6133 — Dental nurses

Medium Skilled

Sources checked 26 October 2026. Match the actual duties before choosing a code.

Related job titles

What this occupation covers

Dental nurses prepare patients for, and assist with, dental examinations, prepare and sterilise instruments and maintain case records.

Typical duties


prepares patient for examination

prepares and sterilises instruments and follows guidelines to maintain sterile conditions within the surgery

hands required equipment and medication to dentist during examination

assists with minor treatment, such as preparing materials for fillings

removes water and saliva from patient’s mouth during treatment

maintains records, processes and mounts x-ray films and undertakes reception duties

Entry routes and qualifications

Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades. Training is available both Off and on-the-job. To become a registered dental nurse, entrants need to complete a course recognised by the General Dental Council.

Sponsorship information

Medium Skilled. Actual duties, sponsor, applicant, salary and any transitional or shortage-list conditions must be checked.

DBS assessment

Commonly assessed for DBS eligibility. Check actual duties, activities, workplace, frequency and jurisdiction. This code does not determine the level of check.

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ONS SOC 2020 · Appendix Skilled Occupations