Jo started working as a dental nurse in 1999 in general practice, qualifying in 2004 where the majority of patients she saw were adults attending the dentist for regular dental care. On moving to Smile Together, Jo initially worked in the urgent and emergency care dental environment which gave her an insight to the extent of tooth decay in the local community. She then turned her focus on orthodontic dentistry supporting teenage patients. Upon achieving her Certificate in Oral Health Education through the National Examination Board of Dental Nurses, and fluoride varnishing qualifications, she was inspired to make even more of a difference for local children and thus became lead oral health dental nurse for Brighter Smiles. In this role she delivered key oral health messages to both children and adults, applied fluoride varnish to the teeth of children at high risk of dental decay, and recorded outcomes to help demonstrate the impact of our Brighter Smiles programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. She kept her clinical skills up to date by working in the surgery environment during school holidays.
See what Jo has to say about Dental Nursing and Career progression with Smile Together.
Jo is now pursuing her long held career ambition to qualify as a Dental Therapist by studying at Plymouth University and Smile Together is proud to be supporting her. She continued to support Brighter Smiles during university holidays, often returning to dental nurse for us too, and a Therapist opportunity awaits her upon graduation.