How To Become Dental Nurse

Last Updated on December 23, 2022

Recently, some dental offices employed dental nurses who previously held other positions in the health care industry. Those who desire to become dental nurse have a difficult time since they are one of their own types.

If you have a passion for helping others and are keen to provide top quality care, then learning how to become a dental nurse could be your ideal career move. If you love learning and the thought of being part of the team that helps promote people’s oral health, then this could be a role for you.

Dental nurse is a job of both art and science. To become dental nurse or dental hygienist, one has to take classes at school or in-house training from a dental laboratory. These educational programs vary from state to state depending on the dental needs of people. It is best to obtain a degree as a registered dental hygienist…

A career of dental nursing has many perks and benefits. The kind of people you meet at clinics and hospitals is often very different from your peers in other sectors. Your relationship with them is a lot more cordial and unfettered by any formalities or hierarchies. Just like a doctor, a dental nurse is always taking care of people at their most vulnerable moments.  

You can usually work as a trainee dental nurse without academic qualifications but to progress to being a qualified dental nurse, you’ll need to study for a course in dental nursing, either part or full time, that is approved by the General Dental Council.

Acquiring the right information on the internet can be difficult at times, that’s why we provide with the latest information on how long does it take to become a dental nurse, how to become dental nurse tutor. Keep on reading to find out more.

Collegelearners is the one place where you can find the information you need with regards to questions such as dental nurse training online, dental nurse salary UK, and so much more. 

Dental Nurse Training Online

If you are thinking about becoming a dental nurse, you’ll have to be responsible for looking after patient records, preparing instruments, making sure everything needed for the procedure is in place and responding quickly to the dentist’s requests to make sure everything goes according to plan.

A Dental Nurse supports the dentist in all aspects of a patient’s treatment and care.

They work alongside dentists, clinical dentists, technicians, and hygienists. It is their job to reassure patients, while providing direct support with the treatment itself.

If you are thinking about becoming a dental nurse, you’ll have to be responsible for looking after patient records, preparing instruments, making sure everything needed for the procedure is in place and responding quickly to the dentist’s requests to make sure everything goes according to plan.

Being a dental nurse is a varied and rewarding role that, like all good jobs, will bring its own unique challenges.

Much like a medical nurse, working as a dental nurse requires patience, compassion, and an eye for detail.

However, before you can practice, you need to make sure you’ve got the right qualifications.

Dental Nurse Role

Dental Nurses work with Dentists to assist them with all aspects of patient care, from carrying out check-ups to seeing patients through operations.

You can work in a general practice, within a hospital or even in the armed forces, but your typical responsibilities will include:

  • Setting up and sterilising equipment in the surgery ready for each patient
  • Ensuring the Dentist has everything they need to hand during the course of the appointment
  • Reassuring patients

How To Become Dental Nurse

Dental Nurse Job Steps

Let’s look at each step involved in becoming a dental nurse.

Step 1: Complete Prerequisites for Dental Hygiene School

A high school education or the equivalency is a prerequisite for admission to most dental hygiene schools. Some programs also require college entrance exam scores and at least one year of college coursework in English, speech, chemistry and the social sciences. Applicable high school prerequisite courses include mathematics, chemistry and biology.

Step 2: Complete a Dental Hygiene Program

A 2- or 3-year associate degree is usually the minimum necessary qualification for employment in a private dental office. Programs usually include coursework as well as clinical practical sessions. Courses can cover topics such as radiology, oral pathology, oral anatomy, periodontics and nutrition.

According to the BLS, 4-year colleges and universities sometimes offer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in this area, but these degrees are usually only required for those interested in research or teaching rather than office practice.

Step 3: Obtain Licensure

All aspiring dental hygienists must be licensed prior to seeking employment. Licensing requirements consist of completing an educational program and passing three examinations administered by the American Dental Association’s (ADA’s) Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations as well as a practical exam administered by the state or region in which they reside. Upon completing these requirements, and any others established by an individual state, candidates can apply to become licensed in that state.

Step 4: Apply for a Position as a Dental Hygienist

Since many dentists only need dental hygienists on a part-time basis, many work either part-time or for more than one dentist. Additionally, although the BLS reported that experience was not required, some employers require, or at least prefer, to hire job applicants that have at least one year of experience. As a result, those who have some clinical experience, even if it’s from a school program, will likely have a better chance of being hired than those with none.

Step 5: Join a Professional Organization

Aspiring dental hygienists seeking to advance their careers should consider joining a professional organization, such as the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), which offers its members professional and educational services, as well as access to career centers and networking opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.

dental nurse uk salary

What Qualifications do you need to Become a Dental Nurse? | learndirect

The average salary for a Dental Nurse is £25,000 gross per year (£9.50 net per hour), which is £4,600 (-16%) lower than the UK’s national average salary.
A Dental Nurse can expect an average starting salary of £19,000. The highest salaries can exceed £35,000.

how long does it take to become dental nurse?

Depending on your preferred route, dental nurse training can take anywhere from 12 months to 24 months. However, the course offered at Dental Arch only takes one year to complete, making it one of the more accelerated options.

dental nurse salary

As of Jan 18, 2022, the average annual pay for a Dental Nurse in the United States is $72,058 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $34.64 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,386/week or $6,005/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $153,000 and as low as $21,000, the majority of Dental Nurse salaries currently range between $36,500 (25th percentile) to $102,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $150,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Dental Nurse varies greatly (by as much as $65,500), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Dental Nurse Jobs

We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Dental Nurse job is above the national average. Topping the list is San Jose, CA, with Oakland, CA and Tanaina, AK close behind in the second and third positions. Tanaina, AK beats the national average by $14,004 (19.4%), and San Jose, CA furthers that trend with another $15,353 (21.3%) above the $72,058 average.

Significantly, San Jose, CA has a very active Dental Nurse job market as there are several companies currently hiring for this type of role.

With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Dental Nurse appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 4% between San Jose, CA and Concord, CA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Dental Nurse role.

CityAnnual SalaryMonthly PayWeekly PayHourly Wage
San Jose, CA$87,412$7,284$1,681$42.02
Oakland, CA$86,417$7,201$1,662$41.55
Tanaina, AK$86,063$7,172$1,655$41.38
Wasilla, AK$86,062$7,172$1,655$41.38
Hayward, CA$84,607$7,051$1,627$40.68
Jackson, WY$84,516$7,043$1,625$40.63
Norwalk, CT$84,294$7,024$1,621$40.53
Seattle, WA$84,025$7,002$1,616$40.40
Vallejo, CA$84,004$7,000$1,615$40.39
Concord, CA$83,826$6,985$1,612$40.30

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