Dental Nursing in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Dental Nursing in Trinity College Dublin

The dental nurse plays an important role in the organisation and management of the dental practice, assists the dentist in all aspects of patient treatment and plays a vital role in patient care. The main duties of a dental nurse include infection prevention and control, chair-side assistance, preparation and maintenance of the dental surgery and patient care.

This course gives you the skills and practical competence needed to work in a dental surgery. You will learn about the day-to-day running of a dental practice and acquire the qualifications for entry to the Dental Council Voluntary Register of Dental Nurses.

Dental Nursing: The course for you?

If you have an interest in working as part of a dental team in the delivery of oral healthcare and have a caring and understanding disposition, this may be the course for you. Skills required of students considering dental nursing include communication and organisation skills, the ability to use initiative, and the ability and willingness to work closely with the dental team in providing support and assistance during the provision of dental treatment. The dental nurse may also be involved with the administration of the dental surgery.

Through the course, you will be able to develop good patient skills and learn to communicate effectively in a healthcare environment.

Dental Nursing at Trinity

This two-year course is based in the Dublin Dental University Hospital beside Trinity’s campus. Clinical facilities are of a very high standard and class sizes are small, so that students receive considerable staff input into their progress throughout the programme. The course is very practical throughout, allowing students to progressively develop practical clinical skills. Graduates of the Trinity School of Dental Science and Dublin Dental University Hospital (DDUH) are highly sought after due to the extensive clinical exposure obtained during this programme.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of Dental Nursing, you will be able to find work in a variety of working environments, including dental hospitals and Health Service Executive dental clinics, as well as in general and specialist dental practices. Depending on the work setting, advancement in the field may include senior dental nurse, clinic nurse manager, practice manager, marketing representatives for relevant companies, dental nurse tutor, course co-ordinator, , and the area of health promotion.

Further courses of study are available to dental nurses, including the Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy.