Reference/Features

Will the role of the dental nurse expand in practice?

8 mins read Extended duties
Paul Brocklehurst explores the changes that are due to take place in dentistry and whether this will lead to dental nurses taking on more tasks

Changes to the way in which dentists are paid could lead to an expanded role for dental care professionals (DCPs) and new ways of using dental nurses.

In medicine, the number of nurses employed in practice has dramatically increased over the past two decades compared to the number of new GPs (Figure 1) (NHS National Information Centre (NHS NIC), 2012). The reasons are varied but relate chiefly to the financial incentives in the NHS contract and the emergence of independent practitioner roles for nurses, supported by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC is the regulatory body for the nursing profession; it is separate from the General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates doctors.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Dental Nursing and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Up to 2 free articles per month

  • New content available

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here