The General Dental Council's (GDC's) Scope of practice guidance for registered dental nurses.
Introduction
The General Dental Council (GDC) updated their Scope of practice guidance document in December 2020 (it was originally effective from 30 September 2013).1 In 2020 the GDC undertook research to understand how the guidance is used, what the impacts of the guidance have been, and to decide on its future. New guidance is planned for the end of 2021 - we will update readers in 2022 once this is announced and available.
What is scope of practice?
The scope of your practice is a way of describing what you are trained and competent to do. It describes the areas in which you have the knowledge, skills and experience to practise safely and effectively in the best interests of patients.
The scope of your practice describes the areas in which you have the knowledge, skills and experience to practise safely and effectively.
This guidance sets out the skills and abilities dental nurses should have. It is not a list of tasks that someone can do. The guidance also describes additional skills that you might develop after registration to increase your scope of practice.
You must practise in accordance with the GDC's Standards for the dental team2 at all times. To carry out the additional skills you need to undertake further training.
Dental nurses
Dental nurses are registered dental professionals who provide clinical and other support to registrants and patients. As a dental nurse, you can undertake the following if you are trained, competent and indemnified:
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 tissue assessment carried out by other registrants
Prepare, mix and handle dental bio-materials
Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment
Keep full, accurate and contemporaneous patient records
Prepare equipment, materials and patients for dental radiography
Process dental radiographs
Monitor, support and reassure patients
Give appropriate patient advice
Support the patient and their colleagues if there is a medical emergency
Make appropriate referrals to other health professionals.
Additional skills
Additional skills dental nurses could develop include:
Further skills in oral health education and oral health promotion
Assisting in the treatment of patients who are under conscious sedation
Further skills in assisting in the treatment of patients with special needs
Further skills in assisting in the treatment of orthodontic patients
Intra and extra-oral photography
Pouring, casting and trimming study models
Shade taking
Tracing cephalographs.
Additional skills carried out on prescription from, or under the direction of, another registrant:
Taking radiographs
Placing rubber dam
Measuring and recording plaque indices
Removing sutures after the wound has been checked by a dentist
Constructing occlusal registration rims and special trays
Repairing the acrylic component of removable appliances
Applying topical anaesthetic to the prescription of a dentist
Constructing mouthguards and bleaching trays to the prescription of a dentist
Constructing vacuum formed retainers to the prescription of a dentist
Taking impressions to the prescription of a dentist or a clinical dental technician (CDT) (where appropriate).
Dental nurses can apply fluoride varnish either on prescription from a dentist or direct as part of a structured dental health programme. Dental nurses do not diagnose disease or treatment plan. All other skills are reserved to one or more of the other registrant groups.
References
General Dental Council. Scope of practice. Effective from September 2013. Updated December 2020. Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/information-standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/scope-of-practice (accessed October 2021).
General Dental Council. Standards for the dental team. Effective from September 2013. Updated June 2019. Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/information-standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/standards-for-the-dental-team (accessed October 2021).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
What can a dental nurse do?. BDJ Team 8, 45 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41407-021-0764-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41407-021-0764-z