What dental nurse interviews assess
Dental nurse interviews assess: clinical knowledge relevant to dental nursing (instrumentation, infection control, radiography, record keeping), patient communication and care skills, team working with the dental surgeon and other practice staff, regulatory compliance (GDC, CQC for dental practices), and in private practices, awareness of customer service standards. The GDC (General Dental Council) registration is mandatory for all dental nurses in the UK, either as a registered dental nurse or as a trainee in an approved training programme.
Clinical knowledge questions
"What are the standard decontamination stages for dental instruments?" The full decontamination cycle: cleaning (remove debris using ultrasonic or thermal washer-disinfector), inspection (check all instruments are clean and intact), sterilisation (autoclave using the validated cycle appropriate to the instrument type — typically Class B vacuum autoclave for unwrapped instruments), storage (sealed pouches if instruments will not be used immediately, in a clean dry environment), and documentation (log every cycle with the autoclave's printer record or electronic log). Skipping steps or using shortcuts in decontamination is a patient safety issue and a GDC registrant fitness-to-practise matter. "What is the cross-infection risk during an extraction and how do you manage it?" Blood splash to eyes, nose, mouth, and skin: personal protective equipment (mask, visor, gloves, gown), appropriate disposal of sharps immediately post-procedure, decontamination of the work area after the procedure, and management of any sharps injury or exposure incident (wash the area, report immediately, attend occupational health).
Patient care questions
"How would you support an anxious patient waiting for their appointment?" Strong answer: acknowledge the anxiety warmly (do not dismiss or minimise it), offer practical comfort (somewhere to sit away from the main waiting area, a glass of water), let the dentist know about the patient's anxiety level before they enter the surgery, and during the appointment maintain a calm, reassuring presence, narrate what is happening before it happens (so there are no surprises), and use agreed signals (like raising a hand) so the patient feels in control. Anxious patients who feel cared for return and refer others; those who feel ignored or rushed do not come back.
GDC and regulatory questions
"What are your obligations as a GDC registrant in terms of CPD?" Dental nurses must complete 150 verifiable and enhanced CPD hours over a five-year cycle. At least 10 hours must be in medical emergencies, 5 hours in disinfection and decontamination, and 5 hours in radiography (for those who take radiographs). The GDC requires all CPD to be relevant to your scope of practice and must be recorded in your personal development plan. Failure to meet CPD requirements can result in removal from the register.