NEBDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing – BLENDED

Your Course at a Glance

  • Get qualified within 1 year
  • Gain registration to the General Dental Council (GDC)
  • Access live interactive virtual online classes
  • Attend face-to-face lectures at the British Dental Association
  • Achieve an internationally recognised qualification
  • Lectures and classes led by experienced NEBDN tutors

 

About Your Diploma

If you are passionate about working in the oral healthcare industry, then training to become a Dental Nurse is a suitable route. Not only will you qualify within 1 year, but you will be in the perfect position to develop your craft and delve into the intricacies of dentistry.

To work as a Dental Nurse, you will have to be a qualified member of the General Dental Council (GDC), and you can achieve this position by studying for an NEBDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing.

Once you have completed the course successfully, you will be able to join the General Dental Council Register and begin working professionally in a dental practice. The course is accredited by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN).

Your studies will be a combination of live virtual classes and a handful of face-to-face lectures. To pass the course and obtain your qualification you must complete an Electronic Record of Experience (eRoE) and pass a written exam and practical exam.

To get prepared for work as a Dental Nurse, you will explore a range of essential topics during your course, including the details and principles of oral surgery, restorative dentistry, and orthodontic procedures.

You will also learn the process of emergency dental surgeries, patient care and management, as well as how to control pain and anxiety ahead of and during dental procedures. With this knowledge, you will be well equipped to thrive in the role as Dental Nurse.

Getting Started

Our blended option enables you to gain your accredited qualification through a mixture of live virtual classes and face-to-face lectures, each of which will be scheduled on specific dates and times.

The virtual classrooms can be accessed from the comfort of your own home, and each one will last 2 hours. You can either choose to attend online classes weekly or fortnightly. If you select the latter option, the classes will run for 4 hours each.

Each lesson will be led by an experienced NEBDN-approved tutor, and you will get to ask questions and discuss the course with your fellow learners via a live online chat.

There are a handful of face-to-face lectures that you will be required to attend, with each one based at The British Dental Association (BDA) in London. The course is 1 year long, with 36 weeks dedicated to training and lessons. This curriculum will be broken up by breaks around Easter, the summer, and Christmas.

 

Modules

The NEBDN National Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing is recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) and the curriculum adheres to the GDC Preparing to Practice publication. The curriculum is broken down into the following modules:

  • Health and Safety in the Workplace
  • Emergencies in the Dental Surgery
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in the Provision of Dental Care
  • Anatomical Structures and Systems Relative to Dental Treatment
  • Oral Disease and Pathology
  • Patient Care and Management
  • Assessing Patients Oral Health Needs and Training Planning
  • Oral Health Promotion and Preventive Dentistry
  • Restorative Dentistry
  • Oral Surgery
  • Orthodontic Procedures
  • Dental Drugs, Materials, Instruments and Equipment
  • Pain and Anxiety Control in Dentistry
  • Radiography
  • Communication

Entry Requirements

Students require a good level of written and spoken English, and these skills will be tested over the phone during the interview process. As well as a good grasp of English, learners need to be passionate and dedicated to their learning journey.

Assessment

To achieve your NEBDN Level 3 Diploma, you will have to complete an Electronic Record of Experience (eRoE), which consists of a range of tasks that must be completed while working in a dental practice. A General Dental Council (GDC)-registered professional will have to ‘witness’ these tasks.

The eRoE must be submitted to your tutor by a pre-arranged deadline. To sit the written exam, you must complete your eRoE.

Exam Details

There are 2 stages to the NEBDN exam. You need to pass stage 1 to sit stage 2.

Stage 1: Multiple choice theory (written) exam – November or April
Stage 2: Practical exam – January or June

Career

Once you have achieved your NEBDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing, you will be eligible to join the General Dental Council Register. It is important to note that to work in England and Wales, you will have to be registered with the GDC by law.

After getting registered, you will be able to apply for Dental Nursing roles, and once you begin your career, you have the opportunity to develop even further.

Further Qualifications and Prospects

The GDC requires Dental Nurses to complete at least 150 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every five years, with 50 of those hours needing to be verifiable. This means that you have to provide evidence that you have completed the activity.

CPD is in place for you to enhance your skillset as well as continue to perform your role at a competent level and stay up to date on legislation and practices. We offer a range of courses that can satisfy your CPD criteria, including:

  • Basic Life Support & CPR
  • Cross Infection Control
  • Dental Photography
  • Endodontic Dental Nursing
  • Dental First Aid and Defibrillator
  • Fluoride Varnish Application
  • Health & Safety
  • Dental Impression Taking
  • Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults
  • Topical Anaesthetic Application

If you would like to take the next step in your career, then you can embark on further training and eventually pursue one of the following roles:

  • Specialist Dental Nurse
  • Hygienist
  • Dental Therapist
  • Dental Technician
  • Orthodontic Therapist
  • Dental Practice Manager
  • Treatment Co-ordinator