Topics covered in the course and what the student will learn within each topic.
Back to module lessons

Module 1 

Induction course - GDC Requirements
   - Introduction to GDC requirements for trainees

Lesson 1 - The Role of A Dental Nurse and GDC Standards

 - Standards and Regulation for Dental Professionals
 - Qualities and Duties of a Dental Nurse
 - The Dental Team and Providing Dental Services

Lesson 2 - Human Anatomy and Physiology

 - The Brain
 - The Circulatory System and Blood
 - The Respiratory System
 - The Digestive System

Lesson 3 - Medical Emergencies, Drugs and Equipment

 - Common Medical Emergencies
 - First Aid
 - Basic Life Support
 - Emergency Drugs and Equipment

Lesson 4 - Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

 - Microbes
 - Disease Transmission
 - Personal Protection

Lesson 5 - Infection Control

 - Policies & Procedures
 - Hand Care & Personal Protective Equipment
 - Preparing & Maintaining the Clinical Environment
 - Blood Spillage & Inoculation Injury

Lesson 6 - Decontamination

 - Sterilisation
 - Disinfection
 - Storage
 - Equipment Performance Testing

Lesson 7 - Health and Safety at Work

 - Risk Assessment
 - Fire Precautions
 - First Aid
 - COSHH
 - RIDDOR
 - Environmental Protection
 - Waste Management

Module 2 

Lesson 1 - Anatomy of the Head and Jaws 

 - The Skull Mandible & Maxilla
 - Muscles, Nerves & Blood Supply
 - The Oral Cavity Soft Tissues
 - Salivary Glands

Lesson 2 - Anatomy of Teeth and Supporting Structures

 - The Dentition
 - Functions of Teeth
 - Teeth Components
 - Anatomy of the Surrounding Bone and Periodontium

 Lesson 3 - Growth and Development of the Dentition

 - The Deciduous & Permanent Dentition
 - Normal & Abnormal Development
 - Characteristics of Deciduous & Permanent Teeth
 - Eruption Dates

Lesson 4 - Oral Health and Disease

 - The Healthy Mouth
 - Signs & Symptoms of Disease
 - Aetiology of Oral Diseases
 - Common Oral Diseases 

Lesson 5 - Dental Caries, Erosion, Abrasion and Attrition

 - Aetiology of Caries
 - Progression of Caries
 - Other Tooth Surface Loss

Lesson 6 - Periodontal Diseases

 - Healthy Periodontal Tissues
 - Chronic Periodontitis
 - The Role of Bacterial Plaque
 - Acute Periodontal Diseases

Lesson 7 - Prevention of Dental Diseases

 - Public Health Measures
 - Plaque Control
 - Diet & Fluorides
 - Fissure Sealants

Module 3

Lesson 1 - Dental Charting

 - Teeth & Tooth Surface Identification
 - The Dental Chart
 - Palmer, FDI and Computer Notations 

Lesson 2 - Periodontal charting

 - Instruments for Charting
 - The Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE)
 - Advanced Periodontal Charting

 Lesson 3 - Legal and Ethical

 - Freedom of Information
 - Data Protection
 - Record Keeping
 - Principles of Consent, Confidentiality & Raising Concerns

Lesson 4 - Patient Care and Management

 - Patient Centred Care
 - Children and Child Protection
 - The Elderly
 - Special Needs Patients

Lesson 5  - Special Care

 - Anxiety & Phobia
 - Sedation
 - Emergency Dental Care

Lesson 6 - Communication

 - Effective Communication
 - Giving Advice or Instructions
 - Booking Appointments

Lesson 7 - Complaints

 - Principles of Handling Complaints
 - Nurse’s Role in Complaint Management  

Lesson 8 - Radiography part 1

 - Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR)
 - Hazards & Safety Measures
 - Imaging & Processing 

Lesson 9 - Radiography part 2

 - Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations [IRMER]
 - Limiting Patient Dose & Quality Assurance
 - Diagnostic Use in Dentistry
 - Radiographic Faults


 

Module 4

Lesson 1 - Chairside support

 - Patient Support
 - Clinician Support
 - Moisture Control
 - Preparation & Presentation of Instruments

 Lesson 2 - Cavities and Restorations

 - Classification of Cavities
 - Preparation of Cavities
 - Restorative Materials
 - Retention of Restorations

Lesson 3 - Endodontics

 - Pulp Treatments
 - Root Canal Therapy
 - Instruments for RCT
 - Materials for RCT

Lesson 4 - Fixed Prostheses

 - Inlays, Crowns, Bridges & Implants
 - Materials Used
 - Procedures
 - Provisional Restorations

Lesson 5 - Removable Prostheses

 - Partial & Full Dentures
 - Materials for Dentures
 - Surgery & Laboratory Procedures

Lesson 6 - Dental Materials part 1

 - Commonly Used Dental Bio-materials
 - Preparing, Mixing & Handling Materials

Lesson 7 - Dental Materials part 2

 - Commonly Used Dental Bio-materials
 - Preparing, Mixing & Handling Materials

Lesson 8 - Dental Equipment part 1

 - The Dental Unit
 - Handpieces
 - Rotary Cutting and Polishing
 - Moisture Control and Mixing
 - Decontamination
 - Radiography
 - Emergency Equipment
 - Hand Instruments

Lesson 9 - Dental Equipment part 2

 - The Dental Unit
 - Handpieces
 - Rotary Cutting and Polishing
 - Moisture Control and Mixing
 - Decontamination
 - Radiography
 - Emergency Equipment
 - Hand Instruments

 

Module 5

Lesson 1 - Extractions and Minor Oral Surgery

 - Justification
 - Complications
 - Equipment
 - Post Operative Care

Lesson 2 - Pain Control in Dentistry

 - Anaesthetics
 - Equipment and Constituents of LA Cartridges
 - Methods of Administering LA

Lesson 3 - Drugs in dentistry

 - Pain Control
 - Anti-microbials
 - Emergency Drugs
 - Safe Use, Storage & Disposal of Drugs

Lesson 4 - Periodontal Surgery

 - Surgical Techniques
 - Equipment

Lesson 5 - Orthodontics

 - Occlusion
 - Orthodontic Appliances
 - Equipment & Materials

Lesson 6 - Oral Cancer

 - Changes in Oral Mucosa
 - Aetiology of Malignant Changes
 - Treatment & Prevention
 - Smoking Risk