Can anyone describe the work/role of a dental nurse? Salary?

Thanks for first four answers which are of considerable help. To help others answer, it is in Ireland. I have been offered training by a practice who will employ me. I am a qualified nurse already but not a dental nurse. The role appears similar but more specific obviously. Is it a stressful job?

A dental nurse/assistant is the dentists second pair of Eyes-Ears and Hands, and you are there to assist the dentist with all aspects of chairside dentistry, from charting, mixing materials, developing xrays-unless you are a qualified D/N and hold the certificate for Radiography for D/N you are not allowed by law in the UK to take xrays yourself, you are only permitted to develop them.
Surgery duties include having the surgery ready for the arrival of patients and having the correct instruments laid out and you have everything you need for each patient, your job is also to act as a chaparone, so you cannot leave the dentist alone with any patient, which is why it's important to have everyhing you need before each patient arrives!
I've been a D/N nurse for more years than i care to remember and love it, i dont think i could ever see myself doing anything else, i do this job 5 days a week and yet im finding it a struggle to describe the role to a T!
Salary is based on experience and qualifactions, i hold the national certificate for D/N and am also a qualified Oral Health Educator.
If your thinking about becoming a D/N give it a go, just bear in mind by July 2008 every D/N will have to be registered with the GDC and will require you to have sat and passed either the National Exam or the NVQ Exam.
Sorry this hasn't given you a great insight into what we do but i hope it's been of some help!

if u live in scotland u could email careers scotland just google them! good luck!

Depending on the state you are located in you may take X-rays, take impressions for dental appliances and depending on the type of dentist you work for, you'll assist in surgery, adjust orthodontic appliances.
You'll meet with the patient initally to find out if they have any specific issues, chart the work the dentist has done in the patient chart.
The salary depends on your state. A good place to look is the classifieds and see what dentists are offering as pay for your area. Some dentists will train you and offer to send you to schooling for a lower start pay.

A dental nurse is like a dental assistant. He or she sees to it that everything that the dentist needs and the patient as well, has already been prepared before the dentist starts procedures. During the procedure, he or she assists chairside, carefully anticipating the dentist's needs and patient as well. He or she also educates the patient on things from oral hygiene improvement and other concerns the patient might have. The dental nurse makes sure that the patient is comfortable during the whole time of the visit. He or she also documents the visit and should be familiar with dental terms so there will be no miscommunication. He or she takes radiographs too, as needed. Does coronal polishing, sealants, etc., depending on qualifications. He or she can also change wires and elastics if belonging to an Ortho practice.

As for salary, it depends on which state you are in and what kind of practice it is. If it is a specialty clinic, you might have the higher end of the range. I'd say between $13-25 sometimes may even be $35 for metropolitan areas. If you're looking to be one, best of luck !