Dental Nurse

Are you a qualified Dental Nurse?

Do you want to develop your specialist skills within dental nursing, working in our secondary and tertiary care services?

Support patient groups that will not be seen in primary care?

Would you like to work in a supportive team with developmental and career progression opportunities?

We have two positions available to cover maternity leave, one for 14 months and the other for 16 months.

Bristol Dental Hospital is a Centre of Excellence providing routine and specialist clinical dental services for the South-West. Committed to delivering exceptional patient care and investing in the development of our staff, we are seeking dedicated and skilled Band 4 Dental Nurses to join our Dental Nursing Team.

We have opportunities available within Child Dental Health department.

You will be part of the dental nurse service, providing a high standard of care, demonstrating strong clinical dental nursing skills whilst being apart of a hard working and motivated team. You will continue to develop your skills by providing close support to clinical staff, and mentor the student dental nurses during their placements.

Candidates must hold a recognised Dental Nurse Qualification or awaiting results and GDC registration.

Main duties of the job

As a Dental Nurse at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, you will play a vital role in delivering high-quality dental care to our patients. Working closely with our dental professionals, you will ensure the smooth operation of our clinics and contribute to our commitment to improving oral health in the community. This will involve, but not limited to:

• Monitor and maintain a high standard of cleanliness and infection control in line with current codes of practice and trust policy.
• Provide four handed dentistry throughout the patient's treatment, anticipating the clinicians needs and any possible complications which may arise including assisting the management of medical and dental emergencies.
• To provide clinical support and advice for the dental team.
• To identify each patient's medical, dental, and personal needs within a wide range of treatments and procedures before, during and after the patient is discharged from clinic.
• Advise triage and prioritise dental emergency patients to ensure they receive the most appropriate care in a timely way.

About us

Details

Date posted

09 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year

per annum or pro rata for part time

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

14 months

Working pattern

Full-time,

Part-time

Reference number

387-S3880-GB

Job locations

Bristol Dental Hospital

Lower Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS1 2LY

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Please note that within this role you will be required to work across all of the departments specialities, this will also include supporting with theatre list.

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Please note that within this role you will be required to work across all of the departments specialities, this will also include supporting with theatre list.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• National certificate in Dental Nursing or NVQ level 3 Dental Nursing qualification
• Valid GDC registration

Desirable

• Post registration qualification in Conscious Sedation, Special Care Dentistry, Oral Health Education, Dental Radiography, Implantology or Orthodontics
• Completion of enhanced dental nurse courses such as fluoride application

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Able to work effectively with others as part of a team
• Ability to work under instruction and show initiative by prioritising and organising workload
• Competent in operating a computer
• Good communication skills
• Ability to carry out routine/repetitive activities
• Ability to prioritise
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Dexterity - ability to handle/manoeuvre equipment/instruments across a wide range of sizes, weights and environments
• Manual handling - ability to manoeuvre trolleys and instrumentation boxes in line with trust policy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of a range of dental nursing work procedures and practices

Desirable

• Experience of assisting with a diverse range of patients
• Experience of a variety of settings i.e., hospital, community clinic, NHS/Private Practice

Aptitudes

Essential

• Good communication and interpersonal skills at all levels
• Enthusiastic, highly motivated, and able to inspire others
• Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self-management, and drive for improvement
• Analytical
• Personal resilience
• Flexibility e.g. changing rota duties
• Able to use own initiative
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Team Player
• Innovative

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• National certificate in Dental Nursing or NVQ level 3 Dental Nursing qualification
• Valid GDC registration

Desirable

• Post registration qualification in Conscious Sedation, Special Care Dentistry, Oral Health Education, Dental Radiography, Implantology or Orthodontics
• Completion of enhanced dental nurse courses such as fluoride application

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Able to work effectively with others as part of a team
• Ability to work under instruction and show initiative by prioritising and organising workload
• Competent in operating a computer
• Good communication skills
• Ability to carry out routine/repetitive activities
• Ability to prioritise
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Dexterity - ability to handle/manoeuvre equipment/instruments across a wide range of sizes, weights and environments
• Manual handling - ability to manoeuvre trolleys and instrumentation boxes in line with trust policy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of a range of dental nursing work procedures and practices

Desirable

• Experience of assisting with a diverse range of patients
• Experience of a variety of settings i.e., hospital, community clinic, NHS/Private Practice

Aptitudes

Essential

• Good communication and interpersonal skills at all levels
• Enthusiastic, highly motivated, and able to inspire others
• Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self-management, and drive for improvement
• Analytical
• Personal resilience
• Flexibility e.g. changing rota duties
• Able to use own initiative
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Team Player
• Innovative

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bristol Dental Hospital

Lower Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS1 2LY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bristol Dental Hospital

Lower Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS1 2LY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Please note that within this role you will be required to work across all of the departments specialities, this will also include supporting with theatre list.

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• National certificate in Dental Nursing or NVQ level 3 Dental Nursing qualification
• Valid GDC registration

Desirable

• Post registration qualification in Conscious Sedation, Special Care Dentistry, Oral Health Education, Dental Radiography, Implantology or Orthodontics
• Completion of enhanced dental nurse courses such as fluoride application

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Able to work effectively with others as part of a team
• Ability to work under instruction and show initiative by prioritising and organising workload
• Competent in operating a computer
• Good communication skills
• Ability to carry out routine/repetitive activities
• Ability to prioritise
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Dexterity - ability to handle/manoeuvre equipment/instruments across a wide range of sizes, weights and environments
• Manual handling - ability to manoeuvre trolleys and instrumentation boxes in line with trust policy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of a range of dental nursing work procedures and practices

Desirable

• Experience of assisting with a diverse range of patients
• Experience of a variety of settings i.e., hospital, community clinic, NHS/Private Practice

Aptitudes

Essential

• Good communication and interpersonal skills at all levels
• Enthusiastic, highly motivated, and able to inspire others
• Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self-management, and drive for improvement
• Analytical
• Personal resilience
• Flexibility e.g. changing rota duties
• Able to use own initiative
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Team Player
• Innovative