Is a dental nurse a good career?

If you decide that you want to get into the world of dentistry, then you might decide that a dental nurse is a good start. However, the world of dentistry can be a hard one to get into, and once you are in, you will stay for a while. So before you make the move to become a dental nurse, you might ask if this is the right career move for you. Thankfully, this article is going to answer that questions for you!

What Is A Dental Nurse?

A dental nurse is basically the assistant to the dentist, where your entire job is to make sure that you do what the dentist tells you to do. You will be working with patients, keeping their records organized, the instruments set up, and the day to day tasks handled. It is a job where you will need to wear a dental nurse uniform, but while the uniform might remain the same each time, every single day is going to be different.

The day to day work of a dental nurse is going to be different every single day, and the environment is going to be fast paced and the work is going to be hard. However, you will work closely with your dentist and their team will be able to help you out as you get started. 

What Do I Need To Do To Become A Dental Nurse?

Typical duties of a dental nurse include passing instruments to the dentist, then sterilizing instruments and maintaining sterile instruments during the day. Additionally, you will have access to the patient information and will need to keep it updated as well every time they come in.

In order to become a dental nurse, you will need to make sure that you have the ability to be on your feet all day and keep up with the physical aspect of your work. Additionally, you will need to be organized and also work fast during the busy times, because if you aren’t on the ball then the dentist won’t be on the ball.

Additionally, since you will be working with the patients directly, you will need to have good communication and listening skills, helping guide them through the process and offering guidance on how they can best take care of their teeth.

Where Do Dental Nurses Work? And What Can They Make?

Dental nurses can work in private clinics, or they can work for dentists in community hospitals and practices. The working environment can be different depending on where you work, but most of the time you will work 9-5 and about 30-40 hours per week. However, the exact dates and times will vary, and there is often an amount of flexibility in the job as well.

Most of the time, and this can vary, a qualified dental nurse can get paid about £16,000 a year and their salary can reach between £18,000-£22,000 with experience. For dental nurses working the senior positions, they can get paid around £27,000 if not more.

Dental nurses do get paid pretty well compared to various other healthcare jobs, and with a large amount of growth available in the world of dentistry, you can make a lot of money and advance pretty far in the field.

How Can You Grow As A Dental Nurse? 

Finally, if you are looking for a career with a future, then you are going to find a future in the world of dental nursing! Since you will be assisting the dentist in everything that they do, you will gain a lot of different skills around the dentist’s office, which will aid you in becoming a dentist yourself or possibly opening up your own practice someday.

Even if you want to stay as a dental nurse, you can easily advance from small scale dental offices to large hospitals or better positions within the same office. There are a lot of options if you take the training to become a dental nurse seriously, and you will find a varied and fulfilling career if you decide to go down this path.

A dental nurse is a good career if you like dentistry and want to be involved in the varied day to day work of the office! So don’t be afraid to reach out to a dentist or apply for some classes so you can get started on the process, and then you can experience all the benefits of being a dental nurse!