# Dental Nurse Jobs in the NHS > NHS dental nurse job landing page from Job Clerk. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/jobs/dental-nurse - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/jobs/dental-nurse.md ## Live Market Snapshot - **Live vacancies:** 34 - **NHS employers:** 25 - **New vacancies this week:** 16 - **Observed salary range:** GBP 24,852 to GBP 39,043 ## Role Summary NHS dental nurse posts sit in community dental services, hospital oral and maxillofacial surgery departments, dental schools, and salaried NHS dental practices. The role involves chairside assistance, infection control, and patient care across general, specialist, and emergency dental settings. Most NHS dental nurse posts are Band 3 or Band 4, with senior or lead roles at Band 5. Dental nurses are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). ## Typical Responsibilities - Chairside assistance during examinations, fillings, extractions, and surgical procedures - Preparation and decontamination of instruments following HTM 01-05 standards - Mixing materials, taking impressions, and processing radiographs - Patient reassurance, post-operative instructions, and oral health education - Stock control, equipment maintenance, and surgery turnaround - Clinical record keeping and updating patient management systems - Additional duties with post-qualification certificates: fluoride varnish application, impression taking, oral health education delivery ## Typical Requirements - GDC registration as a dental nurse - National Diploma in Dental Nursing, NEBDN qualification, or City & Guilds equivalent - Post-qualification certificates for extended duties (radiography, oral health education, fluoride application) - Enhanced DBS clearance ## Employers Hiring - Community Dental Services CIC (4 jobs) - Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (3 jobs) - Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (3 jobs) - Livewell Southwest (2 jobs) - Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (2 jobs) - Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (1 jobs) - HUC (1 jobs) - East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (1 jobs) ## Locations Hiring - Plymouth, South West (2 jobs) - Manchester, North West (2 jobs) - Liverpool, North West (2 jobs) - Birmingham, Midlands (2 jobs) - Eastleigh, South East (1 jobs) - Essex, East of England (1 jobs) - Southampton, South East (1 jobs) - Burton, Midlands (1 jobs) - Exeter, East of England (1 jobs) - Bath, South West (1 jobs) - Llandrindod Wells, West Wales (1 jobs) - Kettering, Midlands (1 jobs) ## FAQs ### What qualifications do I need to become an NHS dental nurse? You need a recognised dental nursing qualification (NEBDN National Diploma, City & Guilds Level 3, or university certificate/diploma) and GDC registration. Many dental nurses qualify while working as trainees in practice, studying part-time alongside chairside experience. Some trusts and dental hospitals offer training posts for people starting from scratch, though these are competitive. ### How much do NHS dental nurses earn? Under the 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay scales, Band 3 dental nurses earn approximately £26,000 to £27,500 and Band 4 senior dental nurses earn approximately £28,000 to £31,000. Band 5 lead or specialist roles earn £32,000 to £39,000. Community dental services and hospital posts often offer more structured career development than high street practice, plus access to the NHS pension. ### Where do NHS dental nurses work? NHS dental nurse posts are found in community dental services (treating patients with additional needs, children, and anxious adults), hospital oral surgery and orthodontic departments, dental schools (assisting in teaching clinics), salaried NHS dental practices, and emergency dental clinics. Hospital posts tend to involve more complex cases including extractions under sedation or general anaesthetic. ### What is the difference between NHS and private dental nursing? NHS dental nurse posts follow Agenda for Change pay and conditions, with NHS pension, annual leave entitlement, and structured career progression. Private practice pay varies widely and may be higher or lower depending on the practice. NHS community and hospital roles often involve more complex cases and a wider patient mix. Private practices may offer more regular hours but fewer training opportunities. ### What career progression is available for dental nurses? Dental nurses can progress to senior dental nurse (Band 4), lead dental nurse or practice manager (Band 5), or specialist roles in sedation, special care dentistry, or oral health promotion. With additional qualifications, dental nurses can train as dental hygienists or dental therapists (degree-level roles at Band 5-6). Some dental nurses also move into dental education or decontamination lead roles. ### What are extended duties for dental nurses? GDC-registered dental nurses can undertake additional duties with the appropriate post-qualification certificates. These include taking dental radiographs, applying fluoride varnish, taking impressions, removing sutures, and delivering oral health education programmes. Each extended duty requires a separate qualification. Community dental services and hospital departments are more likely to use and fund these additional skills. ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk SEO landing-page data as the HTML page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Live job counts change as source NHS adverts open and close.