Patient care relies on a great dental team. Without a skilled dental nurse, dentists simply cannot do their jobs. Successful four-handed dentistry is just one of many team concepts physically impossible without the chairside support of a dental nurse.

Dental nursing is a rewarding career that has a positive impact on patients and colleagues alike. And as efforts to harness the benefits of skill mix continue to grow, so do further training opportunities for dental nurses.

Why dental nurses are key contributors to the dental team

There is no part of the dental surgery that operates smoothly without a dental nurse. A typical day is full of variety in treating patients of all ages and at any stage in their treatment journey.

While the majority of time is spent working closely with the dentist, there is interaction between every member of the team: dentists, clinical dental technicians, hygienists, therapists, receptionists and practice managers.

In addition to providing chair-side support and assisting with dental procedures in the surgery, other responsibilities include:

• Upholding high standards of infection control in clinical environments and the decontamination of instruments.
• Providing excellent customer service on reception, coordinating patient bookings and payments, as well as other administrative duties.
• Maintenance of dental equipment, materials and practice supplies.
• Involvement in maintaining patient records by making notes whilst the dentists is examining a patient.

What skills do dental nurses need?

Dental nurses are highly skilled members of the dental team.

They need to be excellent communicators with both patients and colleagues, detail-oriented and able to work well under pressure. Each patient requires personalised dental treatments and procedures.

Workloads remain ever-changing. This pace of change extends to the digital revolution in dentistry that now necessitates digital literacy.

Given the inevitability of digital innovation, the dental nurse of the future is one who embraces new technologies and can adapt to change.

Why undertake further training?

Initial training to become a qualified dental nurse can take one of three forms.

Studying a part time course approved by the GDC alongside working as a trainee dental nurse is the most common route.

Full time study to gain a Certificate of Higher Education in Dental Nursing or undertaking an apprenticeship are alternative options to qualification.

But in a profession of lifelong learning, the journey does not stop there. Qualified dental nurses can embark on additional training to widen their scope of practice. The GDC Scope of Practice document outlines additional clinical duties that a dental nurse could develop, such as intra-oral photography and oral health promotion.

There are numerous personal benefits of increased self-awareness through identifying new skills and strengths. Further training is also the ultimate catalyst for professional development.

By increasing their scope of practice, dental nurses can do more in whichever dental environment they choose to work in. A wider skillset is synonymous with improved employability in the long run.

So career progression is not only a stimulating and rewarding experience, but can also increase earning potential.

What further training is available for dental nurses?

The traditional route has been for registered dental nurses to build on core skills by gaining a National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) post registration qualification. There are seven post registration qualifications NEBDN offer, training for which should be accessed through NEBDN accredited centres.

There are multiple training centres and providers who run NEBDN post certificate qualifications. Different factors will influence which course is best for each individual.

Various methods of study are available, but online training is likely to remain a feature of many dental nurse courses, especially as it can reduce costs and make courses more accessible.

Final NEBDN exams are held in March and September of each year, but additional assessment activities will vary on the course structure. These can range from formative workplace assessment, a record of experience or portfolio of evidence to summative clinical assessment.

Although NEBDN post registration qualifications are a great starting point for for dental nurses looking for further training, there are also non-NEBDN courses that are worth exploring.

The list of courses below have been selected on the basis of cost, course duration, how each course is delivered (including the option for flexible training) and past attendee reviews.

The Best Dental Nurse Courses

1. NEBDN Certificate in Dental Radiography

Dental nurses who achieve this qualification will be able to act under prescription as an IR(ME)R operator, in order to safely take intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs of patients.

• Course provider: Smiles Dental Training.
• Course duration: 6-12 months.
• Learning method: Online training, assessed based on completion of NEBDN online exam.
• Cost: £800-£1,100 depending on the number of months (includes final exam fee).

2. ​BDA Education Certificate in Dental Radiography

This course leads to a nationally recognised qualification that entitles dental nurses to take radiographs unsupervised.

• Course provider: British Dental Association.
• Course duration: 2 month course with 5 months to complete your practical portfolio under supervision.
• Learning method: Online training with practical work, assessed based on completion of a 1 hour, multiple-choice question online exam.
• Cost: £600 plus exam fee (around £125).

3. BDA Certificate in Oral Health Education

This online course develops communication skills needed to educate patients about oral health. This certificate is nationally recognised and qualifies dental nurses to work as Oral Health Educators within their practices.

• Course provider: British Dental Association.
• Course duration: 2 month course with 4 months to complete your practical portfolio under supervision.
• Learning method: Online training with practical work, assessed based on completion of a 1 hour online exam.
• Cost: £600 plus exam fee (around £125).

4. NEBDN Certificate in Oral Health Education

Dental nurses can gain this certification to become qualified oral health educators.

• Course provider: Dental Nurse Network.
• Course duration: The course is self-paced with the average completion time being 9 months as the course includes 80 guided learning hours.
• Learning method: Online training with end of unit quizzes, assessments and a final NEBDN online exam, which takes place in March and September each year.
• Cost: £900 including VAT.

5. NEBDN Certificate in Fluoride Varnish Application

Dental nurses who achieve this qualification will be able to apply fluoride varnish under the prescription of a dentist or as part of a structured oral health programme. This is a newer NEBDN post registration qualification and there is no exam. Instead, completion of online learning tutorials and a Record of Competence portfolio is required.

• Course provider: Dental Nurse Network.
• Course duration: The course is self-paced - you have 6 months to complete the course, but it can be done in 4 months.
• Learning method: Online training with end of unit quizzes, assessed by a record of competence.
• Cost: £500 including VAT.

6. NEBDN Certificate in Dental Sedation Nursing

Conscious sedation is key to enabling numerous patient groups, including anxious and phobic patients, to access dental care they otherwise could not tolerate. This qualification allows dental nurses to competently and confidently assist during routine conscious sedation procedures.

• Course provider: Dental Sedation Courses.
• Course duration: The course is self-paced.
• Learning method: Online training, completion of a record of competence and online exam in March or September.
• Cost: £950, includes the NEBDN Examination fee.

Dental Sedation Courses also offer an alternative, lower cost (£550), 1 year course: Conscious Sedation For Dental Nurses (Intravenous & Inhalation). This is IACSD accredited and involves a logbook of case studies and online assessments. This option does not lead to the NEBDN Certificate in Dental Sedation Nursing.

7. NEBDN Certificate in Orthodontic Nursing

This qualification provides skills and knowledge for dental nurses working in specialist practice who aspire to assist in orthodontic procedures.

• Course provider: Bay Dental Training Services.
• Course duration: The course should take between 9 and 12 months to complete.
• Learning method: Online training, completion of a workplace portfolio of evidence, a case study and a 1-hour online exam which takes place 4 times per year.
• Cost: £840 including VAT, includes the online examination fee and a resit.

8. NEBDN Certificate in Dental Implant Nursing

This qualification enables dental nurses to gain an increased knowledge and understanding of implant dentistry. It is aimed towards dental nurses who wish to assist more confidently and competently throughout implant treatment. To be able to undertake this course, dental nurses need to be able to access patients undergoing implant treatment.

• Course provider: Dental Training Ltd.‍
• Course duration: The course should take between 6 and 8 months to complete.
• Learning method: Online training, completion of a record of competence and a case study and an online exam in March or September.
• Cost: £895 including VAT, includes the online examination fee and record of competence costs.

In person courses are also available through:

ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital (Manchester), also offers an online 6 month course for £850.

‍King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (London) offers a 10 month in person course for £1,210.

9. Certificate in Impression Taking

Achieving this award demonstrates competence to take impressions unsupervised under prescription for applications such as study models, orthodontic appliances, bleaching trays and dentures.

• Course provider: Dental Nurse Network.
• Course duration: The course is self-paced - you have 3 months to complete the course, but it can be done in 2 weeks.
• Learning method: Online training with end of unit quizzes, assessed by a record of competence.
• Cost: £125 including VAT.

10. Level 2 Award in Clinical Photography

This award is for dental nurses who wish to undertake clinical photography as part of treatment planning and assessment. Teaching materials are provided online and assessment is by way of a portfolio of common photographic views.

• Course provider: Delta Dental.
• Course duration: You have a maximum of 4 weeks to complete the course.
• Learning method: Online training with assessment by way of small portfolio.
• Cost: £45 including VAT.

Alternatively, the University of Birmingham run an online course on FutureLearn called ‘Improving Your Image: Dental Photography in Practice’. You can buy the course for £59 as a one-off payment, or complete it for free if you are already subscribed to FutureLearn.

11. Certificate in Dental Practice Management & Dental Reception

The Level 3 Accredited Certificate in Dental Reception course aims to equip dental nurses who have had no formal receptionist training with skills required in a reception role, such as customer service, marketing, information governance and complaints handling. It is entirely online and costs £295 including VAT.

The Level 3 Accredited Certificate in Dental Practice Management provides a foundation for those new to a practice manager role, including any individuals who have previously been dental nurses or receptionists. It is entirely online and costs £495 including VAT.

Both accreditations are run by the Dental Nurse Network and take 6 months to complete, although they can be done in one month. Completion takes the shape of unit quizzes and a final assessment.

12. Level 3 Certificate in Practical Care Coordination/Treatment Coordination

A Treatment Coordinator (TCO) forms an important link between patients and the clinical team. Responsibilities range from discussing payment options with patients to following up on treatment plans to achieve high levels of treatment acceptance.

While a dedicated TCO role within dentistry is relatively new, more practices are recognising the benefits that come with transferable skills gained from a TCO certification.

• Course provider: Dawood & Tanner Academy.
• Course duration: You have a maximum of 4 weeks to complete the course.
• Learning method: Distance learning, with the option to attend multiple 1-to-1 or group workshops in London at an additional cost.
• Cost: £1,000 including VAT.

What salary increase can dental nurses expect?

Wages of dental nurses have been a contentious topic for many years. Learning gained from these qualifications can be applied in general dental practice (both NHS and private, as well as specialist practice), hospital, community dentistry, and the armed forces. Salaries will depend on these dental settings, as well as individual working hours and location of the role.

For example, if directly employed by the NHS, the starting salary will usually be between Band 3 and Band 4 of the Agenda for Change pay rates, but with increasing levels of seniority, dental nurses can progress to Band 5 or higher. This differs from general practice, where pay for dental nurses is based on hourly rates ranging from £8 to £11.

According to the government’s National Career Service website, the average starting salary for dental nursing jobs is £23,000. This rises to £31,000 with more experience. As of May 2025, Glassdoor reports the national average annual salary to be £22,000 for a dental nurse working in the UK. But with extra responsibilities usually comes additional earnings.

In 2010, the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) issued guidelines showing the minimum salaries for dental nurses it considers acceptable. For a 37-hour week:

• A registered dental nurse should expect a salary from £20,000.
• An extended duties registered dental nurse (a dental nurse who holds and uses an NEBDN post-registration qualification) should expect a salary from £24,000.
• A senior dental nurse (who holds an NEBDN post-registration qualification and also has an additional supervisory function such as training other staff members) should expect a salary of at least £28,000.

So after successful completion of further training, registered dental nurses who take on extended duties (such as in specialist areas of orthodontics, radiography, sedation, oral health promotion etc.) could earn higher salaries of £28,000 to £30,000, a potential 40-50% pay increase.

Undergoing further training is a valuable next step for dental nurses who want to diversify and boost their career. Whether this enriches your day to day work, or results in a career path divergence towards a completely different direction, further learning all boils down to improving patient care. Career enjoyment and passion is a key part of this.

Arguably more valuable that just your earnings moving up and to the right, is the exciting opportunity for personal growth and professional development. You are your own greatest asset, so investing in yourself is essential.