As a qualified dental therapist I carry out a preventative holistic approach to dentistry when looking after my patients. I’m able to carry out oral cancer screenings, preventative sealants and topical fluoride varnish applications, fillings, hygiene treatment including periodontal care, and treatment for children such as fillings, placement of preformed stainless crowns, extractions and some pulpal treatment.
Patients can make direct access hygiene therapy appointments with me, without seeing our dentist first, and many welcome this opportunity to talk about their oral health care – I’m super friendly and approachable!
The most fun aspect of my role is working with such a wonderful team at Smile Together in Saltash and helping patients achieve a healthy and confident smile. I also love that Smile Together is a social enterprise, putting profits back into community-based projects, enabling us all to make even more of a difference to local people – it’s a truly inspiring environment in which to practice.
My biggest challenge in this role is empowering patients to take control of their dental health and appreciate the impact of this on their general health. Evidence shows the positive impact of good oral hygiene reducing gum inflammation, in turn reducing inflammation in the body which is related to so many health issues. Oral health is a good indication of an individual’s overall health and wellbeing, essentially a window to the rest of their body.
Alongside working in practice at Smile Together I’m an Associate Lecturer/Clinical Supervisor at the University of Plymouth Peninsula Dental School, supporting the dentist and dental therapist undergraduate students. I absolutely love teaching and helping to develop our upcoming dental professionals, plus working within this educational setting ensures I stay up-to-date with the latest dentistry techniques which I can also then apply to my patients.
I fell into a dental career quite by chance! I was initially working in retail and then went to Art College, after which I was inspired by a dental nurse opportunity being advertised, which I subsequently secured. I found dentistry really interesting so, after qualifying as a dental nurse, I put myself through a Science Access course which enabled me to successfully apply for a Dental Therapy undergraduate place at the University of Portsmouth, qualifying in 2013.
To anyone considering working for Smile Together I would say join us – I certainly love it here, it’s a wonderful team who really appreciate the contribution you make, and I have achieved such a great balance across all that I do.
Outside of work I enjoy paddleboarding, wild sea swimming, sailing, bodyboarding, walking, playing netball and relaxing with a big cup of tea in my hands!
