Social media is changing how dental nurses communicate with colleagues and patients, and how practices promote themselves. While it opens up opportunities to reach more patients and boost professional development, nurses need to know how to avoid potential pitfalls
Missed dental appointments waste staff time, increase time spent waiting for appointments, incur financial costs and damage dental health. This article looks at what causes patients to miss appointments and what can be done to minimise the problem
Dental decay is the most common preventable childhood disease. Oral health educator for the British Dental Health Foundation, Karen Coates, discusses the importance of establishing good oral health routines for children and why encouraging parents should be top of the priority list
Dental nurses need to hold professional indemnity to be able to practise in the UK. It is offered by employers and by dental defence organisations; the latter also provide legal advice and assistance on professional and workplace issues
This article is the fourth in a series of case studies illustrating the roles and responsibilities of the registered dental nurse. It will describe the guidance that is available, and the steps necessary, to avoid the legal and ethical problems that will be discussed
One of the best ways to improve communication in dental teams is through regular meetings. Well-run meetings can be used to keep track of work, disseminate information, collect staff views and provide clear, concise records that can provide an audit trail
There is an art to getting your message across and it is vital to your personal and career success that you master the skills of communicating with confidence. Kate Atkin, author of The Confident Manager, sets out strategies and techniques for improving self-confidence, effective networking and clea
Carole Boyle and Sam Koburunga outline common mental health problems, how these conditions affect managing adult patients in the dental surgery and how dental nurses can assist these patients to access care and comply with treatment
Dental nurses have responsibilities around safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Jill Powell outlines the law, regulations and guidance covering safeguarding, and what dental nurses need to know
This article is the third in a series of case studies illustrating the roles and responsibilities of the registered dental nurse. They will also describe the guidance that is available, and the steps necessary, to avoid the legal and ethical problems that will be discussed
This series of articles is designed to help you explore teaching and learning. It examines your own personal learning and explores how you as a dental nurse may be called upon to teach others. The third article in this series discusses patient education
Maggie Nash joined the General Dental Council's fitness to practise panel early last year. She describes the role of the panel, the process of being appointed, panel members' training and her experience of taking part in hearings
This article is the second in a series of case studies illustrating the roles and responsibilities of the registered dental nurse. They will also describe the guidance that is available, and the steps and precautions necessary, to avoid the potential legal and ethical problems that will be discussed
This article is the first in a series of case studies illustrating the role and responsibilities of the registered dental nurse. The articles in this series will also describe the guidance available, and the steps necessary, to avoid the legal and ethical problems that will be discussed
The General Dental Council (GDC) has begun a review of its Standards guidance and Scope of Practice. Jenny Watts, standards manager at the GDC, updates us on the progress of this review and outlines how it could bring about changes to the way dental nurses work
