Dental nurses

£20,857

Average salary

Average annual salary UK 2020 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

32 hours

Average weekly hours

Average weekly hours UK 2019 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

3.35%

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate UK 2020 | Labour Force Survey

Definition: Dental nurses

*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 6143

Dental nurses prepare patients for, and assist with, dental examinations, prepare and sterilise instruments and maintain case records.

Common tasks include:

prepares patient for examination;
prepares and sterilises instruments and follows guidelines to maintain sterile conditions within the surgery;
hands required equipment and medication to dentist during examination;
assists with minor treatment, such as preparing materials for fillings;
removes water and saliva from patient’s mouth during treatment;
maintains records, processes and mounts x?ray films and undertakes reception duties.

Qualifications

Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades. Training is available both off- and on-the-job. Most entrants work towards the National Certificate for Dental Nurses.

*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.

Employment status: Dental nurses

Regional employment: Dental nurses

Future employment: Dental nurses

Top 12 industries: Dental nurses

Alternative & related job titles: Dental nurses

Nurse (dental practice) Auxiliary, dental Nurse-receptionist, dental Assistant, surgeon's, dental Nurse, dental Nurse, surgery, dental Attendant, dental Assistant, chairside, orthodontic Receptionist-nurse, dental Assistant, dental Assistant, surgery, dental

Equality focus: Dental nurses

Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.