National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN)
Since its inception in 1943 the NEBDN, which is a registered charity, managed by a board of trustees, has become the most widely recognised awarding body for dental nurses in the United Kingdom. The Head Office and administrative staff are based in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

Course : National Certificate Examination

The students will be taught in the modern science laboratories found in many dental practices in the area that provide the practical aspect of dental nursing course, complete with full access to practical equipment in the placement workplace. The theoretical elements of the course are taught within College premises in the fully equipped classrooms of LCEM.

The course, both practical and theoretical, includes revision sessions. It covers all aspects of dental nursing, including health and safety in the workplace, emergencies in the dental surgery, legal and ethical issues in the provision of dental care, anatomical structures and systems relative to dental treatment, oral disease and pathology, patient care and management, oral health needs and planning, restorative dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontic procedures, dental drugs, materials, instruments and equipment, and anesthesia and sedation in relation to dental procedures.
Minimum requirement
GCSE A Levels or 12 Years of Schooling - Preferably with Science Background. An applicant must demonstrate competence in English Language.

 

Topics covered
The topics covered in the National Certificate are:
1. Health and Safety and Infection Control in the Workplace
2. Emergencies in the Clinical Environment
3. Legal and Ethical Issues in the Provision of Dental Care.
4. Anatomical Structures and Systems Relative to Dental Care.
5. Oral Disease and Pathology
6. Patient Care and Management
7. Assessing Patients’ Oral Health Needs and Treatment Planning
8. Oral health Promotion and Preventive Dentistry
9. Restorative Dentistry
10. Oral Surgery
11. Orthodontic Procedures
12. Dental Drugs, Materials, Instruments and Equipment
13. Pain and Anxiety Control in Dentistry
14. Radiography
15. Communication


Course duration:
2 Years

Assessment
The examination consists of a written paper, spotter tests, practical tests and an oral test.


Progression Route

  • Employment in a dental practice.
  • Post Certificate Qualification in Dental Nursing


Course commencement date

  • Monday third week of Jan, March, July and September
  • Application deadline
      • January Session :Monday second week of January
      • March Session: Monday second week of March
      • July Session: Monday second week of July
      • September Session: Monday second week of September

Tuition Fee 
Annual tuition fee £4000.00 (Awarding body registration and examination fee not included)

 

Awarding body: Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN)

Since its inception in 1943 the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN), which is a registered charity managed by a board of trustees, has become the most widely recognised awarding body for dental nurses in the United Kingdom. The Head Office and administrative staff are based in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

The National Certificate is one of the qualifications approved by the General Dental Council (GDC) for statutory registration which becomes mandatory for all dental nurses from 31 July 2008. The GDC is the organisation which protects the public by regulating dentists and dental care professionals in the United Kingdom. Under GDC regulations, unqualified dental nurses may only work under supervision as trainees provided they are enrolled on a theoretical training course at an approved training centre.

 

Regulations and entry requirements
In order to be awarded the qualification, a candidate must complete the equivalent of 24 months full-time employment as a dental nurse in addition to passing the National Certificate Examination.

In order to enter the National Certificate Examination, a candidate must:
a) be in employment as a trainee dental nurse
b) undertake a theoretical course of training at an NEBDN accredited centre
c) complete a Record of Experience requiring the support of a dentist who will be required to validate

workplace activities

 

Examination Dates
The Examination is held on the third Saturday of May and November each year in major cities such as Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham and also in towns such as Aldershot and Plymouth.

 

Closing dates and fees
The latest dates for the acceptance of application forms and fees are 1 March and 1September respectively. Details of the current examination entry fee accompany the application form. Alternatively this can be obtained from the Qualifications Administrators at NEBDN Head Office.

 

Results
All candidates will receive their results by post in July for the May Examination and January for the November Examination. In line with other professional qualifications, individual pass grades are not given. However candidates demonstrating a high standard of knowledge and practical competence receive a Merit award whilst those with an outstanding performance in all sections of the examination receive a Distinction award. In addition, the top three candidates each year receive special Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards as detailed on Insert Sheet 3.

 

Certification
Certificates are issued by post within 6 weeks of the publication of results to successful candidates who have completed the 24 months full-time chairside experience at the date of the examination. Successful candidates who have not completed the 24 months must return the certification form issued with their result immediately upon completion in order to receive their certificate and register with the GDC.

 

Qualification badges and belts

Qualified dental nurses holding the National Certificate are entitled to wear a qualification badge and belt. These may be purchased from NEBDN using the order form supplied either with the examination result or following completion of the stipulated 24 months. The badge inscription which is shown on the cover of this
Prospectus is translated “Let us be known by our actions”.

 

Statutory Registration
Information on registering with the GDC is issued to successful candidates with examination results or on the certification of the necessary 24 months full-time employment.

 

STRUCTURE OF THE EXAMINATION

 

Assessment and Verification
NEBDN continually monitors and reviews the structure of the qualification to ensure that it meets current educational requirements and the needs of the profession. To ensure that each candidate is given every opportunity to pass, candidates are assessed on each part of the examination by at least two members of the Panel of Examiners and the results of each individual examination centre moderated by a Presiding Examiner. The results from
all the centres are then verified by the Qualification Committee.

 

Format
The National Certificate Examination consists of 5 sections and candidates are required to pass all 5 sections. However a borderline failure in one section can be compensated by a good pass in another section.

 

Section 1
1. WRITTEN PAPER - PART A:
i. 15 Multiple-choice questions
ii. A diagram and short questions
iii. Short-answer questions
iv. Charting questions


Candidates are advised to spend not more than 30 minutes on Part A.

Section 2


2. WRITTEN PAPER - PART B:
Four conventional-type questions from a selection of five. Candidates are advised that:
• all four answers carry equal marks;
• most of the questions consist of more than one part;
• pure essays are not necessary;
• neatly laid out note-form answers with sub-headings are acceptable;
• diagrams wherever relevant are acceptable.


Candidates are advised to allow at least 11/2 hours for Part B.
Two hours in total are allowed for the completion of the two Written papers which are usually held from 9.30 am to 11.30 am on the examination day.

Section 3

 

3. SPOTTER TESTS
In the Spotter the candidate is asked to identify in full 20 items arranged in groups of 4. The candidate may pick up any item to examine it but must replace it carefully in its original position. Shortened terms often used in daily practice (eg Cryer’s) are not sufficient for examination purposes and full marks would only be awarded for “Cryer’s elevator”.


1 minute is allowed for each group of 4.

Section 4


4. PRACTICAL
Candidates are required to carry out 2 practical tasks from a selection of 4 tests.
Candidates are advised that:
• if they are uncertain of the scope of the tests or the equipment available, they should ask the examiner for clarification;
• examiners may ask relevant questions during the tests;
• they could be asked to repeat a test;
• refusal to carry out a chosen test will gain no marks.

 

Section 5
5. ORAL
Candidates undergo oral questioning to assess their depth of knowledge and understanding.
13 minutes are allowed for the Practical/Oral - up to 5 minutes for the Practical tests and the remainder of the 13 minutes for the Oral. The Spotter, Practical and Oral sections take place on the afternoon of the examination day.

 

Contact person
Lecturer Bishnu Gautam.
She can be contacted at 0044-2088546158 or email b.gautam@lcoem.com