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Job Role
Dental Nurse
Job Role

Dental Nurse

Be part of a professional dental practice and travel the world, proving routine and emergency dental care

Fast trackHealthcareAdventureHumanitarian aidMedicalSciencesApprenticeships
  • £19,500 - £31,500
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Surface Fleet
  • Medical
  • Rating level

At a glance

Help deliver world-class dental healthcare anywhere from a shore establishment in the UK to a portable dental unit in the Middle East. You’ll be central to ensuring our personnel are fighting fit at all times, both on active service abroad and when they’re at home.
I’ve been a Dental Nurse for a while, but I never experience the level of professionalism – and adventure – that I get in the Royal Navy.

Agnes

Dental Nurse

Role details

What you’ll do

As a Dental Nurse in the Royal Navy, you’ll be a central part of a professional dental practice – one that travels the world looking after the health of our people. Your team will be led by the Dental Officer, who will rely on your support to deliver first-class dental healthcare everywhere from a shore establishment in the UK, to a portable dental unit in the Middle East. Alongside the rest of the Medial branch, you’ll be central to ensuring our personnel are fighting fit at all times, both on active service abroad and when they’re at home.

You can join as a qualified Dental Nurse or you can join as a Student with GCSEs and get paid to train and study for your Diploma in Dental Nursing and gain registration with the General Dental Council. 

Your role

  • Take responsibility for preparing instruments and materials for the Dental Officer, adapting to the wide range of procedures you’ll be tackling every day.
  • Maintain stocks and make appointments, ensuring that the surgery runs smoothly at even the busiest times.
  • Take charge of patient care, both before and during their appointment. That means easing any concerns and ensuring they are fully aware of the procedure. 
  • Prepare the surgery and making sure that everything is clean and tidy – that’s easier said than done, especially at sea in challenging conditions, or even attached to a Royal Marines Unit.
     

Pay & benefits

  • If not already qualified, get paid to train and earn a Diploma in Dental Nursing 
  • A salary of at least £21,230 after initial training
  • Excellent pay and promotion prospects
  • Non-contributory pension scheme
  • Sports and adventurous training opportunities 
  • 6 weeks paid holiday a year
  • Free Medical and Dental care
 

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or even a degree
  • Diploma in Dental Nursing and registration to the General Dental Council if you don't already have it
  • Leadership and management qualifications

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn to adapt your skills to a range of challenging and changeable environments
  • Develop your clinical and administrative skills through world-class training
  • Work in teams, displaying core military values and discipline
  • Adaptability and flexibility to care for your patients wherever you are treating them
     

Eligibility

  • You’ll need to be aged between 17 to 39 
  • Diploma in Dental Nursing (not required for student route of entry) 
  • Registered with the General Dental Council (not required for student route of entry) 
  • You'll need at least 2 GCSEs at grades A-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent) which must include English Language and Mathematics
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test

Skills & Interests

  • A passion for helping people
  • Great team players who thrive on working with others
  • Enthusiasm for working in highly challenging environments
  • A real sense of adventure

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.

Got a question?

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