A recent Practice Plan podcast saw Lisa Andrews Davies, Chair of the Society of British Dental Nurses (SBDN) and Senior Dental Nurse within Hertfordshire’s Community Dental Service, discussing nurse-led dental clinics.
This blog explains what nurse‑led clinics are, how they work, and why dental practices, both NHS and private, could consider introducing them. It also outlines how these clinics have the potential to transform patient care, ease pressure on dentists, and expand the role of dental nurses in meaningful, rewarding ways.
What is a Nurse‑Led clinic?
In Hertfordshire’s Community Dental Service, nurse‑led clinics are used as part of a structured patient pathway. Referred patients are often seen first by a dental nurse trained in oral health rather than a dentist. The nurse will complete an initial assessment, discuss oral health and diet, identify anxiety triggers, and decide whether the patient can move forward with routine treatment or whether they need a period of acclimatisation first.
This approach has worked well for patients who are extremely anxious, children, particularly those with limited previous dental experience, patients with learning disabilities, autism, or complex needs and people with a history of negative dental experiences or trauma.
Through the nurse-led clinic, patients get to build confidence gradually, rather than being rushed into a clinical setting that could cause them to feel overwhelmed. This approach might see the patient visiting the surgery just to sit in the chair, practising opening their mouth for a few seconds, or familiarising themselves with the equipment in a safe, supported way.
Why nurse‑led clinics work
One of the most powerful elements of nurse‑led clinics is their ability to build trust through continuity. As Lisa explains, many patients benefit from seeing the same nurse over multiple visits, usually between six and eight, which allows them to develop confidence at their own pace. This approach has helped previously phobic patients progress from being unable to enter a clinic to receiving treatment under local anaesthetic without the need for sedation or general anaesthetic.
This is significant because the consequences of untreated dental disease are severe. Toothache, reduced self‑confidence, and avoidable hospital admissions continue to be major issues in the UK. Hospital extractions under general anaesthetic remain one of the most common reasons for child admissions, despite dental decay being almost entirely preventable.
Nurse‑led clinics can be a valuable tool in tackling inequalities, giving support to patients who might otherwise be unable to access care altogether.
CBT and anxiety management
Lisa herself is trained in CBT for dental anxiety management and so, using CBT‑informed techniques, she helps patients challenge fear, build tolerance, and develop coping strategies.
She has helped needle‑phobic patients in the past through gradual exposure over a number of visits. Initially she might just show them a syringe, then on the next visit she may ask them to touch it, then hold it and so on. Over a series of visits, she has been able to support needle phobic patients to overcome their fear so they can tolerate an injection.
Another technique is to use positive rather than negative language during procedures. Such as ‘We’re halfway through’ rather than ‘It will only hurt a little’. She also supports parents of child patients who may unintentionally pass on their anxiety to their children.
Many of these approaches can be used by nurses who don’t hold a CBT qualification but do have oral health training and the right communication skills. The key is consistency, empathy and a structured approach to desensitisation.
How could nurse-led clinics work in a High Street practice?
While community dental services often support patients with complex needs, Lisa is clear that nurse‑led clinics can be adapted for mainstream dental practices—both NHS and private.
Potential models include:
Oral health education clinics
Nurses trained in oral health could run short after‑school sessions for children, small group workshops, or one‑to‑one prevention appointments. Private practices could charge a small fee, similar to hygienist visits.
Acclimatisation appointments
Many patients are anxious about going to the dentist. More than half the population (53%) suffers from fear or anxiety when visiting the dentist. For 17% of UK residents their phobia is so severe that they avoid the dentist even to their own detriment. Nurses could provide step‑by‑step desensitisation visits, to help build familiarity ahead of dental treatment.
Parent support sessions
Helping parents understand how their own anxieties influence their child’s behaviour could dramatically improve children’s dental experiences. Nurses could offer this support.
Additional Needs Support
Patients with autism or learning disabilities often benefit from routine, repetition, and familiarity so these are areas where nurses can really come into their own.
Benefits for dental practices
There are clear advantages for practices that introduce nurse‑led clinics. These include an improved patient experience, especially for anxious or vulnerable patients, reduced pressure on chair time for dentists, improved prevention and oral health outcomes. For the team it can mean a better use of skill‑mix, making full use of the dental team’s capabilities and opportunities for career development for dental nurses, which supports staff retention and job satisfaction. It can also offer new revenue opportunities, particularly in private settings.
Looking Ahead
With dental anxiety showing no signs of reducing, access to NHS care diminishing for many and preventable decay still widespread, nurse‑led clinics offer a practical, effective, patient‑centred solution. Nurses are highly trained professionals, and many are eager for opportunities to expand their roles. As Lisa notes, the days of dental nurses being seen merely as “chairside assistants” are long gone. Perhaps now is a good time for practices to explore how dental nurses can play a greater role in supporting patients, easing pressure on clinical teams, and transforming experiences for those who need it most.