Scope Of Practice

Question 1

What are the main duties of a dental nurse?

Answer 1

• to prepare and maintain the clinical environment including the equipment
• carry out infection prevention and control procedures to prevent physical, chemical and microbiological contamination in the surgery or laboratory
• record dental charting and oral issue assessment carried out by other registrants
• prepare, mix and handle dental bio-materials
• provide chair side support to the operator during treatment

Question 2

What are some additional skills dental nurses could develop?

Answer 2

• OHI promotion
• assisting in treatment during sedation
• assisting in treatment during orthodontic
• assisting with patients with special needs
• intra and extra oral photography
• shade taking

And more

Question 3

What are some additional skills carried out on prescription which dental nurses can do? (Or under the direction of another registrant)

Answer 3

• taking radiographs
• placing rubber dam
• measuring and recording plaque indices
• removing sutures after the wound has been checked by a dentist
• applying topical anaesthetic to the prescription of the dentist
• taking impressions to the prescription of a dentist

Question 4

What do dental nurses not do?

Answer 4

They do not diagnose disease or treatment plan, all other skills are reserved to one or more of the other registrant groups

Question 5

when can dental nurses apply fluoride varnish?

Answer 5

Either on prescription from a dentist or direct as a part of a structured dental health programme