Clinical dental technician
Level 5 · HigherHealth and science 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Clinical Dental Technician apprenticeship trains you to design and make dental appliances and to provide complete dentures direct to patients as a General Dental Council registered professional. You provide partial dentures and other appliances to the prescription of a dentist, working within your GDC scope of practice. It leads to GDC registration and a career as a clinical dental technician.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Dental anatomy, oral pathology and prosthetics science
Clinical assessment of patients for removable dental appliances
Impression taking and working with dental materials
Denture design, construction and fitting techniques
Infection control and decontamination in dental settings
Patient communication, consent and record-keeping
GDC professional standards and the CDT scope of practice
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Assess patients and take clinical histories before treatment
Take impressions for complete and partial dentures
Provide complete dentures directly to suitable patients
Make partial dentures and appliances to a dentist's prescription
Fit and adjust appliances at review appointments
Carry out decontamination of dental instruments
Maintain accurate clinical records and consent documentation
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 5 (Higher) - roughly Foundation-degree level. Usually needs Level 3 (A-levels, a T-Level, or an Advanced apprenticeship) or relevant experience.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 6 (Degree) apprenticeship or a senior role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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