirements of the Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) by being employed as trainee Dental Nurses DBS Check by the Employer Legally allowed to work in the UK, IOM or Channel Islands This is a health science diploma consisting of theory and academia equivalent to ‘2’ A-Levels and holds UCAS points. It is strongly recommended to have GCSE English and Maths at Grade C or above. GCSE Science is beneficial although not necessary. (equivalent qualifications accepted including function skills/key skills).
Mentor
NEBDN requires that Learners are supported by a workplace Mentor, whose role is to provide guidance, advice, feedback and support to the mentee, as well as acting as a professional role model to support the Learner throughout their learning journey. The Mentor can also provide feedback to the Employer regarding clinical competency that will support the Employer’s contribution to the progress reviews. The mentor must hold current registration on the GDC register.