Qualified dental nurses who have obtained their GDC Registration Number can take a variety of postgraduate courses to boost their careers, specialise in areas that interest them and assist their patients in greater detail. One specialism available to dental nurses is dental radiography. By completing an NEBDN Certificate in Dental Radiography, you’ll be able to take intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs under the prescription of a dentist.
Dental radiographs are the most popular form of X-ray diagnostic imaging in the UK. From hospitals to dental clinics, dental X-rays are used in a variety of ways in dentistry to get a more in-depth view of a patient’s teeth and supporting structures. This can aid the diagnosis of oral diseases such as gum disease, dental caries and the presence of different pathologies such as cysts, and periapical abscesses. Dental radiographs help build treatment plans, forming a vital part of dentistry.
This post will explore how getting qualified in dental radiography through a dental nurse radiography course can be a great way to progress your career and how an NEBDN Certificate in Dental Radiography can get you there.
How can a dental radiography course help with dental nurse career progression?
From building your skillset to boosting your earning potential, there are many ways taking a dental nurse radiography course can help you progress your career as a dental nurse.
Qualifying as a dental radiography nurse through a dental radiography course can therefore give you more flexibility in your career, as you can assist in a wider variety of dental settings and treatments. It will also give you the opportunity to become a RPS (Radiation Protection Supervisor) in your workplace.
Expand your knowledge as a dental nurse
Being knowledgeable about the latest practices and treatments is important to keep improving your skills, specially now that the access of digital radiography and CBCT scans are widely used in order to perform different dental treatments.
Also, with a broader skillset, comes more opportunities to specialise in areas that interest you most, such as cosmetic dentistry, implants, oral surgery and periodontal surgery where there is often the potential to earn more.
More responsibility
Radiography provides the opportunity to learn and operate new dental equipment, which adds new responsibilities to your role as a dental nurse. Taking on new responsibilities in the workplace can help support your personal development, as well as develop your career.
At SmileWisdom, our NEBDN Certificate in Dental Radiography provides the necessary information regarding equipment, techniques, and quality assurance to ensure you thrive in your new responsibilities as a dental radiography nurse.
Can taking a radiography course benefit patients in your practice?
Working in more areas of dentistry, such as assisting with dental X-rays and treatment planning means you can expand your knowledge and therefore become more involved with patient care.
Understanding a wider variety of dental treatments and procedures in detail can also largely benefit patients, as you can support them through their dental journey, explain procedures, and assist with aftercare.
Does dental radiography have a future?
As technology advances, dental practices are using techniques such as radiography in more areas of dentistry. Therefore, X-rays are becoming an increasingly common way to examine patients, from identifying gum disease and cavities to identifying the position and size of teeth for treatment planning. Being able to take this diagnostic tool, that is dental radiographs, will aid the clinician to focus more on the clinical part of any dental treatment. Hence, your assistance becomes even more necessary.
This has created many more opportunities for qualified dental nurses to specialise. It’s likely that as technology increases further, radiography will become an even bigger part of dentistry, making it an area worth knowing more about.
Looking to progress your career as a dental nurse?
Our NEBDN Certificate in Dental Radiography course could be the perfect way to broaden your skillset and specialise in your career. Our classes are also live online and take place every 4 weeks, so you can advance your career without disrupting your current role. This also means you can complete the practical elements of the course alongside your day-to-day duties as a dental nurse. Our lessons are also being recorded, meaning you can access them whenever you wish to review and study.
Balancing work and responsibilities with studying can feel overwhelming, so if you’re asking yourself ‘how long does a dental nurse radiography course take?’, you’ll be pleased to hear our NEBDN Certificate in Dental Radiography classes can be completed in typically 6 months. Once you have completed the requirements of your Record of Competence and passed the exam, you’ll be ready to start assisting with radiographs.
If becoming a dental radiography nurse interests you and you haven’t qualified as a dental nurse yet, it isn’t too late. With a National Diploma in Dental Nursing (NEBDN), you can complete your training in just 12-18 months, through either live online (with a tutor) or face-to-face lectures (if you live in London); and working as a Trainee Dental Nurse to gain practical training. Once you have graduated and passed your Diploma exams, and once you have registered with the GDC you can start your NEDBN Certificate in Dental Radiography Nursing.
If you are ready to boost your career as a dental nurse and enrol on our NEDBN Certificate in Dental Radiography, click here. Or if you want to learn more about our range of other postgraduate courses click here.
