Prevention has never mattered more in dentistry, and dental nurses are at the very heart of it. On Wednesday 15 July 2026, we are hosting a free live webinar exploring the role of the oral health educator (OHE) and the growing opportunity for nurse-led prevention clinics.

Register now to join us, and read on to find out exactly what we will cover and why this topic matters so much right now.

Why oral health education, and why now?

Dentistry is decisively shifting towards prevention. The NHS contract changes introduced in April 2026 and the wider focus on skill mix mean that dental nurses are being recognised for their clinical skills like never before. Trained nurses can now apply fluoride varnish as a standalone NHS course of treatment, and across the country practices are looking at how to deliver more prevention through their whole team.

The appetite among dental nurses is clear. When we ran our recent webinar on fluoride varnish and nurse-led clinics, around 350 nurses registered, and nearly 150 joined us on the night.

About the speaker

The session is led by Abbi Castle, a dental nurse and qualified tutor who works across both NHS and private practice and is genuinely passionate about oral health education and prevention. Abbi will draw on her real experience of how the oral health educator role works in practice and how nurse-led prevention can benefit patients, nurses, and the practice alike.

Who should attend?

This webinar is ideal for:

• Dental nurses considering training as an oral health educator or wondering whether the role is for them.
• Dental nurses already qualified in OHE who want to make more of the role in practice.
• Anyone interested in setting up or running nurse-led prevention clinics.
• Oral health educators who are qualified but are finding barriers to using their skills in practice.
• Trainees and those building towards extended duties, including the Oral Health Practitioner apprenticeship, are welcome.
• Practice managers and dentists are curious about delivering more prevention through their teams.

Webinar details and how to register

Date: Wednesday 15 July 2026

Time: 7:30pm, held live online via Zoom

Cost: Free to attend

CPD: One hour of free verifiable CPD awarded

Register: Here

Places are free but limited, so please register early to secure your spot. We would love to see you there.

Webinar Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role: Describe what an oral health educator does and where it sits within the dental team and skill mix.
• Communicate with confidence: Build the confidence and communication skills needed to be an effective oral health educator and health promoter, including where a practice has not yet encouraged the role.
• Combine clinical skills: Understand how OHE works alongside extended duties such as plaque scoring and fluoride varnish application to deliver well-rounded prevention
• Recognise the value: Explain the benefits of nurse-led prevention, not just clinically, but as a driver of patient loyalty, retention and practice reputation.
• Incorporate the role in practice: Identify practical ways to embed an OHE and nurse-led clinics into the working week, in both NHS and private settings.
• Overcome the challenges: Recognise the common barriers, such as gaining dentist and team buy-in, and learn how to make the clinical, financial and loyalty case for the role.

Frequently asked questions

What is an oral health educator?

An oral health educator (OHE) is a dental nurse with additional training who delivers tailored oral health advice to different patients groups.

What is a nurse-led prevention clinic?

A nurse-led prevention clinic is an appointment run by a suitably trained dental nurse, focused on prevention rather than treatment. It can include oral health education, plaque scoring, and, where the nurse is trained and working under prescription, fluoride varnish application. It frees up dentist chair time while improving prevention for patients.

Is the webinar really free, and do I get CPD?

Yes, the webinar is free to attend, and a verifiable CPD certificate is provided. Simply register in advance to secure your place. Register: Here