Deena May
Swansea
Summary
Highly experienced and respected Dental Nurse and Workplace Assessor with over 13 years of diverse experience across NHS, private, specialist, and Community Dental Services, including theatre work at Princess of Wales Hospital. Trained as a Dental Nurse directly from school, I have developed a strong clinical foundation and comprehensive understanding of all aspects of dental practice, with the ability to adapt seamlessly to varied clinical environments.
For over four years, I have worked as a Dental Nurse Workplace Assessor, mentoring and assessing trainees across Wales to develop clinical competence, professionalism, and confidence. I collaborate effectively with dental practices to ensure high standards of patient care, regulatory compliance, and successful learner outcomes.
I am committed to professionalism, compassion, integrity, and patient-centred care, with a strong focus on equality, safeguarding, and inclusive practice. Clinically skilled, I hold additional qualifications in impression taking, oral health education (BDA & MPWip), fluoride application, and formerly led decontamination. I am also qualified in Training, Assessment, and Quality Assurance (TAQA), reflecting my dedication to high-quality education and continuous professional development.
Passionate about education and raising standards within dental nursing, I bring adaptability, calmness under pressure, and extensive experience managing complex clinical settings and diverse patient needs.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Training Officer
Carmarthenshire Training and Job Force Wales-Swansea
Swansea
2022.03 - 2026.01
- Deliver teaching and support for theknowledge elements of the Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing, ensuring learners fully understand the theoretical and practical requirements of the qualification.
- Assess learners' performance and underpinning knowledge across a wide range of clinical and professional competencies, ensuring evidence meets awarding body standards and GDC requirements.
- Conduct regular workplace visits to dental practices across Wales to complete planned and ad-hoc workplace observations, assessments, and professional discussions with learners.
- Manage a diverse caseload independently, organising assessment diaries effectively to maximise assessment opportunities and ensure timely learner progression and achievement.
- Provide tailored support to learners from a variety of academic backgrounds, learning styles, and personal circumstances, adapting assessment and teaching approaches to meet individual needs.
- Support learners to develop clinical competence, professional behaviour, reflective practice, and confidence within the dental practice environment.
- Provide constructive feedback, action planning, and ongoing mentoring to support learner development and successful completion of the programme.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant assessment records in line with awarding organisation, quality assurance, and internal verification requirements.
- Work closely with dental practices, mentors, and employers to support learner development and ensure effective workplace learning environments.
- Uphold high standards of professionalism, safeguarding, equality, and inclusive practice at all times.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety, infection prevention and control, and confidentiality requirements during all workplace activity.
- Contribute to continuous improvement through reflective practice and engagement with quality assurance processes.
- Demonstrate strong commitment to learner success, evidenced by outstanding learner outcomes, including my apprentice achieving Apprentice of the Year.
Community Dental Nurse
Swansea Bay University Health Board-Swansea
Swansea
2021.01 - 2026.01
- Delivered a broad and demanding range of dental nursing duties, providing high-quality, patient-centred care to children and adults with physical disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health conditions, medically compromised needs, psychogeriatric conditions, dental phobias, and complex behavioural, social, or language needs.
- Worked closely with external agencies and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals as required, including supporting patients involved with the Community Drug and Alcohol Team.
- Provided effective chairside clinical support to dentists, continuously assessing and identifying individual patient needs during treatment and adapting care accordingly.
- Utilised appropriate communication aids and tailored communication strategies to meet the specific needs of patients with additional or complex requirements.
- Managed sensitive, complex, and occasionally distressed or irate patient enquiries with tact, professionalism, empathy, and persuasive communication skills.
- Demonstrated a strong commitment to safeguarding children and adults, maintaining the required safeguarding level through mandatory annual CPD and training.
- Complied fully with Health Board Health and Safety policies, actively participating in risk management processes, including identifying hazards and reporting incidents or exceptions.
- Worked across both primary care dental settings and theatre environments, assisting with routine procedures for Community Dental Service patients requiring complex treatment and care planning.
- Worked in a theatre setting at Princess of Wales Hospital as part of a full multidisciplinary theatre team, adhering to theatre protocols and standards, assisting with dental treatment under general anaesthetic for adults and children with special care needs, where treatment could not be safely delivered under any other circumstances.
Dental Nurse
Parkway Clinic
2019.01 - 2021.01
- Worked in a solely private, high-paced dental practice alongside highly skilled dentists and specialists, including Endodontic Specialists, Oral Surgeons, Maxillofacial Surgeons, Periodontists, Restorative Dentists, Cosmetic Dentists, and Facial Aesthetic Practitioners.
- Provided advanced chairside support for a wide range of complex and specialist treatments, including surgical extractions, complex endodontic procedures, advanced restorative work, and maxillofacial surgical support.
- Supported clinicians with multiple specialist interests, adapting quickly to different clinical techniques, workflows, and treatment plans.
- Delivered consistently high standards of dental nursing care, maintaining professionalism, punctuality, and respect towards patients and colleagues at all times.
- Worked effectively within a busy eight-surgery practice, managing high patient throughput while maintaining excellent standards of care and organisation.
- Regularly operated within the decontamination unit, strictly adhering to infection prevention and control protocols and cross-infection standards.
- Ensured dental operative equipment was correctly prepared, maintained, and available to support efficient and safe clinical procedures.
- Maintained strict patient confidentiality in accordance with GDPR, professional standards, and practice policies.
Dental nurse
Crescent Dental Care
2018.11 - 2019.01
- I joined this busy NHS dental practice to support my return to the GDC register following a period of study at university between September 2018 and November 2018. During this role, I provided chairside support to multiple dentists, assisting with a variety of treatments while consistently maintaining high standards of patient care and professionalism.
- In addition to clinical duties, I worked two days per week on reception, taking responsibility for a wide range of administrative tasks, including:
- Managing incoming telephone calls and responding to patient enquiries professionally, both verbally and in writing.
- Scheduling and coordinating patient appointments efficiently to ensure smooth daily operations.
- Maintaining accurate patient records, updating treatment notes, and handling confidential information in line with GDPR and NHS protocols.
- Assisting with patient registration, processing forms, and liaising with other healthcare providers as needed.
- Supporting practice management with administrative tasks to ensure the efficient running of the clinic.
- This role required a balance of clinical expertise and strong administrative skills, demonstrating my ability to adapt quickly and provide high-quality support to both patients and staff in a busy NHS environment.
Dental Nurse
St Teilo Dental Centre-Swansea
Swansea
2018.02 - 2018.08
- Worked closely with the Principal Dentist, supporting complex cases and minor oral surgery treatments, including procedures requiring specialist knowledge and precision.
- Provided chairside support in a four-handed manner, consistently and efficiently, making it second nature to anticipate and meet the dentist's needs.
- Ran my own surgery independently, managing workflow and ensuring high standards of patient care.
- Maintained surgery stock, monitoring inventory, placing regular orders, and ensuring instruments and materials were always available.
- Conducted and oversaw in-house decontamination audits, ensuring full compliance with infection prevention and control protocols.
- Performed impression taking when required.
- Assisted chairside during complex treatments, including surgical procedures.
- Delivered domiciliary care on a weekly basis with the Principal Dentist, providing examinations and treatments such as fillings, extractions, and prosthetic work to patients with complex medical, physical, and emotional needs.
- Maintained strict adherence to cross-infection control, health and safety, and practice standards, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Assisted in practice administration, including managing appointments, reception support, and coordinating with external healthcare professionals where necessary.
Education
Birchgrove Comprehensive School
2007.03 - 2012.11
Skills
- Clinical Dental Nursing (NHS, Private, Specialist, Community)
- Theatre & GA Assistance for Adults & Children with Special Care Needs
- Chairside Support in Four-Handed Manner
- Impression Taking & Prosthetic Procedures
- Oral Health Education & Fluoride Application (BDA & MPWiP)
- Decontamination Lead & Infection Control Audits
- Patient Management: Complex Needs, Behavioural & Medically Compromised
- Domiciliary Care & Outreach Services
- TAQA: Workplace Assessment & Mentoring of Trainees
- Dental software knowledge
- Administrative Skills: Scheduling, Patient Records, Reception Duties
- Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Cross-Infection Control
Certification
- Driving Licence - Present
- TAQA (Training, Assessment, Quality and Assurance)Present
- Level 3 Diploma Dental Nursing - October 2016 to Present
- GDC Qualified Dental Nurse (Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing).
Accomplishments
As a Workplace Assessor, I take pride in supporting and mentoring Dental Nurse trainees to achieve excellence. In recognition of this guidance and the dedication of my learners, one of my trainees was awarded Apprentice of the Year 2025 , highlighting the effectiveness of my mentoring, commitment to high standards, and focus on developing clinical competence, professionalism, and confidence in practice.
Personal Details
- Driver's License: Cars
- Eligible to work in the UK: Yes
- Highest Level of Education: A-Level or equivalent
- Industry: Dental
- Total years of experience: 13
Timeline
Training Officer
Carmarthenshire Training and Job Force Wales-Swansea
2022.03 - 2026.01
Community Dental Nurse
Swansea Bay University Health Board-Swansea
2021.01 - 2026.01
Dental Nurse
Parkway Clinic
2019.01 - 2021.01
Dental nurse
Crescent Dental Care
2018.11 - 2019.01
Dental Nurse
St Teilo Dental Centre-Swansea
2018.02 - 2018.08
Birchgrove Comprehensive School
2007.03 - 2012.11