With more than 530 locations across the nation, we are likely to have a practice close by your home. We offer stable hours and can support you to achieve a balance between your life and career. Supporting you to achieve your dental nursing qualification and GDC registration as you embark on the limitless possibilities of your new career. As you grow personally and with any changing circumstances during your career with us. And, when the day is done, your work is too.
Quality, affordable dentistry is in demand, and you'll play your part in delivering it as part of the largest dental network in the UK. We are shaping the way we deliver dentistry, we are growing and investing in our practices and our people. This creates opportunities for our people. You can be confident you are supported by a recognised and respected dentistry brand who have exciting plans for the future.
We provide you with opportunities to learn alongside friendly teams that support one another. Whilst completing your dental nurse qualification you will have a mydentist nurse mentor and the support of the Academy. You are never alone while learning and managing your nursing responsibilities.
The Tempdent apprenticeship entry requirements are that you achieved a minimum of English and Maths GCSE grade 4/C or above. Or an equivalent level 2 qualification in English and Maths which may have been achieved on a previous apprenticeship program or qualifications achieved at school in your home country.
Other eligibility criteria
You must also hold the right to work in the UK for the duration of your apprenticeship and have lived in the UK/EEA for the past 3 years.
You will need to be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week in order to work towards the qualification to become a qualified dental nurse.
Tempdent is the UK’s leading dental training provider, with over 25 years of expertise. Their industry-leading apprenticeships continue to shape the future of the dental profession. Their team of dedicated and experienced tutors guide thousands of Apprentices through to successful qualification each year, leaning into learners’ individual needs to consistently achieve the highest pass rates across the UK at 99.8%.
Tempdent said:
"We are not only proud to be recognised as the number one provider of Dental Nurse Apprenticeships in England, but our commitment to our Apprentices has been further validated when they voted for us as the UK’s highest-rated dental training provider and placed us in the top 3% across all sectors. We are delighted to partner with mydentist, providing best-in-class training for aspiring dental professionals across the UK."
*Some practices also offer a location premium, this is factored into the rates in our adverts where applicable.
To train and develop your career working towards a vocational qualification with a mix of on the job and online training.
The environment in a dental surgery is fast paced and ever changing, so you need to be prepared for anything! You will take an active role in ensuring you’re always prepared by staying incredibly organised. From paperwork, to patient schedules, and exam room prep, there are many ways organisation will help you be successful.
This is an important trait to ensure patient safety and comfort in the surgery. In order to be successful, you’ll need the ability to concentrate on and pay attention to even the smallest details.
It’s fair to say you’ll be working with your hands a lot! And when you’re assisting the dentist, you’ll be working in a tight space on a small part of the body. Having great control of the small muscles of your hands and fingers is important. Great hand-eye coordination is also a must as you’ll need to work precisely with small tools and instruments.
You will play an important role in patient satisfaction – you’ll often be the first and last person a patient interacts with! The way you act and present yourself is reflective of the overall practice. What does this mean?
This is vital in any workplace, but especially in a practice. For the day to run smoothly and on-schedule, you’ll need to work effectively as a team player. You will be a liaison between different parties, so you’ll need to communicate effectively with various types of people – from patients of all ages to dental staff and dentists. Great chairside manner is key!
A big part of being a good communicator is knowing how to listen. You will interact closely with patients every day. Your ability to correctly respond to patient’s concerns or questions starts by lending an ear and listening well. Additionally, you’ll need to have good listening skills in order to correctly follow instruction. This requires you to be able to;
You’ll have to balance all your duties in a smooth and effortless manner. Between preparing examination rooms and sterilising equipment, you’ll need to be ready to answer phone calls, greet and escort patients, answer insurance and billing questions, and assist the other dental staff with procedures. You should enjoy juggling multiple tasks in the span of an hour or even a few minutes, in order to succeed in this role.
A high proportion of the population suffer from anxiety about going to the dentist. You need to be aware of this common phobia and provide a compassionate, empathetic attitude to patients at all times. You want to help patients feel calm and do your best to ensure they feel relaxed and confident throughout their appointment.
If you’re not excited about the thought of assisting and helping others, then a career in dental assisting may not be for you. You should love and take pride in doing everything you can to work as a team and support your dentist. You’ll be working chairside for a high proportion of your day;
Determination and strong work ethic will go a long way toward your successful career as a dental nurse. No day will be the same. You’ll have with busy days, some unhappy (and happy) patients, problems to solve, and more. If you are resilient and dedicated to always giving your best you are likely to take these more challenging days in stride!
The Tempdent Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship qualification is the City & Guilds Level 3 Dental Nurse Practitioner.
Apprentices complete 15 modules throughout the Apprenticeship. Each Apprentice will work through these modules with one to one online sessions with their Tutor Assessor, online group workshops and flexible, interactive eLearning in the form of digital resources, video content, case studies and quizzes.
If a learner fails their exam, the Tutor Assessor will notify both the learner and their employer. A performance review will then be conducted to identify strengths and areas needing improvement, guiding where additional learning or revision is required. Targeted one-on-one support will be provided to address specific areas for improvement, while reinforcing stronger areas to ensure consistency. This support may focus on exam techniques or subject knowledge based on the learner's individual needs. Once the learner is ready, the Tutor Assessor will follow the necessary steps to rebook the exam.
Tempdent Apprentices can take advantage of fantastic support from their Tutor Assessor as much as they need (daily if required). You can contact them via the learning platform, Bud. As well as the ongoing support from your Tutor Assessor, you will have regular one to one online sessions with them to ensure you understand the course content and are progressing well. You will also attend regular online group workshops where you can interact with peers completing the Apprenticeship alongside you. Your own workplace manager will also meet with you and your Tutor Assessor every 8-10 weeks for progress reviews.
We're proud to be a place where every colleague can be themselves. With flexibility and choice that enables you to balance your life and career, you can make a real difference through the work what you do.
We're building the UK's leading network of dental practices, shaping the way we deliver dentistry and creating opportunities for everyone. With aspiring career pathways, you can build and develop a career that supports you and your goals.
We take pride in the outstanding care we offer our patients and the support we give each other. Whether it's through our practice teams or support centre functions, there's always someone to turn to. All of us, working collaboratively to achieve together.
There’s never been a better time to join mydentist. Find out more about our current apprentice dental nurse vacancies below.
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