Program Overview

Dental Nurse Practice Cert HE

Overview

This course is ideal if you are looking to pursue a career in dental nursing. You study the foundations of dental care and learn and develop practical skills specific to your profession. The course is perfect if you want to gain an academic qualification while providing support to the dental team and reassurance to patients in our student dental facility and on dental practice placement.

Course Details

Year 1 Core Modules

• An Introduction to Evidence-based Practice for Health Professionals
  • You are introduced to evidence-based practice and sources of evidence: primary and secondary research, guidelines, audits and evaluations. Consider how to use sources of evidence to support clinical decision-making and develop skills in formulating focused questions, developing effective search strategies and literature retrieval.
• Clinical Concepts of Dental Nursing
  • You focus on the practical aspects of dental nursing, providing chair-side assistance to support all members of the dental team. You develop knowledge of instruments: selecting and preparing a wide range of dental equipment relevant to clinical dental procedures. You grade X-rays to promote quality assurance throughout your clinical practice.
• Introduction to Dental Anatomy and Oral Disease
  • You explore dental, oral craniofacial anatomy in relation to patient management and their relevance to oral health and oral disease along with its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. You acquire an understanding of how these oral manifestations appear within the oral cavity, their aetiology along with preventative strategies and treatment.
• Introduction to Human Physiology for Healthcare Professionals
  • This multidisciplinary module introduces basic processes principles and concepts of human physiology required by a range of health professionals, including healing and repair processes.
• Professionalism for Health Professionals
  • You develop an understanding of your role in the delivery of contemporary health and social care within the context of interprofessional practice and behaviour, preparing you for the demands of practice and ensuring you are sufficiently informed and equipped to practice safely.

How You Learn

• You spend 50% of the course gaining clinical skills, initially in the phantom head skills laboratory. After an intense induction and successfully passing a clinical assessment, you will acquire your clinical skills within a dental practice placement.
• There is a diverse range of learning and teaching methods used during the course which includes lectures, seminars, e-learning, case studies and assignments.

How You Are Assessed

• Assessments vary and reflect the learning outcomes of the different modules. Emphasis is placed on practical skills and you are assessed through methods including oral and practical examinations and written assignments.

Entry Requirements

• You are expected to have:
  • Recent Level 3 Academic Study
  • A minimum of four GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English language, maths and science. Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 2 in Communication and Application of Number can be accepted in place of English and Maths GCSE.
• Plus any of the following qualifications:
  • GCE and VCE Advanced Level: 32-48 points from one A level in a science-based subject, or equivalent T levels. AS levels are not acceptable.
  • BTEC QCF Extended Diploma: 48 points (PPP) in a science, health or dental subject.
  • CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care: 72 points (d) in health and social care.
  • Foundation degree: A pass in a science, health or dental subject.
  • Irish Leaving Certificate: 32-48 points from two or three Highers/Honours subjects.
  • NVQ: Level 3 in a science or health and social care qualification.
  • Open University: K101 – An Introduction to Health and Social Care or SK277 Biology.
  • Scottish Highers: 42 points from two Highers.
  • Advanced Scottish Highers: 40 points from one Advanced Higher.

Employability

• Opportunities are available for employment within NHS and private dental practices, hospitals and in the community. Once qualified you can work in the UK and overseas as a dental nurse.
• Successful completion gives you the opportunity to further your career if you wish and apply to progress to study the BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and various other career opportunities.

Professional Accreditation

• On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to register with the General Dental Council as a dental nurse.

Full-time

• Entry to academic year: September
• Fee for UK applicants: £6,340 a year
• UCAS code: B751 CertHE/DNP
• Length: 1 year

Part-time

• Not available part-time

Choose Teesside

• Are you eligible for an iPad, keyboard and up to £300 credit for learning resources?
• Live in affordable accommodation right on-campus - from only £100 a week
• Study in our town-centre campus with £280m of recent investment.
• Study at Europe's first Adobe Creative Campus and develop your creative and digital skills.