Dental Nursing
If you have an interest in working as part of a dental team in the delivery of oral healthcare and have a caring and understanding disposition, this may be the course for you.
| Award Name | Special Purpose Diploma (Level 7 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Special Purpose |
| Awarding Body | University of Dublin |
| NFQ Level | Level 7 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Purpose Diploma (Level 7 NFQ) | Special Purpose | University of Dublin | Level 7 NFQ |
Duration
2 years full-time
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate
Applicants are required to present six subjects including: English, mathematics, and one of physics, chemistry, biology, agricultural science or physics/chemistry.
Of the six subjects presented, two must be of a standard of at least grade 4 on ordinary Leaving Certificate papers.
The remaining four subjects must be presented to a standard of at least grade 6 on ordinary Leaving Certificate papers.
All offers of admission to this course are made subject to health screening.
Students will be required to undergo Garda vetting.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
These modules are accepted for scoring purposes only and are awarded the following points: Distinction 66, Merit 46, Pass 28.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
There is an entry route to a number of degree programmes in Trinity for applicants presenting appropriate QQI/FET Level 5 or 6 Major Awards. Applicants presenting distinctions in five modules can be considered for admission.
Full information on courses with QQI entry routes, requirements etc., can be found at the link below.
QQI FET General Information Link
Careers / Further progression
Graduate skills and career opportunities
As a graduate of Dental Nursing, you can find employment in a variety of working environments, including dental hospitals and Health Service Executive dental clinics, as well as in general and specialist dental practices. Depending on the work setting, advancement in the field may include senior dental nurse, clinic nurse manager, practice manager, marketing representatives for relevant companies, dental nurse tutor, course coordinator, and the area of health promotion. Further courses of study are available to dental nurses, including the Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy.
Further information
Applications may also be considered from mature applicants who do not satisfy the academic entry requirements but can demonstrate appropriate experience relevant to the course.
All offers of admission to this course are made subject to health screening.
Students will be required to undergo Garda vetting.
Please Refer to: http://www.tcd.ie/study/eu/undergraduate/
Places 2023: 25
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
What is a Dental Nurse?
The dental nurse plays an important role in the organisation and management of the dental practice, assists the dentist in all aspects of patient treatment and plays a vital role in patient care. The main duties of a dental nurse include infection prevention and control, chairside assistance, preparation and maintenance of the dental clinic and patient care.
This programme empowers you with the skills and practical competence required to work in a dental environment. You will learn about the day-to-day role of the dental nurse and acquire the qualification for entry to the Dental Council Voluntary Register of Dental Nurses.
Dental Nursing: The course for you?
If you have an interest in working as part of a dental team in the delivery of oral healthcare and have a caring and understanding disposition, this may be the course for you. Skills required of students considering dental nursing include communication and organisation skills, the ability to use initiative, and the ability and willingness to work closely with the dental team in providing support and assistance during the provision of dental treatment. The dental nurse may also be involved with the administration of the dental clinic. Through the course, you will be able to develop good patient skills and learn to communicate effectively in a healthcare environment.
Dental Nursing at Trinity
This two-year programme is based in the Dublin Dental University Hospital on Trinity’s campus. Clinical facilities are of a very high standard and class sizes are small, so that students receive considerable staff input into their progress throughout the programme. The programme is very practical throughout, allowing students to progressively develop clinical skills. Graduates of the Trinity School of Dental Science and Dublin Dental University Hospital (DDUH) are highly sought after, due to the extensive clinical exposure obtained during this programme.
Your diploma and what you’ll study
The Diploma in Dental Nursing course is divided into practical and academic components. Both academic teaching and practical clinical experience are gained at the Dublin Dental University Hospital (DDUH) at Trinity College Dublin.
Dental Nursing students attend DDUH from Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 5pm, but there will be opportunities to enjoy university life at various times during the week. The first year will be a combination of lectures and clinical practice, which will provide students with a variety of learning opportunities. In the second year of the programme, the students will have the opportunity to work with various dental clinicians in a wide variety of disciplines. Clinical experiences will be gained within the DDUH environment, external institutions and private practices.
First year
Modules covered include:
› Microbiology and Pathology
› Physiology, Medical Emergencies and Clinical Dentistry
› Anatomy, Public Oral Health and Social Concepts in Dentistry
› Clinical Dentistry II and Computer Skills
› Clinical Placements I
Second year
Modules covered include:
› Clinical Dentistry III, Practice Management and Health Psychology
› Clinical Placements and Portfolio of Experience
› Case Study Written Report and Oral Presentation
First year is assessed through attendance, assignments, written examinations, practical examinations, continuous clinical assessment, a clinical logbook, an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and an oral presentation.
Second year is assessed through attendance, assignments, written examinations, practical examinations, continuous clinical assessment, an OSCE, a portfolio of experience, a case study written report and an oral presentation.
www.tcd.ie/dental
E dentalnursetutor@dental.tcd.ie