Dental nurse interviews tend to focus on three things: your clinical knowledge, how you treat patients and how you'll fit into the team. Prepare for these questions and you'll walk in feeling confident.
1. Why do you want to work here?
Mention something specific: the treatments they offer, their patient reviews or their approach to care. It shows you've done your research.
2. How do you prepare a surgery for the day?
Walk through your routine step by step, including checks, set-up and how you follow the practice's decontamination procedures.
3. How would you support a nervous patient?
Give a real example. Talk about tone, explaining what will happen and small reassurances that made a difference.
4. What would you do in a medical emergency?
Show that you know your role: raising the alarm, fetching the emergency kit and following your training. Mention when you last completed medical emergencies training.
5. How do you keep your CPD up to date?
Explain how you plan your learning across your cycle and name a recent course and what you changed as a result.
6. Tell us about a time you worked under pressure
Use a short story with a clear situation, what you did and the outcome.
7. How do you handle a disagreement with a colleague?
Focus on calm, private conversations and putting patient care first.
8. Which clinicians and treatments have you supported?
Be specific about general dentistry, implants, orthodontics or oral surgery, and any extended duties.
9. How do you protect patient confidentiality?
Mention secure records, careful conversations at reception and following data protection policies.
10. Do you have any questions for us?
Always say yes. Ask about the team, training support and how rotas are organised.
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