Category: Article

NEBDN is supporting its course providers by sharing monthly articles named ‘Crowning Courses’, to highlight the Post-Registration qualifications on offer for accreditation. The articles are also useful for qualified dental nurses wanting to progress their careers, or those thinking of becoming a course provider and wanting to know more about the qualifications we offer and how the course syllabus works.

This month’s Crowning Courses article features our Oral Health Education (OHE) qualification.

The course at a glance
NEBDN course providers offering the OHE qualification can support qualified dental nurses in the progression of their Post-Registration journey.

NEBDN’s certificate in OHE is specifically designed to equip a dental nurse wishing to develop professionally to become an oral health educator, with the knowledge and skills required to be able to effectively deliver oral health care messages, educate various patient groups and have the ability to adapt information and communication to the specific needs of the patient.

The course content
For more information on our OHE qualification or syllabus click here

Exam schedule
Currently NEBDN provide two exam dates a year in March and September for all Post-Registration exams.

Prior to sitting the exam, candidates are required to complete a work-based assessment portfolio called the Record of Competence, which can now be completed online for ease of use to candidates, course providers and the environment. Click here for full exam schedule.

Success stats
• Most searched for Post-Registration qualification in 2020 on our website
• Over 7,000 OHE page visits on our website since January 2020, with over 1,600 course provider searches for the qualification this year.
• Currently, we have 33 course providers offering this course, but as you can see above, the demand is there for new students to join.

Following a recent survey to Post-Registration candidates, the below graph shows the percentage of how many candidates felt a Post-Registration course helped towards career development, with 87% of candidates agreeing it provides future opportunities to use it in practice.

As an awarding organisation, NEBDN offer the most Post-Registration qualifications across the UK in Radiography, Implant, Sedation, Oral Health, Orthodontics and Special Care. Offering a wider range of qualifications provides flexibility for course providers wanting to expand and grow their businesses, as it allows students to stay within the same course provider practice when moving on to another area of dental nursing.

Process for accreditation
For more information, or to order an accreditation enquiry pack, please complete the Contact Form and return to the accreditation team at accreditation@nebdn.org or telephone us on 01772 429917.

Benefit of choosing an NEBDN accredited course
• NEBDN’s long-standing reputation outweighs many competitors, with over 75 years of providing dental nursing qualifications in both pre-registration and post-registration areas.
• Our primary qualification is recognised by a regulatory body, and as a registered charity we don’t charge any hidden fees or incentives, because our vision is to support the education and development of dental nurses in the UK.
• All candidates who successfully pass their qualifications are awarded certificates of completion as opposed to certificates of attendance which are of different relevance.
• Holding accreditation for delivery of qualifications indicates that the standards for education, policies, process and procedures in place, highlight an effective quality management system which is the core foundation of a course provider.
• An accredited qualification could be more favourable with employers who are aware of the standards required to achieve qualification.
• Accredited courses offer guided learning hours and credits – where appropriate these can be transferred to further education, whereas non-accredited courses cannot offer this opportunity.
• Students can purchase the widely recognised NEBDN pin badge that dates back to 1951!

Costs
• Accreditation fee for existing course providers – no charge
• Accreditation fee for new course providers £500
• Course fee to us £195* per candidate
*Additional fees to students may apply, subject to each course provider policy and course schedule

Where can this qualification take me?
A qualified dental nurse who is awarded the NEBDN certificate in OHE will be able to take a more active role in the promotion of oral health and work with patients to help prevent oral disease. You will be responsible for motivating and educating patients to make positive changes to their oral health care routine, and help patients change their behaviour and understand the causes of dental disease.

Undertaking this qualification will also help to develop your communication skills, which is essential for delivering oral health education and being an effective educator.

Search for a course provider 

NEBDN is supporting its course providers by sharing monthly articles named ‘Crowning Courses’, to highlight the Post-Registration qualifications on offer for accreditation. The articles are also useful for qualified dental nurses wanting to progress their careers, or those thinking of becoming a course provider and wanting to know more about the qualifications we offer and how the course syllabus works.

This month’s Crowning Courses article is on our Radiography qualification.

The course at a glance

NEBDN course providers offering the Radiography qualification can support qualified dental nurses in the progression of their Post-Registration journey. Offering this qualification provides an opportunity for dental nurses to work autonomously under the direction of the clinician, whilst working within current UK legislation regarding ionising radiation, allowing them to perform under prescription as an IR(ME)R Operator, taking intra and extra oral radiographs of patients safely.

The course content

For more information on our Radiography qualification or syllabus click here

Exam schedule 

Currently NEBDN provide two exam dates a year in March and September for all Post-Registration exams.

Our exam requirements include a work-based assessment portfolio called the Record of Competence, which can now be completed online for ease of use to candidates and course providers.

Click here for full exam schedule.

Success stats

• Most searched for Post-Registration qualification in 2019 and most searched for qualification on our course provider search list.
• Over 5,018 Radiography page visits on our website since January 2020, with over 700 course provider searches for the qualification.
• Currently, we have 26 course providers offering this course, but as you can see above, the demand is there for new students to join.

As an awarding organisation, NEBDN offer the most Post-Registration qualifications across the UK in Radiography, Implant, Sedation, Oral Health, Orthodontics and Special Care. Offering a wider range of qualifications provides flexibility for course providers wanting to expand and grow their businesses, as it allows students to stay within the same course provider practice when moving on to another area of dental nursing.

Process for accreditation

For more information, or to order an accreditation enquiry pack, please complete the Contact Form and return to the quality assurance team at accreditation@nebdn.org or telephone us on 01772 429917.

Benefit of choosing an NEBDN accredited course

• NEBDN’s long-standing reputation outweighs many competitors, with over 75 years of providing dental nursing qualifications in both pre-registration and post-registration areas.
• Our primary qualification is recognised by a regulatory body, and as a registered charity we don’t charge any hidden fees or incentives, because our vision is to support the education and development of dental nurses in the UK.
• All candidates who successfully pass their qualifications are awarded certificates of completion as opposed to certificates of attendance which are of different relevance.
• Holding accreditation for delivery of qualifications indicates that the standards for education, policies, process and procedures in place, highlight an effective quality management system which is the core foundation of a course provider.
• An accredited qualification could be more favourable with employers who are aware of the standards required to achieve qualification.
• Accredited courses offer guided learning hours and credits – where appropriate these can be transferred to further education, whereas non-accredited courses cannot offer this opportunity.
• Students can purchase the widely recognised NEBDN pin badge that dates back to 1951!

Costs

• Accreditation fee for existing course providers – no charge
• Accreditation fee for new course providers £500
• Course fee to us £195*
*Additional fees to students may apply, subject to each course provider policy and course schedule

Where can this qualification take me?

A qualified dental nurse who is awarded the NEBDN certificate in Dental Radiography, will be able to act under prescription as an IR(ME)R operator, in order to safely take intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs of patients. The additional skills acquired, together with the knowledge gained, will enhance your CV and bring benefits to your employer and to patients.

This month’s Crowning Careers spotlight is on Louise Belfield, an NEBDN Trustee, who shares her career journey from dental nurse to lecturer in biomedical sciences.

After I left school at 16, I went to college to do A-levels in English Language, Law, and IT. To this day I have no idea why. Halfway through the term I became sick and missed a lot of teaching. On return, I felt unable to keep up with the content and so I decided to defer and start afresh next term. In the meantime, I needed to earn some money, so I went to the jobcentre. I had no idea what I wanted to do and at 16 I was very shy. The advisor suggested I apply for an apprenticeship in dental technology. I thought it sounded interesting, and they were insistent, so I did. I worked as a trainee Dental Technician for 18 months and began to develop skills in crown and bridge work. During my time there, I began to wonder with increasing frequency about the patients on the other side of the lab tickets and their stories. I saw an advert in a local newspaper for a job as a trainee dental nurse, and I thought that it would be a brilliant opportunity to be more involved with the patients.

I trained as a dental nurse in a small mixed NHS and private practice and went to night classes every Tuesday. I loved my course and had the most wonderful course providers. In 2003 I gained my NEBDN qualification and I was over the moon to become a qualified dental nurse. My practice was wonderful; we were a close-knit team, and everyone was supportive of each other. The dentist I worked with was an inspiration. He supported me through my training and involved me in his treatment planning and diagnosis processes and would ask for my comments on radiographs. I felt so valued and included as part of the care team and was very happy. One of the most important things he did for me was to take me on his CPD courses, and it was one of those courses that changed the direction of my career.

I listened to the provider talking about the links between periodontitis and diseases elsewhere in the body, like heart disease and diabetes, and how the bacteria that live in the mouth might link them together. For months after, I dwelled on that idea, and considered what it might mean for our patients; what might to we be able to advise if we knew more about it? Impatient to wait for the research to filter through to practice, I wanted to be part of the driving force, investigating how oral bacteria could have such a fundamental impact on our general health. To do this I decided I had to go to university. With a heavy heart, I left my practice to embark on a new chapter in my life, but I knew I was not leaving my profession behind, I brought it with me.

Applying to university was exciting, but of course having no A-levels meant I was not eligible to apply for direct entry into a degree programme. I found a degree in Human Biosciences which had a Foundation Year built in, which accepted my dental nurse qualification, along with my GCSEs and work experience for entry. Whilst I was studying, I continued in the profession I loved by working as a bank dental nurse for the local hospital trust. Through this, I got to work with some inspiring, brave, kind, caring, and resilient people in an incredible service. I worked in emergency Dental Access Centres, special care clinics, did domiciliary and school visits – sometimes in the mobile dental surgery van. I also worked for a local NHS weekend on call service, predominantly on reception, and had a part time job in a local practice which I used to fit in around lectures. It was tough working so much and studying for a degree, but with no other financial support it was up to me to manage my time and studies.

In my final year of university, I focused on my passion for dentistry directly. I had become fascinated with the immune system and it was my favourite subject by far, even while most other students didn’t like it, it captured my imagination in the same way that the links between periodontitis and general disease had done in that CPD course. Moreover, this was the missing link, and I knew that understanding the immune system was vital to determining how oral bacteria interacted with the rest of the body. For my dissertation, I ran experiments and studied how immune cells responded to oral bacteria. I quickly developed a passion for research. I graduated from my undergraduate degree in 2008, and I finally had the tools to investigate the questions that had been burning in my mind for years. I applied to study for a PhD investigating the role oral bacteria played in changing how the immune system behaves in oral diseases. I concentrated on periodontal disease and oral cancer.

During my PhD, I was able to meet other people with similar research interests. I attended scientific conferences and became an active member of the British Society of Oral and Dental Research. I served as an Early Career Researcher representative on the committee and served a similar role on the Oral Microbiology and Immunology Group committee. I graduated with a PhD in 2013. I am now a lecturer in biomedical sciences at a UK Dental School and have been able to develop my skills in education, particularly in science curriculum and assessment. I completed a post-graduate certificate in clinical education in 2013 and I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I continue to study oral bacteria and their effects on the immune system and general health, working in a multidisciplinary team of scientists, dentists, and medical professionals, and I am proud to represent dental nurses. I am incredibly grateful to organisations like the Oral and Dental Research Trust who have recognised the value of Dental Nurses in research, and award funding specially for DCPs, which have allowed me to continue my research.

Over my career so far, three key themes have really stuck out for me
• The importance of scientific discovery on the impact of oral bacteria on general health
• Career progression and research opportunities for dental nurses
• Inclusivity and access to higher education, especially for those who have not come a traditional route into university.

I continue to represent dental nurses in organisations like the BSODR, and the Association of Science Educators in Dentistry, and have fought to develop fair access to higher education for anyone, and particularly championing the value that a dental nursing qualification and experience can bring to higher education. Through my own experience, I remain dedicated to celebrating, advocating, and promoting the breadth of opportunities for dental nurses, and what our unique, extensive skills and experience can offer in a range of settings. I continue to be inspired by the dental nurses’ stories that I hear through NEBDN and local networks and remain in admiration of those carving their own paths in our challenging, rewarding profession.

This month’s Crowning Career article is from Natalie Watson, Education and Quality Assurance Officer, General Dental Council (GDC).

Back in 2007, at the age of 16, I began my career in dentistry, prior to the GDC’s introduction of dental nurse registration. At the time, I hadn’t ever considered a career in dentistry and thought of it as a temporary role until I discovered what it was that I wanted to do. I Initially worked as a trainee dental nurse in a busy NHS practice, supporting a hygiene therapist who taught me the skills I needed to successfully carry out my duties. Once I gained more experience in the role, I started to consider the vast career opportunities that were available within dentistry.

In 2008, I learnt of a dental nursing training programme at Birmingham Dental Hospital and decided that it was an opportunity that I wanted to pursue. This so happened to be the same year that the GDC introduced mandatory registration for dental nurses. Shortly after enrolling in the application process, I was thrilled to be offered a place at Birmingham Dental Hospital. The two years that I spent there gave me access to a wide range of dentistry experience and highlighted the career opportunities that would become available once I had achieved my qualification. The training that I received, as well as the support from tutors and dental professionals, inspired me to explore a career in dental education.

Once I qualified as a dental nurse, I worked in a mixed NHS and private dental practice for four years and put my skills into practise. Alongside a full-time job, I completed a part-time course in my spare time, gaining a teaching qualification. I also undertook post-qualification courses such as radiography, sedation and impression taking, which enabled me to gain further skills in preparation for a job in education.

Although I was suitably qualified, I faced difficulties getting into education as employers often viewed me as being too young and inexperienced. However, I was determined to succeed. In 2014, at the age of 23, I secured employment with a dental training provider as a dental nurse tutor and assessor. Over the next four years, I was responsible for teaching the Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing as well as the Level 4 Dental Practice Management qualification. My role also involved assessing students within their own workplace to ensure they were meeting the required standards expected of them. This role enabled me to gain qualifications in assessing, internal quality assurance and management.

In 2018, the GDC opened its Operational Hub in Birmingham and vacancies were advertised, including the education and quality assurance role. I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity to use all of the skills that I had acquired during a decade working in the industry. As a GDC registrant, I thought of this as an exciting opportunity and was keen to enhance my skills further in the quality assurance of dental education. I am now ten months into my role and thoroughly enjoy the variety that it brings. It has also been of great interest to me getting to know more about the GDC and I feel proud to work here.

As a large focus of the dental profession is lifelong learning, I am eager to gain more skills and further develop in my current role. Dentistry is an exciting career and there are various opportunities available if you put your mind to it and set yourself achievable goals. Upon reflection, it is rewarding to know that the aspirations I set for myself when I was younger have been achieved and I look forward to a long career in dentistry.

This month’s spotlight is on Ann Lilley, who shares her dental nurse journey from a community-based perspective.

When I left school in 1988, my first dental nursing post was in a general dental practice in my home town just outside of Bristol. I worked in a well-respected dentist that was much loved by staff and patients. It was a fantastic practice with five surgeries and staff were like family. I continued to work there for eight years during which I trained one day a week at Bristol Dental Hospital. The training course ran for a year and I qualified in 1991 having taken the NEBDN National Certificate.

During my time at the practice we had many amazing memories, one of which was when the local Bristol BBC made a documentary about dentistry on a programme called “close up west”. They filmed us for a week and it made us feel very important. There was one part where they filmed me all day and then speeded up the film to show a day in the life of a dental surgery. We have been trying to find a copy for years as it would be very funny to watch it now as I was considerably younger and slimmer!

I left the practice in 1996 to start my family, and decided I would be a mum for a while and seek work later. After less than a year I saw an advert back at Bristol Dental Hospital, where they were recruiting staff to operate the Out of Hours Emergency Dental Service evenings at weekends, for non-registered patients who were unable to see a dentist. This fitted in really well with family life, so I applied for a nursing post.

Within a very short space of time I ended up managing the service and triaging patients due to the huge numbers attending in pain. Over the years our teams have seen many changes and moved to different sites. I am still a Senior Dental Nurse there and share this role with a wonderful colleague called Donna. I’ve been working for the Out of Hours service for 23 years! Clearly I enjoy it. During our time we have operated dental advice lines for Bristol, BANES and North Somerset alongside the OOHS pain clinics.

A few years ago 111 took over the triage for OOHS dental patients but we continue to operate the clinics and emergency appointments during evenings and weekends. As my hours were reduced, I applied for a dental nurse post for the Primary Care Dental Service which I already work for, but based in the Community at Weston General Hospital, on behalf of UHBristol NHS Trust. The Primary Care Dental service has seven community clinics across the region. We see patients with additional needs, complex medical histories, phobic children and anyone who is unable to attend a general practice. Sedation is offered when deemed appropriate in our clinical settings to help patients relax during treatment. Domiciliary home care is offered to patients who are bed bound and all patients are treated by a referral system.

I gained the NEBDN qualification in Sedation Dental Nursing a few years ago and I still feel it was the most interesting course I had ever done. Our tutor at Bristol Dental Hospital is outstanding and I would thoroughly recommend Post-Registration qualification training to everyone. We also operate Hospital Orthodontic clinics here, our Consultant from Bristol Dental hospital operates Out Patients clinics here once a week. We have the opportunity to nurse for Orthognathic and complex orthodontic cases and see the finished results some years later.

I am the happiest in work I have ever been, I am the joker of the clinic and my job means the world to me. The staff treat patients with such care and we go above and beyond at times. Our trust has just been given an ‘Outstanding’ award by the Quality Care Commission. I am very proud of all we have achieved and would recommend nurses to look for community based work if you are looking for a challenge and rewarding work.

Fun fact: My passion is singing, and I am part of a local Rock Band called the Cringe, I am often heard singing at work and my patients love it. I encourage everyone to be positive, happy and work hard. Care for others always!

This month’s Crowning Careers spotlight is on Debra Worthington, who shares her journey from Dental Nurse to Maxillofacial Unit Manager.

On leaving school I fell into dental nursing. I had always thought I would pursue a career in general nursing, and it wasn’t until a friend’s father who was a local dentist told me he was looking for a nurse that my journey began. I continued to work in a general dental practice for a further six years, during which I sat the NEBDN national certificate, qualifying in 1983.

Whilst fully enjoining my work I began to want to broaden my horizons and learn new skills. In November 1992 I secured a role in my local hospital in the Orthodontic Department – this is where my passion for orthodontics began. I went on to work at two further hospital trusts each time gaining more experience, not only in orthodontics but in oral surgery and restorative dentistry. I also gained Post-Registration qualifications in Oral Health, Radiography, Conscious Sedation and Radiography.

In 2001 I moved to another Trust, while this was further from home I knew I wanted to develop further and moving into this role was the only way I would achieve this. The role enabled me to develop leadership and management skills. I studied for and gained qualifications awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management. I stayed in this role for nine years, but I still wanted to progress further and started to look for further opportunities.

The opportunity did come up and in January 2010, I started at Salford Royal Hospital which is where I’m still based now. As the Maxillofacial Unit Manager I am autonomously responsible for the professional leadership and management of a team of community dental nurses, maxillofacial and orthodontic nurses, orthodontic therapists and dental therapists. The specialities which fall into my remit are orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, special care and paediatric dentistry.

I am accountable for the overall clinical and operational day to day delivery of clinical standards of care and management of the dental care professional workforce; I endeavour to deliver a high-quality patient centred service which meets patient’s needs.

I am actively involved in clinical governance, risk management, and I’m the Radiation Protection Supervisor. I have gained a teaching qualification and successfully completed the NHS Senior Leadership Programme.

I have thoroughly enjoined every minute of my career. It has not been easy juggling a family, working and studying; but if you set yourself personal goals, then with support and guidance, you will achieve them.

Some interesting facts about me and things I’ve been pleased to be a part of are:
• My role on the Committee of the Orthodontic National Group (ONG) where I served as Chair for nine years. I am currently two years into a three-year tenure as President. This consists of working at a national level with senior members of the British Orthodontic Society. I attend meetings with the General Dental Council (GDC), and I was invited to meet the GDC when they were reviewing the Scope of Practice in 2013.
• I am a current member of the Dental Care Professionals Advisory Board at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.
• I have worked with The Centre for Workforce Intelligence, who has been commissioned to report on the future duties of dental care professionals and dental student intake numbers.
• I worked with NHS England on a scoping document – looking at medicines prescribing for DCP’s.

Like to know more? Debra will be at our Spring Conference 7 March 2020 discussing details on the ‘Mouthcare Matters’ programme. Click here to book your place.