Course Overview
The Certificate in Impression-Taking Course enables dental nurses across the UK to complete their competency training in dental impressions with flexibility and ease. To enrol, you must be GDC-registered, employed, and indemnified, and have a registered dental professional available and willing to supervise your training. This course is ideal for dental nurses who aspire to treat patients directly by taking dental impressions under the prescription of a registered dentist or clinical dental technician. It is suitable for dental nurses working in both private dental practices and the National Health Service (NHS).
Through this course, students learn to take alginate dental impressions suitable for various dental applications, including study models, orthodontic appliances, retainers, whitening trays, dentures, and mouth guards. This comprehensive impression-taking training will enhance your clinical skills and expand your capabilities for providing exceptional patient care. Course Brochure
DNN is the leading provider of impression-taking courses for dental nurses in the United Kingdom.
Benefits
Flexible Completion Time: Learners have up to three months to complete the course, but fast-track completion is available within two weeks.
Flexible Learning Schedules: Adapt the course to fit your personal and professional commitments.
Comprehensive Online Tutorials: Access detailed and engaging tutorials to guide your learning.
Outstanding Support: Benefit from easily accessible and exceptional support throughout your learning journey.
Award: Certificate in Impression-Taking awarded upon successful completion.
Learn to take alginate impressions suitable for the following applications:
Study models
Orthodontic appliances
Retainers
Whitening trays
Dentures
Mouth guards
Structure
Course Summary
Format: online, self-paced, with in-clinic impression-taking appointments under supervision
Average completion time: 2 months
Number of Learning Units: 6
CPD Hours: 7 hours
Guided Learning Hours: Average of 20 hours (depending on the learner's speed)
Course Assessments
Unit Quiz: One multiple choice quiz per unit
Assessments: Record of Competence - see information below
Support
Optional drop-in support session classes available.
One-to-one tutor support is easily accessible by email, telephone, or Zoom.
Record of Competence Portfolio
As part of the course, you are required to complete a minimum of twelve log sheets covering twelve patients, which includes a minimum of twenty-four individual impressions (twelve upper and twelve lower). All impressions must be taken under supervision until you are declared competent. There are no specified patient groups (i.e., children or adults).
The Role of the Supervisor:
Your supervisor must be:
- GDC-Registered: Must hold current registration with the General Dental Council.
- Qualified/Trained in Impression-Taking: Evidence is required for dental nurses who are supervising.
- Willing to Guide: They should be committed to guiding you through your practical training.
- Able to comment and sign: They must be able to provide feedback and sign off on your portfolio.
Module Learning Objectives
Module 1, Part 1: Legal and Ethical Issues
- Understand your role in providing a high standard of patient care;
- Describe the nine GDC Standards and have a clear understanding of how the standards apply to you as a dental care professional;
- Demonstrate knowledge of scope of practice;
- Demonstrate knowledge of informed consent;
- Understand indemnity requirements.
Module 1, Part 2: Patient Management and Assessment
- List the required materials and conditions for an impression-taking appointment;
- Assess a patient prior to treatment;
- Describe the referral process;
- Provide a high standard of patient care and communication throughout the procedure.
Module 2: Impression Materials
- List the characteristics of the ideal impression material;
- List the most common impression materials used in dentistry;
- Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using alginate;
- Describe the purpose of using addition-cured silicone;
- Understand the importance of appropriate impression tray selection.
Module 3: Taking Impressions
- Describe the correct manual mixing technique using alginate;
- Describe the steps required to take an upper and lower impression.
Module 4: Assessing Impressions
- Describe the anatomical landmarks that should be present on the impression;
- Describe features of the ideal impression;
- Describe impression errors and how to correct them;
- Understand how to grade your impressions;
- Demonstrate knowledge of the reflective learning cycle;
- Start your Record of Experience log sheets and successfully complete them.
Module 5: Post-Impression-Taking
- Ensure excellent patient communication at the end of the appointment;
- Understand how to write clinical notes post-treatment;
- Describe the correct procedure for disinfecting impressions;
- Discuss the requirements for sending impressions to the laboratory.
Advanced Impression-Taking Certificate
Upon successful completion of the Certificate in Impression-Taking, students can apply for the Certificate in Advanced Impression-Taking, which will give them additional competency in silicone impression-taking. Students who opt to complete bite impressions will gain additional competency in bite impression-taking. To apply for the Advanced Certificate, you would be required to complete the following:
- an additional 12 silicone impressions;
- 6 bite impressions (optional);
- 1000-word essay on the differences, advantages and disadvantages of impression materials. This would be based on the learning materials and your own research (referenced);
- a reflective account.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must have completed the Dental Nurse Network impression-taking course or refresher course within the last 12 months. If it has been more than 12 months since you completed impression-taking training, you will need to complete a declaration that you have continued to take impressions since completing your training and have actively taken impressions within the last 12 months.
The fee is £39.00.
Assessments must be submitted within 3 months of purchase.
Tutors
Course Developer
Leanne Scott
Registered Orthodontic Therapist
NEBDN Dental Radiography
Qualified Tutor
Course Assessors
The role of the assessor is to mark your assessments and give you feedback.
Hilary Urry
Registered Dental Nurse
Certificate in Impression-Taking
Qualified Tutor and Assessor
Emma Leather
Registered Dental Nurse
Certificate in Impression-Taking
Qualified Tutor, Assessor and Internal Moderator
Dates
Monday 03 November 2025 - Available
Monday 12 January 2025 - Available
Payment Options
Payment Plans
We now offer the option to pay over three months. Please be aware, this increases the fee to £135.00 inc. VAT.
Payment due dates:
- 03 November 2025 £45.00 (Non-refundable deposit)
- 03 December 2025 £45.00
- 03 January 2026 £45.00
We will NOT send reminders of payment due dates. Failure to make payment by the due dates will result in automatic removal from the course.
Please note, your certificate of competence will not be awarded until full payment is made.
Pay by Payment Plan
Discounts
Discounts must be requested before payment is made. We do not automatically apply discounts.
Please note that discounts are applied to the VAT-exclusive fee: £104.17. Discounts cannot be applied to payment plans.
Multiple applicant discounts
- Two applicants: 5% discount
- Three applicants: 10% discount
- Four or more applicants: 15% discount
Multiple course discounts
- Two courses: 5% discount
- Three courses: 10% discount
- Four or more courses: 15% discount
Please apply by telephone or use the application form here. DNN will send you an invoice.
