Dental Nurse Apprentice
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Company: East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust
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Location: Suffolk, IP32 7EA
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Type: Apprenticeship
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Salary: £24,852.65 per year
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Sector: Health and science
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Ref: NAS-2000039749
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Application Deadline Date: 12/07/2026
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Start Date: 01/09/2026
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Positions Available: 1
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Working Week: Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.
Brief Description
We have an exciting opportunity for a caring, enthusiastic, and well-motivated, Dental Nurse Apprentice to join our Bury St Edmunds team, which operates as part of Dental HealthCare Suffolk. This is a unique opportunity to work within East of England Community Dental Services, supporting a wide range of patient groups.
Future Prospects
- On completion of the apprenticship you will be a qualified dental nurse
Vacancy Detail
- The Apprentice Dental Nurse will support and assist in the full range of dental care provided to patients of the Dental Service
- Receive and prepare patients, ensuring a sensitive approach in the provision of patient care
- Assist the clinician when offering information to individuals on the protection of their oral health and support them in doing so
- Liaise and communicate with patients, carers, healthcare professionals
- Making of appointments and taking telephone calls
- Prepare the surgery for use at the beginning of the session and close down at the end of the session consistent with policies
- Assist the dental operator in organising the day’s activities’ and support the dentist at the chairside during dental procedures, aspirating, irrigating, retracting and protecting the soft tissues
- Assist the dental operator in the provision of dental treatment and to supervise the patient until they are fit to leave the department
- Monitor day lists and appointment diary and update as necessary
- Demonstrate oral hygiene techniques to the patient (under the direct supervision of the clinician) Record accurately as directed by the clinician, the conditions of the oral cavity and the necessary treatment on the appropriate chart and laboratory form’s
- Accurate preparation and maintenance of patient records, manually and electronically. Consent forms, treatment requirements and medical histories
- Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills are required as patients may present with complex/special needs that could include language barriers
- Preparation of all necessary materials and equipment
- Following the manufactures instructions
- Undertake safely and effectively decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation of instruments, equipment and the surgery ready for use. Preventing cross infection or damage to instruments and equipment
- It is essential to maintain the highest standards of personal hygiene and cross infection. Personal Protective Equipment is supplied for patient and staff safety and must be worn where indicated
- Undertake day-to-day cleaning, restocking and maintenance of equipment and materials, hand pieces ensuring that they are in good working order, reporting any items that require repair to the appropriate person
- To obtain a working knowledge of patient observations including blood pressure, pulse and breathing patter
- To gain knowledge to explain the different orthodontic appliances including the function and care required for each
- To carry out daily checks of emergency equipment and completing the record sheet where indicated
- Process and mount x-rays films
- Familiarise yourself with all of the basic equipment used within your working day and carry out the necessary tests required to meet national standards
- Participate in all arranged meetings, and training that has been scheduled
Other Information
- Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check