To provide high?quality chairside and decontamination support to dentist, ensuring safe, efficient and patient?centred care at all times. The dental nurse plays a key role in maintaining clinical standards, supporting smooth clinic flow, and creating a welcoming, professional environment for patients.
Key responsibilities
Clinical support
Provide chairside assistance to clinicians, including preparation and mixing of materials, instrument passing and maintaining excellent infection?control standards.
Prepare surgeries before each session and turn them around efficiently between patients, ensuring all equipment, instruments and materials are available and in good working order.
Carry out all decontamination, sterilisation and disinfection procedures in line with practice protocols and GDC standards.
Accurately record treatment details, charting and notes as directed by the clinician.
Support with clinical procedures such as impressions, radiographs, digital scanning and photographs.
Patient care
Welcome patients into the surgery, helping them feel at ease and explaining procedures in a calm, reassuring manner.
Provide pre? and post?operative advice as directed by the clinician and answer basic patient queries within scope of role, escalating where appropriate.
Protect and maintain patient dignity, privacy and confidentiality at all times.
Compliance and governance
Follow all practice policies and procedures including infection prevention and control, health and safety, safeguarding, data protection and confidentiality.
Assist with audits, equipment checks, maintenance logs and stock control as required.
Ensure that all clinical areas and equipment meet regulatory and practice standards at all times.
Teamwork and practice support
Work collaboratively with dentists, hygienists, reception and management to support efficient patient flow and a positive practice culture.
Assist on reception when required, including greeting patients, booking appointments and taking payments.
Participate in team meetings, training sessions and service?improvement initiatives.
Person specification
Essential
Qualified Dental Nurse with current GDC registration (or working towards qualification/registration).
Sound understanding of cross?infection control and clinical best practice.
Professional, friendly manner with excellent communication skills and a strong patient focus.
Reliable, well?organised and able to work efficiently in a busy clinical environment.
Commitment to ongoing CPD and maintaining professional standards.
Desirable
Experience in both NHS and private dentistry.
Additional skills such as radiography, impression taking, fluoride application or oral health education.
Experience with Software for Dentists.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent