Course Information
Date: 19/05/2026
Start Time: 09:30
Completion Time: 6 Hours
Venue: NIMDTA, 42 Beechill Road,Belfast, BT8 7RL
Speakers: Leigh Hunter
Course Description
This course provides dental nurses with the skills and confidence to use plaque indices correctly in dental practice. It focuses on the practical steps needed to assess plaque, record findings, and support patients in improving their oral hygiene.
Course Aims
The purpose of this course is to provide training to develop competence enabling dental nurses to utilise plaque indices in dental practice appropriately and effectively to enhance patient oral care.
Course Objectives
- Have a good understanding of plaque indices as it relates to their role
- Be able to describe the purpose of plaque indices in dental practice
- Will have an understanding of the most common plaque disclosing solutions available
- Will be able to describet the materials and equipment required to complete plaque scoring in practice
- Will be able to demonstrate the process of plaque scoring
- Will be able to describe the preparartion and management of the patient when carrying out plaque scoring in practice
- Will be able to keep appropriate clinical notes for plaque scoring.
Course Learning Content
Theory – plaque indices, disclosing agents, communication, health & safety, patient management and record keeping.
Practical demonstration – preparation of materials, equipment, patient, operator.
Clinical practice – step by step process to prepare, take and record plaque index. Recording clinical notes.
Supervised practice.
Reflection of taking and recording plaque indices. To include patient management.
GDC Development Outcomes
- A B C D
Resources
Dietary Requirements
Please advise the Dental Continuing Education Team dentalcourses.nimdta@hscni.net if you have any dietary requirements.