What Are the Units in the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Dental Nursing Diploma?
The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Dental Nursing (qualification number 610/3114/8) comprises 12 mandatory units totalling 55 credits and 365 Guided Learning Hours (GLH). Every unit is directly mapped to the GDC Safe Practitioner: Dental Nurse 2023 outcomes, the occupational standard that defines what a newly qualified dental nurse must know and be able to do.
Units span the full scope of the dental nurse role, from regulatory requirements and infection control through to radiography support, endodontic procedures, prosthetics, oral surgery, and first aid. The qualification is Ofqual-regulated at RQF Level 3 and is recognised by the General Dental Council (GDC) as an entry route to the Dental Care Professionals (DCP) register. Assessment uses a portfolio of evidence built in a real UK dental practice, supplemented by two externally-set synoptic multiple-choice question papers.
For full curriculum detail, download the NCFE CACHE qualification specification (PDF). To begin the course, visit the full course detail page or explore the Dental Nursing faculty hub.
Sources: NCFE CACHE Qualification Spec · GDC Safe Practitioner Framework · Ofqual Register
All 12 Units, What You'll Study
Every unit below is mandatory. There are no optional or elective units, you must complete all 12 to achieve the full diploma and become eligible for GDC registration. Guided Learning Hours represent tutor-directed study time; Total Qualification Time includes independent learning and portfolio building.
Work Within Regulatory Requirements in Relation to the Role of a Dental Nurse
Credits: 5 | GLH: 30 hours
This foundation unit establishes the legal and professional framework within which every dental nurse practises. You will study the GDC's Standards for the Dental Team, the scope of practice for dental nurses, statutory registration requirements, and the consequences of practising outside that scope. The unit addresses professional accountability, whistleblowing duties, the duty of candour, and the principles of consent, confidentiality, and data protection (UK GDPR) in a dental context.
Key topics: GDC Standards · Scope of practice · Professional accountability · Consent & confidentiality · UK GDPR · Duty of candour · Statutory registration
Contribute to Health and Safety in the Dental Environment
Credits: 5 | GLH: 35 hours
Health and safety underpins every aspect of dental practice. This unit covers risk assessment under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, manual handling, and the safe management of sharps under the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013. Central to this unit is a thorough grounding in infection prevention and control, including the full decontamination cycle as specified in HTM 01-05.
Key topics: HTM 01-05 decontamination · COSHH · Sharps regulations · PPE · Waste management · Risk assessment · Fire safety
Reflect On and Develop Own Practice as a Dental Nurse
Credits: 3 | GLH: 20 hours
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a mandatory GDC requirement, registered dental nurses must complete 50 hours of CPD in every five-year cycle. This unit introduces the reflective practice frameworks used throughout a dental nurse's career, including Gibbs' Reflective Cycle and the GDC's CPD record-keeping requirements. You will learn to identify your own learning needs, seek supervision and feedback, and document professional development in line with GDC standards.
Key topics: Reflective practice models · GDC CPD cycle · Supervision · Personal development planning · Portfolio evidence
Promote Oral Health for Individuals
Credits: 4 | GLH: 25 hours
Patient education is a core part of the dental nurse's remit. This unit develops your ability to deliver evidence-based oral health advice tailored to different patient groups, including children, older adults, and those with complex needs. Topics include the aetiology of dental caries and periodontal disease, fluoride use, dietary advice, smoking cessation signposting, and the models of behaviour change used in brief interventions. You will also study how socioeconomic factors influence oral health outcomes in the UK population.
Key topics: Caries prevention · Fluoride · Dietary advice · Motivational interviewing · Health inequalities · Patient communication
Provide Support During the Assessment of Individuals' Oral Health
Credits: 5 | GLH: 30 hours
The chair-side examination is the most frequent clinical encounter in dental practice. This unit teaches you how to prepare the surgery and patient correctly, record a full dental examination (including medical history, BPE score, periodontal charting, and tooth notation using the FDI system), assist with diagnostic instruments, and maintain accurate and legally compliant patient records. You will also study radiographic examination support, which links directly to Unit 6.
Key topics: Surgery preparation · Medical histories · FDI notation · BPE scoring · Patient records · Legal record-keeping standards
Contribute to the Production of Dental Images
Credits: 4 | GLH: 25 hours
This unit introduces the radiography theory required of all dental nurses, not to take radiographs independently (which requires additional post-registration certification), but to understand the principles of dental radiography and support the clinician effectively. You will study the physics of X-radiation, ionising radiation regulations (IR(ME)R 2017 and IRR 2017), radiation protection, the principles of justification and optimisation (ALARP), and the different image types used in primary care dentistry.
Key topics: IR(ME)R 2017 · IRR 2017 · Radiation protection · Bitewing / PA / OPG / CBCT · ALARP · Film processing · Digital radiography
Support During the Prevention and Control of Periodontal Disease, Caries and Restoration of Cavities
Credits: 5 | GLH: 35 hours
Restorative dentistry accounts for the majority of chair-side procedures in both NHS and private practice. This unit develops competency in preparing for and assisting with cavity preparation and restoration using composite and glass ionomer materials, amalgam (including safe handling under REACH regulations), and the application of fissure sealants. You will also study the chair-side management of periodontal disease, including scaling and root surface debridement (though therapeutic scaling itself is outside the dental nurse's scope).
Key topics: Composite & glass ionomer restoration · Amalgam handling · Periodontal disease management · Fissure sealants · REACH regulations · Matrix bands & wedges
Provide Support During the Provision of Fixed and Removable Prostheses
Credits: 5 | GLH: 30 hours
Prosthetic dentistry, crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial dentures, requires precise chair-side support and excellent material-handling skills. This unit covers preparation for crown and bridge procedures (temporisation, impression-taking technique, shade selection), the properties and mixing of impression materials (alginate, polyvinyl siloxane, polyether), laboratory communication including prescription writing, and the fitting and adjustment of removable prostheses including immediate dentures and implant-retained prostheses.
Key topics: Crown & bridge procedures · Impression materials · Shade taking · Laboratory prescriptions · Removable dentures · Implant prosthetics
Provide Support During Non-Surgical Endodontic Treatment
Credits: 4 | GLH: 25 hours
Root canal treatment (endodontics) is one of the most technically demanding procedures in primary care dentistry, requiring close coordination between dentist and dental nurse. This unit teaches the anatomy of the dental pulp and periapical tissues, the rationale and stages of endodontic treatment, the instruments used (including nickel-titanium rotary files), the role of rubber dam isolation, irrigation solutions (including sodium hypochlorite safety precautions), and the obturation and restoration of root-filled teeth. You will also study the management of endodontic emergencies.
Key topics: Pulp anatomy · Root canal stages · NiTi instruments · Rubber dam · Irrigation safety · Obturation · Post and core restoration
Provide Support During the Extraction of Teeth and Minor Oral Surgery Procedures
Credits: 4 | GLH: 25 hours
Extractions and minor oral surgery (MOS) carry greater clinical and patient safety risk than routine restorative work. This unit prepares you for the full range of extraction and MOS procedures, including surgical extractions, soft tissue biopsies, and the removal of cysts and impacted teeth. You will study local anaesthetic administration (role of the dental nurse in handling LA cartridges, disposal, and allergy awareness), suture types and removal, haemostatic agents, and the post-operative instructions required to minimise complications including dry socket and infection.
Key topics: Extraction instruments · Surgical extractions · LA handling · Suturing · Haemostasis · Post-operative care · Dry socket management
Dental Anatomy and Assessment of Oral Health
Credits: 6 | GLH: 35 hours
A thorough knowledge of dental and orofacial anatomy is the bedrock of effective clinical support. This unit covers the deciduous and permanent dentitions (20 and 32 teeth respectively), tooth morphology and histology (enamel, dentine, cementum, pulp), the anatomy of the periodontium, the bones of the skull and facial skeleton, the muscles of mastication and facial expression, and the major nerves and blood vessels relevant to dentistry. It also introduces the assessment of pathological conditions, caries, periodontal disease, oral cancer screening (NICE CG190), and developmental anomalies.
Key topics: Tooth histology · Deciduous & permanent dentitions · Oral anatomy · Pathology recognition · Oral cancer screening · BEWE · PUFA scoring
First Aid Essentials
Credits: 5 | GLH: 30 hours
Medical emergencies in the dental environment can be life-threatening. The GDC and the Resuscitation Council UK both require all members of the dental team to maintain current basic life support competency. This unit covers the recognition and initial management of the full range of dental-related medical emergencies, anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest, syncope, angina, asthma, hypoglycaemia, epilepsy, and local anaesthetic toxicity (LAST). You will study the Resuscitation Council adult and paediatric ALS chains, the use of emergency drugs and oxygen, and the practice emergency protocol under GDC Standards paragraph 6.3.
Key topics: BLS & CPR · AED use · Anaphylaxis · Medical emergencies protocol · Emergency drugs · LA toxicity · Paediatric considerations
| Unit | Title (abbreviated) | Credits | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regulatory Requirements | 5 | 30 |
| 2 | Health & Safety / Infection Control | 5 | 35 |
| 3 | Reflective Practice & CPD | 3 | 20 |
| 4 | Promote Oral Health | 4 | 25 |
| 5 | Oral Health Assessment Support | 5 | 30 |
| 6 | Dental Radiography Support | 4 | 25 |
| 7 | Periodontal, Caries & Restorative | 5 | 35 |
| 8 | Fixed & Removable Prostheses | 5 | 30 |
| 9 | Non-Surgical Endodontics | 4 | 25 |
| 10 | Extractions & Minor Oral Surgery | 4 | 25 |
| 11 | Dental Anatomy & Oral Health Assessment | 6 | 35 |
| 12 | First Aid Essentials | 5 | 30 |
| TOTAL | 12 mandatory units | 55 | 365 |
How Is the Diploma Assessed?
Assessment uses two complementary methods that together verify both your knowledge and your practical competency. There are no written exams to sit at a test centre, assessment is designed to be completed around your work placement schedule.
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Portfolio of Evidence
The primary assessment method. You build a portfolio of evidence throughout your placement, demonstrating that you have met each unit's learning outcomes in a real clinical environment. Evidence types include:
- Witness testimony from your supervising dentist or senior nurse
- Professional discussions recorded by your assessor
- Case studies and reflective accounts
- Photographic evidence of decontamination procedures
- Observation records for clinical procedures
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Two Synoptic MCQ Papers
In addition to the portfolio, learners sit two externally set and marked synoptic MCQ assessments, taken online and on demand once the portfolio is sufficiently developed. Each MCQ paper integrates knowledge from multiple units, assessing your ability to apply theoretical understanding to realistic dental nursing scenarios.
- Externally set by NCFE CACHE
- Taken online, no test centre required
- On demand, sit when you feel ready
- Resit permitted if not passed at first attempt
- Invigilated via NCFE CACHE's online platform
Placement requirement: A minimum of 16 hours per week in a GDC-compliant UK dental practice is required to build the necessary portfolio evidence. The practice must have a designated person (usually the principal dentist or a senior dental nurse) who can act as your workplace supervisor. learndirect's team can advise on placement suitability. See our dental nurse placement guide for full details.
How Units Map to GDC Safe Practitioner Outcomes
The GDC Safe Practitioner framework (2023) sets out the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and attributes expected of every newly qualified dental care professional. The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma curriculum is explicitly designed to address these outcomes. The table below shows how each of the five Safe Practitioner domain areas is addressed by the diploma units:
| GDC Safe Practitioner Domain | Primary Diploma Units | Core Outcomes Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Professionalism & Ethics | Units 1, 3 | GDC Standards compliance · Scope of practice · Duty of candour · Reflective practice · CPD planning |
| Patient Safety & Quality Improvement | Units 2, 12 | Infection prevention · HTM 01-05 decontamination · Medical emergency management · BLS competency · Radiation protection |
| Communication & Teamwork | Units 4, 5 | Patient oral health advice · Informed consent process · Interprofessional teamwork · Medical history recording · Referral letters |
| Clinical Knowledge & Skills | Units 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | Radiography support · Restorative procedures · Prosthetics · Endodontics · Oral surgery chair-side competency |
| Scientific Basis for Practice | Unit 11 | Dental anatomy · Oral histology · Pathology recognition · Oral cancer screening · Oral health epidemiology |
GDC recognition confirmed: The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma (qual ref 610/3114/8) appears on the GDC's list of approved entry-route qualifications for the dental nurse DCP category. Upon completion, learners may apply directly to the GDC DCP register. See our GDC registration pathway guide for a step-by-step application walkthrough.
What Can You Specialise In After Qualifying?
The diploma opens the door to GDC registration, and from there, a range of additional qualifications can expand your scope of practice and increase your earning potential. Post-registration certificates are taken after joining the GDC register and are available from NEBDN, NEBDN-approved centres, and other specialist awarding bodies.
Dental Radiography Certificate
The most commonly taken post-registration certificate. Enables GDC-registered dental nurses to take dental radiographs independently under prescription from a dentist. Typically 1 day's taught training + competency assessment. See our radiography guide.
Oral Health Education Certificate
Extends the dental nurse's scope to include structured oral health education in community and primary care settings. Awarded by NEBDN, City & Guilds, or RSPH. Expands career options into public health and community dentistry roles.
Dental Sedation Nursing
Specialist certificate enabling the dental nurse to assist in conscious sedation procedures (inhalation and intravenous). Required by CQC-regulated sedation practices. Leads to specialist dental nurse roles earning £30,000–£38,000.
Progression to Dental Therapy / Hygiene
GDC-registered dental nurses can apply for Level 4/5 programmes in dental hygiene and therapy, or BSc programmes at dental schools. These roles extend into independent clinical work including scaling, polishing, and simple restorations.
For a full breakdown of dental nursing career progression routes, visit the How to Become a Dental Nurse guide and the Dental Nurse Salary UK page. To compare the NCFE CACHE route with the NEBDN National Diploma, see NCFE CACHE vs NEBDN.
Course Units, Frequently Asked Questions
Explore the Dental Nursing Faculty
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Enrol on the Diploma
£29.99 deposit · £100.58/mth · 12-18 months
GDC Registration Pathway
Step-by-step application guide
Dental Radiography Guide
IR(ME)R 2017, image types, certification
HTM 01-05 Infection Control
Decontamination standards explained
Dental Nursing Glossary
60+ clinical terms explained A–Z
NCFE CACHE vs NEBDN
Compare the two main diploma routes
Have a question about the units or the course? Request a callback from a learndirect dental nursing adviser, we're here to help you make the right decision.