A dental nurse is a health care professional who assists the dentist in any of the areas for which they are responsible. Dental nurses work in both private and public sectors, providing essential support to dental professionals.
Working as a dental nurse is demanding but highly rewarding.
They assist with surgical interventions, prepare patients for treatment, take x-rays or provide anesthesia, keep records up to date and deal with the administrative side of a dental office.
When attending an interview for this position, you must undergo a thorough interview process where some dental nurse interview questions may be asked.
This will ensure that you and the dental practice are a good fit for each other.
Scope of Dental Nurse Interview Questions
In any dental nurse interview, you must be prepared to answer questions about your experience, skills, and knowledge.
You must also be prepared to answer questions about general procedures and values.
Experience Questions:
Your interviewer will likely want to know how long you have been a dental nurse and what experiences you have had.
This is a good opportunity for you to describe the different experiences that led you to your current position.
They may also ask how you have dealt with difficult patients, demanding dentists, or challenging procedures.
Skills Questions:
Your interviewer will likely go into more detail about the actual skills required for this role.
Skills tend to fall into two major categories:
- technical
- interpersonal
Technical skills are important when working directly on a patient’s teeth, while interpersonal skills are required when communicating with patients and dentists.
Some questions your interviewer may ask you about technical skills related to instruments, such as drills, needles, syringes, handles, clamps, and gauges.
Knowledge Questions:
You may also be asked questions about specific dental procedures, safety issues, or laws.
These types of questions will test your knowledge in the following areas:
- infection control and sterilization
- various dental instruments
- oral anatomy and physiology
- periodontal disease treatment options
See also: Infection Control Nurse Interview Questions
With that said, let’s narrow down to the most common dental nurse interview questions and answers.
Common Dental Nurse Interview Questions and Answers
When preparing for a dental nurse interview, it is essential to revise some common interview questions and how you would answer them.
We have prepared 7 of the most common questions and their example answers.
1. Can you provide a brief description of your experience?
When asked this question by the interviewer, try to focus on the positive things you have done.
You should refer specifically to your experience as a dental nurse and highlight any skills that will be useful in this role.
Keep your answer short, no more than one or two minutes long.
Example answer:
I have worked as a dental nurse for eight years now.
During this time, I have gained valuable experience in terms of technical skills and interpersonal skills.
I feel that my experience will make me an asset to your team.
See also: Dental Hygienist Interview Questions
2. What are your top 3 priorities if you take on this role?
When answering the question, you should identify three priorities that align with the goals of the dental nurse, dentist, and patients.
See also: Dentist Interview Questions
These should be achievable goals that are consistent with your career path. Try to provide specific examples to illustrate your points.
Example answer:
To ensure complete patient comfort, my top priority will be to take x-rays in a manner that is both comfortable for the patient and efficient for you.
The second priority is to ensure the safety of myself, my colleagues, and your patients.
This means always following sterilization procedures and cross-contamination prevention protocols.
See also: Dental Sterilization Technician Interview Questions
My third priority will be to keep any patient information we discuss strictly confidential.
I will never share any details with a third party.
See also: Dental Assistant Interview Questions
3. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your previous role?
The interviewer will ask this question to see how you handle challenges and what steps you took to overcome them.
When answering, focus on a time when you faced a challenge and describe how it was handled.
It is important to discuss the steps that were taken and whether or not they achieved the desired result.
Example answer:
The biggest challenge I have faced in my last position was when the equipment broke down unexpectedly during a procedure.
As a result, it took twice as long to complete the procedure and there was an increased risk of patient discomfort.
I immediately informed my manager of the problem so that she could find an alternative way to complete the procedure.
I also suggested that we should look into investing in new equipment.
See also: Pediatric Dental Assistant Interview Questions
4. What is your greatest strength?
Preparing for this question will help you to think about what sets you apart from other applicants.
You might be able to identify a particular skill, experience, or education. When answering the question, try to use an example of when you have demonstrated the strength.
Example answer:
My greatest strength is my ability to stay calm under pressure.
I can think clearly and take decisive action in times of stress.
See also: What Are Your Strengths Nursing Interview
5. Why did you choose dental nursing?
The interviewer will want to know what attracted you to this profession.
It might be helpful to think about why you chose dental nursing over other careers in the healthcare sector.
You don’t need to have an exact or specific reason, but you must be passionate about your career choice.
It helps if you can use a real-life example.
Example answer:
I have always been fascinated by the mouth and teeth, and enjoy helping patients.
I am passionate about giving them a healthy smile. If I’m successful in this interview, it will be a dream come true to work with this team.
6. What are your future aspirations?
The interviewer wants to know whether you have considered the next step in your career path.
They want to know if you are motivated and ambitious.
You should think about what your future aspirations are, both professionally and personally, and how dental nursing fits into this.
Example answer:
My aspirations are to become a registered dental nurse, develop my technical skills further, and advance my career.
I hope to increase my knowledge of preventative care and oral cancer screening. I am also interested in dental laboratory work.
See also: Oncology Nurse Interview Questions
7. What are the roles of a dental nurse?
The interviewer wants to know what you think are the roles of a dental nurse.
As well as thinking about this yourself, it might be helpful to research the healthcare sector’s view on dental nurses’ roles.
You should try to explain your knowledge enthusiastically and back up any points with examples.
Example answer:
I am aware that the role of a dental nurse is to provide care and treatment to patients undergoing dental procedures.
They also take x-rays and impressions, as well as provide patient education.
I feel that becoming a registered dental nurse will give me the opportunity to work as part of a team and learn from more experienced health professionals.
See also: What Is the Role of a Nurse Interview Question
How to Prepare for Dental Nurse Interview Questions?
Let’s say you have finally been invited for a dental nurse interview which will be a few days from now.
What are the steps you should take to prepare for the dental nurse interview questions?
1. Do your homework
The first thing you need to do before any interview is to do your homework, especially for the dental nurse interview questions.
By doing your homework, it means that you should make sure you know everything about the company and job position.
You need to be able to describe what kind of business or company the firm is, what kind of environment it has, and what they do.
Do not forget to also research the qualifications, skills, and experience required for the job position.
2. Research any trending topics in the dental industry
You must know all about what is happening in the dental industry currently.
But, do not just focus on recent happenings only, research about new trends and technologies that are taking over the industry.
By doing this, you will be able to keep your interview conversation going by asking questions or continuing on topics related to these trends and technologies.
Be able to pose your opinion on any of the topics you come across as this will let the interviewer know how knowledgeable you are about the dental industry.
3. Update your knowledgebase of dental nurse terms
You should also update your knowledge base on current terminology used in the dental nurse profession.
For instance, you need to know how to properly use terms like “post and core“.
Make sure that you’re able to use these terms when asked by the interviewer to show that you are capable of doing the job well.
4. Practice common questions asked during the interview
There are some questions that you can expect to be asked in an interview:
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Why should we hire you?
Find someone to sit down with you for a mock interview.
This should be done to make sure that your presentation skills are up to par, as well as push yourself to answer the questions confidently.
You can also practice with someone familiar with the dental nursing field to make sure you can answer questions related to the job.
Dental Nurse Interview Questions and Answers PDF
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Conclusion: Interview Questions for Dental Nurses
Dental nurses are in high demand because of the growing number of dentists.
Knowing what kind of career you are getting into is very important especially when it comes to medical profession jobs.
Because many dental nurse interview questions may be asked, having a grasp on your skills and knowledge is essential for landing an interview and getting the job offer.
Good luck with your dental nurse interview!
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