2 years / Level 6 / Full-time / Work Placement
A dental nurse works as part of a dental team in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings. In Ireland Dental Nurses are mainly employed in General Dental Surgeries, Dental Hospitals, Health Service Executive Dental Clinics or Specialist Surgeries.
Dental Nurses are responsible for ensuring the Dentist or Oral Surgeon’s operating list runs smoothly during the course of a clinical session. This includes ensuring that all instrumentation is correct and has been thoroughly sterilised, all radiographs and case notes are prepared for the clinical session, necessary lab work/ results and supplies are available, the dental surgery/operating room is clean and equipment is in good working order and all general administrative and office work is up-to-date. Dental nurses are also involved in assisting with suction during dental procedures, for example, cleaning, scaling and polishing of teeth and offering emotional support to patients with an anxiety towards dental treatment. They need to have good organisational skills and have the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Certain semesters of this course are taken in common with other courses.
Follow up programmes elsewhere include:
Minimum Entry Requirements
Garda Vetting
Applicants for this programme are required to undergo Garda Vetting. For any programme where Garda Vetting is required, non-EU applicants will not be considered unless/until the pool of qualified EU applicants has been exhausted. For those admitted to any course requiring Garda Vetting, registration is temporary until such time as the vetting process is successfully completed.
Work Placement
The work placement modules are an integral part of the course. The aim of the placement is to provide learners with an opportunity to gain skills, experience and competence. Please note that with while the institute will make every effort to assist the learner in finding a placement final responsibility for securing the placement resides with the learner. Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the learner.
Information for:
The main employers are:
Graduate careers typically include:
Department Administration: +353 (0)74 9186310 / +353 (0)74 9186309 / +353 (0)74 9186302
Head of Department Dr Joanne Gallagher Email: science@lyit.ie Telephone: +353 (0)74 9186309
School and Department School of Science Department of Life & Physical Sciences
Higher Certificate
Bachelor of Science (Ord)