Dental Nurse Refresher CPD
Refresh and update your knowledge and skills across eight essential clinical topics.
Whether you are preparing to return to the register, rebuilding confidence after a career break, or simply refreshing your understanding of areas that have changed — the Dental Nurse Refresher CPD gives you the structured learning you need, alongside the knowledge to back it up.
Across eight topics, you will revisit the clinical knowledge, legal responsibilities and professional skills that underpin safe, high-quality dental nursing practice — from infection prevention and radiography legislation through to patient communication, emergency management and the technologies now shaping everyday dentistry.
Every course is mapped to the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework and NEBDN standards
Unique to this refresher — topics across the course cover GDC Development Outcomes A, B, C and D
A structured refresher covering the full breadth of dental nursing practice — from IPC to patient communication
Online and on demand — complete your courses whenever and wherever suits you
What you will study
Eight topics. Fully mapped to GDC outcomes.
Click any topic to see the learning objectives.
This topic covers:
- Routes of transmission of infectious agents in dental practice
- Infection prevention protocols in line with HTM 01-05
- Principles of decontamination, disinfection and Legionella prevention
- Safe handling, storage and disposal of dental materials
This topic covers:
- Principles of medical ionising radiation and associated risks
- Legal requirements of IR(ME)R and IRR and their relevance to safe radiography
- Processes for taking, processing, storing and managing radiographs
- Safety measures, patient consent and correct positioning techniques
This topic covers:
- The oral cavity in health — anatomy and physiology
- Aetiology and prevention of oral and dental diseases
- Impact of diet and nutrition on oral health
- Risk factors and early signs of oral cancer, and timely referral
- Principles of oral health promotion for individuals and communities
This topic covers:
- Effective chairside support and the dental nurse's role in treatment planning
- Safe procedures for handling dental equipment, instruments and biomaterials
- Impression techniques and prosthodontic procedures
- Common implant-related complications and management approaches
This topic covers:
- Regulatory compliance — GDC Standards, the Dentists Act and scope of practice
- Consent, safeguarding and GDPR in dental practice
- The duty of candour and its application in patient care
- Equality, diversity and inclusion in dental practice
This topic covers:
- Safe risk management procedures in clinical environments
- Recognising and managing medical emergencies in the dental setting
- Systematic assessment of the unwell patient and Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Sepsis and its management in dental practice
This topic covers:
- Technology in patient care and clinical support
- Digital records and scanning systems
- Teledentistry and remote consultations in patient care
- The impact of emerging technologies on dental practice
This topic covers:
- Verbal and non-verbal communication in patient care
- Strategies to support anxious patients and discuss difficult topics sensitively
- Presenting treatment plans and obtaining valid consent for all patients
- How to handle patient complaints professionally
What's Included
Everything included in the Dental Nurse Refresher CPD
Each topic includes engaging online content with voiceover, structured to the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework and mapped to your GDC Development Outcomes. Topics cover the full scope of dental nursing practice — from infection control to emerging technologies.
Every topic includes built-in interactive exercises — true or false questions, matching activities and scenario-based tasks — designed to reinforce learning and check your understanding before you complete the topic.
On completing the refresher, you will receive a GDC-ready certificate and a structured reflection form. Both are pre-formatted with the course details and all the information the GDC requires — ready to add directly to your CPD log.
Your purchase provides 12 months of full access to all eight topics. Revisit content at any time throughout the year.
This CPD is designed to build confidence and knowledge as a first step to GDC registration after a lapse. Dental nurses wishing to reregister should contact the GDC for your own reregistration requirements.
Getting started
Three steps to completing your CPD
One annual payment gives you 12 months of full access to all eight CPD topics. Want to refresh again? Simply repurchase when you are ready to start learning.
Work through each course online at your own pace. Your progress is saved, so you can return to a course at any point throughout your subscription year.
Once you have finished your course, download your GDC-ready certificate and complete your structured reflection form. Both can be added directly to your CPD log — everything is pre-formatted, so there is no additional paperwork to complete.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
The Dental Nurse Refresher CPD has been designed for any dental nurse who has taken a career break or is looking to build confidence. The course covers eight topics that will give you a strong foundation to take your next steps.
The total number of verifiable CPD hours across all eight topics is XXXXXXX. On completion your certificate will include the hours, GDC Development Outcome, and quality assurance details required by the GDC — ready to add directly to your CPD record.
Yes. All this course is verifiable CPD, mapped to GDC Development Outcomes. The certificate and reflection form includes all the information the GDC requires — subject, hours, outcome and quality assurance details — ready to log in your CPD record.
The GDC expects dental nurses to reflect on their CPD, not simply record hours. Each course includes a structured reflection form alongside your certificate, pre-formatted with the course details, so you can complete and log your reflection without additional paperwork.
TBC
No. Topic 6 (Emergency management) covers the theory and protocols for recognising and managing medical emergencies, including BLS and CPR. It does not include practical simulation training and does not replace the regular hands-on simulation training specified by the Resuscitation Council (UK). Both theoretical and practical training remain required.
The existing NEBDN CPD Bundle provides eight topic-specific verifiable CPD courses covering the most frequently required areas (including medical emergencies, safeguarding and radiography). The Dental Nurse Refresher CPD is a broader, more in-depth programme covering eight topics across all four GDC Development Outcomes — including areas such as clinical procedures, technology and patient communication that are not covered in the existing bundle.
Dental Nurse Refresher CPD
£12 / year
Refresh and update your knowledge and skills across eight essential clinical topics.