The course is to prepare participants on a part-time basis for :

 a)  Improving / enhancing dental assisting knowledge and skill in the dental office 

b)  Sitting the National Certificate for Dental Nurses which is granted by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses, United Kingdom

     (established in 1943)

• Regulations apply to those who wish to sit for the National Examination

• Applicants who attended the course but do not wish to sit for the National Examination will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course if applicant has fulfilled 80% of class attendance.

REGULATIONS

In order to qualify for the National Certificate, a DSA must have completed at least 24 months full-time employment at the chairside and the certificate will not be awarded until the completion of the stipulated 24 months.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ENTRY TO THE EXAMINATION

 To be eligible for entry to the examination, a DSA

 a)  must submit evidence satisfactory to the Board of having attained a suitable standard of general education, with at least 2 GCE ‘O’ level  passes.One of the certificates must indicate an understanding of the English language.

 b)  must be at least 18 years of age by the date of examination EXCEPT THAT The educational requirements listed above are not required by :

 a)  those who were engaged as a DSA prior to January 1, 1982

b)  those who have been employed full-time as DSA for a total period of six years.

c)  those whom the Board considers to have qualifications comparable to those listed above (special application to the Board regarding these qualifications should be made well in advance of the date of the examination)  

EXAMINATION DATES

The National Certificate examination, granted by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses,United Kingdom is held in May and November of each year.

CENTRES

The examination is held simultaneously in centres such as Aldershot, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Singapore.

EXAMINATION FORMAT

The examination consists of a written paper, spotter tests, practical tests and an oral test. Further details of the form are sent to candidates when applications for entry are accepted.

RESULTS

All candidates will receive their result by post, indicating pass or failure, in early July for the May examination and in early January for the November examination.

QUALIFICATION BADGES & BELT

Qualified DSA  is entitled to wear the National Qualification Badge and Belt which may be purchased from the Examining Board for Dental Nurses.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATES

Successful candidates will subsequently be entitled to the National Certificate for dental nurses on completion of the stipulated 24 months full-time employment.

SYLLABUS

Introduction

The following syllabus is intended to be used as a guide for Course of Study leading to the Board’s examination.  While the arrangement and content of course leading to the examination are entirely the responsibility of Course Tutors, it is envisaged that any course should supplement the practical experience gained at the chairside during the 2 years in dental practice. It is considered that the course should give as much time and emphasis as possible to practical applications - 40% of time is allotted.

The examination is designed to test a DSA’s

a)  competence and efficiency at the chairside

b)  ability to maintain and care for instruments and equipment used in dentistry    

c)  knowledge of reception, clerical and administrative work

d)  knowledge of the theoretical aspects relevant to the DSA’s duties  

1.  Health and Safety in the Workplace

2.  Emergencies in the Dental Surgery

3.  Legal and Ethical Issues in the Provision of Dental Care

4.  Anatomical Structures and Systems Relative to Dental Treatment    

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. Anaesthesia and Sedation in Relation to Dental Procedures

REGISTRATION

Each completed application form with the coursef ee must be forwarded to Orchard Dental Centre Pte Ltd by the closing date. Reservations can be made by telephone but will only be confirmed upon receipt of application form and  cheque. Cheques should be made payable to Orchard Dental Centre Pte Ltd.

NATIONAL EXAMINATION FEE 

An examination entry fee will be payable upon registration for the examination. Amount will be determined by the National Board when applicable.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND

Employers of company-sponsored participants may apply directly to the Skills Development Fund for grants before the commencement of the course.