Download Article - Looking to the future: qualifications and career pathways

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Looking to the future: qualifications
and career pathways
This is the second article of a two-part series that will discuss the changing role of the dental
nurse and the new opportunities that these changes will bring. This article will examine how
qualifications and different career options can transform dental nurses’ career progression
T
he General Dental Council’s (GDC) Scope of
Practice (GDC, 2013) has had a great impact
on the role of the dental nurse. It has allowed
nurses to take on more duties, which helps them to
further their career and to become a great asset within
the dental practice.
In order to carry out these extended duties, the
GDC has stipulated that further training is needed.
This article discusses the additional qualifications that
dental nurses can take, and the different roles that
dental nurses can progress into.
Additional qualifications for a
dental nurse post-registration
At present, there are five additional qualifications
that dental nurses can obtain in order to further their
careers. Before long, we are likely to see a sixth being
added dealing with dental implants. In some practices,
the principal will cover the cost of the course and the
first sitting of the examination, while other practices
may expect the dental nurse to self-fund the course
and exam fees. Extensive information on the courses
and assessment methods are given on the National
Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) website
(www.nebdn.org). Therefore, only a brief outline is
given in the following sections.
Conscious sedation
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This course allows the dental nurse to assist as the
‘second appropriate person’ present as well as the
Parmjit Singh is a Specialist Orthodontist at
Malmin Dental Care and Ten Dental Health,
London
Email: [email protected]
Dental Nursing December 2014 Vol 10 No 12
dentist providing the sedation. Suitable for those dental
nurses working in an environment routinely providing
sedation, the course involves theory and practical work
,including case studies. There is a written and oral
examination at the end of the course.
Dental radiography
This course should be suitable for almost every dental
nurse engaged in clinical activity. The course allows
dental nurses to take radiographs on prescription.
There is both theoretical and practical training, and
throughout the course the dental nurse has to take a
series of radiographs. The qualification is awarded if
you pass the examination at the end of the course and
adequately complete the coursework.
Oral health education
This is suitable for dental nurses who are required to
offer oral health advice to patients under the direction
of a dentist. The course has the same elements as the
dental radiography course and involves online studying
combined with practical training. Case studies need
to be recorded throughout the course, along with a
display/exhibition, and there is a written and oral
examination at the end.
Orthodontics
This course is ideal for dental nurses who assist with
orthodontic procedures. There is a record of experience,
case studies, and an evidence of competence is required
in clinical photographs, cephalometric tracing
and casting study models. There is also a written
examination.
Special care dentistry
Candidates for this course must be engaged in assisting
with people whose health and social care needs may
require special oral health care provision. This course
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Pathways available for career
progression for a dental nurse
The opportunities outlined already in the enhanced
skills and post-registration qualifications should
allow dental nurses to progress their career, for career
progression does not always mean a change from
dental nursing entirely.
Despite the now significant opportunities within
dental nursing, some dental nurses may feel a calling
to different roles, which may still utilise some of the
skills acquired in their dental nurse training but involve
completely different skillsets as well, outside of the
‘scope of practice’ of dental nurses as outlined by the
GDC (2013).
Specialist practice
As career progression occurs, some dental nurses may
seek employment in specialist practice or a specialist
department within a hospital or community setting.
Others may feel a pull to the variety and challenges of
working in the Armed Forces or the Prison Service or
perhaps assist with occasional work in forensic dentistry,
although such opportunities are likely to be rare.
Practice/hospital management
For many dental nurses, there is often a natural
progression that takes place once he/she has
demonstrated a level of skill higher than usually
expected. This results in promotion to a senior or lead
nurse role, and the transition to practice manager can
sometimes occur without the dental nurse realising.
Challenges can be faced when the dental nurse-comepractice manager is faced with making decisions about
business strategy, disciplinary procedures or financial
management.
For those interested in a practice manger role, there is
a BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Dental Practice Management
and there are resources such as the Association of Dental
Administrators and Managers (ADAM) and Dental
Practice Management (DPM) to offer support.
Treatment coordination
The aim of the treatment coordinator (TCO) is to remove
non-clinical dentistry from the dentist. Dentists are
increasingly realising that having a TCO benefits the
712
practice, the team and the patients. Essentially, it is a
desk role but at the front line—the TCO deals with the
patient from the first phone call through to treatment
follow-up. A dental nursing background is invaluable
because many of the questions that patients will ask are
about clinical treatment.
A Level 3 BTEC Advanced Diploma in Dental
Care Co-ordination is available that covers effective
communication, marketing and sales and clinical
governance for the TCO.
Dental hygiene and therapy
The Diploma in Hygiene and Therapy is now offered
by most of the training schools in the UK over a two
to two and a half year full-time course. A dental nurse
qualification can be advantageous although some
schools will accept A-level entry or equivalent. All
schools expect students to have five GCSEs grade C or
above, including English language, Maths and Science.
Entry is very competitive and a rule of thumb is that if
you have been rejected twice, there will be an automatic
rejection the third time.
New courses are being introduced and there is now a
Foundation Degree in Oral Health Sciences that prepares
individuals for a career as a dental hygienist. A BSc in
Oral Health Sciences, which requires three A-levels or
equivalent, is also offered and takes place over a threeyear period preparing individuals for a career as a dental
therapist. A BSc (Hons) is also available over four years
and is targeted more towards those who not only want
to undertake clinical dentistry as dental therapists, but
who may also wish to enter an academic environment.
Orthodontic therapy
To be eligible to apply for orthodontic therapy, a
qualification in dental nursing, dental hygiene, dental
therapy or dental technology is usually required. Many
applicants also have the Certificate in Orthodontic
Nursing. There is also a requirement to demonstrate
a period of post-qualification experience, usually a
minimum of one year. GCSEs grade C or above in
English, Maths and a Science subject are also highly
desirable. Training involves up to one month of core
days followed by about a dozen study days. The training
pathway is often just under one year and allows the
successful student to carry out many of the practical
aspects of orthodontics.
Dental technician
Some dental nurses may take an interest in the technical
side of dentistry, away from the clinical environment.
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is similar in assessment structure to the course in
orthodontics, as there is a record of experience, case
studies and evidence of competences. There is also a
written examination.
Dental Nursing December 2014 Vol 10 No 12
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They may want to consider a career as a dental
technician. There are many paths available, such as
the Extended Diploma in Dental Technology at BTEC
Level 4 offered as a three-year part-time or a two-year
full-time course. There is also a Dental Technology
Foundation Degree course over three years and is
part-time. A BSc (Hons) Dental Technology is also
offered, which can be completed over three years fulltime or five to six years part-time. Once qualified as
a dental technician, subsequent specialisation can be
explored in areas such as conservation, maxillofacial,
orthodontics or prosthetics.
Company representation
For those with a strong sales drive, limited
opportunities may exist allowing employment with
companies working in the dental sector. This can range
from a dental supplies company to a dental product
manufacturer.
Teaching
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Those passionate and enthusiastic about dental nursing,
and who are knowledgeable about the subject area,
may consider teaching as a career option. There are
numerous courses available depending on the extent
to which the dental nurse is involved with teaching:
nnPreparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector
(PTLLS)
nnCertificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning
Sector (CTLLS)
nnCertificate in Further Education Teaching
nnDiploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning
Sector (DTLLS)
nnPost-graduate Certificate in Dental Education
(PgCert DE)
PTLLS, for example, is suitable for those supporting
student dental nurses in the work place. Most of the
other courses require access to groups of students,
with the CTLLS course giving associate teacher status
and the DTLLS course giving full teacher status. The
PgCert DE is a combination of study days and online
learning and is suitable for all dental team members
involved in primary and secondary dental education.
Upon acquiring an appropriate qualification, dental
nurses may go on to teach both student and qualified
dental nurses on a part-time or full-time basis.
Examining
The NEBDN has a panel of around 400 examiners who
are involved with the various examinations processes.
Dental Nursing December 2014 Vol 10 No 12
The panel of examiners is made up of registered dental
nurses and dentists who have been qualified for more
than four years and demonstrate an active involvement
in, and commitment to, the training and qualification
of dental nurses. On appointment, examiners are
required to undergo a residential induction and training
programme before examining. The examination takes
place twice a year. Although this is unlikely to replace
your clinical role as a dental nurse, it can be highly
rewarding.
Other roles
There are still other roles that can be explored, such
as part-time work with the GDC on their Fitness to
Practise Panel, involvement with an editorial board
for a dental magazine or journal or even writing your
own textbook for future generations of student dental
nurses.
Conclusion
As the way in which NHS dentistry is being delivered
undergoes major change, so too is the regulation of the
NHS workforce. Statutory regulation for dental nurses
with mandatory continuing professional development
and the need for indemnity have been put in place.
The role of the dental nurse has been greatly enhanced
with the introduction of Scope of Practice (GDC,
2013) and there are now significant extended duty
opportunities as well as a range of post-registration
qualifications that allow dental nurses to further their
careers and increase their levels of job satisfaction
and salary. They will find that opportunities to work
away from the practices with other team members
will become a much greater part of their roles. Career
opportunities will be significantly improved with a
range of options available ranging from teaching to
orthodontic therapy. DN
General Dental Council (2013) Scope of Practice. GDC, London
Call for Papers
Dental Nursing
welcomes the
submission of articles,
please contact
[email protected]
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