NEBDN FROM NATIONAL TREASURE TO AMBITIOUS LEADER
BY PROFESSOR NAIRN WILSON CBE DSC ( H . C ), FDS FFGDP , FFD , FKC NEBDN TRUSTEE AND EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF DENTISTRY
F ounded in 1943 , with its first examination being held on 22 November the same year , the National Examination Board for Dental Nurses ( NEBDN ) is the standard setting body for dental nurses in the UK . The Board is an incorporated charity and a company limited by guarantee .
Having relocated to Preston , Lancashire ( from Fleetwood ) in January 2016 to modern , accessible offices , the organisation is governed by an enthusiastic , committed , accomplished Board of Trustees . The Board is made up of a number of dental nurses and other dental professionals as well as individuals from various professional backgrounds .
The NEBDN has modernised its governance and operational arrangements over the last three years , setting its sights firmly on improving and advancing dental nurse training and education . It recently welcomed four new high calibre trustees to add to the diverse range of experience and skills at Board level . Together with its army of examiners and volunteers ( over 400 ) who contribute daily with their huge wealth of experience to its activities through Committee meetings and exam panels , it has become a world leader in dental nurse education .
Over a period of over 70 years , NEBDN has seen tens of thousands of dental nurses qualify to consistently high standards , with each candidate receiving their coveted red enamel badge , which continues to be worn with pride by today ’ s dental nursing profession . Over recent years the Board has become a major force in the field of dental nursing with its widely acclaimed National Diploma in Dental Nursing , and now offers more qualifications than ever before with its range of six post-registration qualifications that cover a spectrum of advanced dental nursing topics .
As dental regulation continues to be reformed with a focus on prevention , dental nurses ’ roles are changing and this in turn is bringing new opportunities . They are being encouraged to further develop their knowledge and acquire new skills in extended clinical duties .
The Board of Trustees
24 Dental Practice Magazine