Articles

A career in dentistry wasn’t something I had ever considered. Initially, I wanted to be a surgeon or a police officer … I know two roles that are poles apart from each other. However, despite being classed as above average academically, there were too many shiny things that distracted me, and I didn’t achieve the grades required for either of those careers. 

Introduction

I’ve been a Registered Dental Nurse for five years now. After completing my apprenticeship at Leeds Dental Hospital, I was lucky enough to get a job in my favourite department – Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

So many articles have been written about dental nurses, their career journeys, their further education and their professional achievements. They are all very inspiring and we do need that.

I have been asked to share my story. My name is Joanne, but most people call me Jo. I have a beautiful daughter, who is seven, and a husband who is a children’s magician. I have recently celebrated my big forty with my sisters, who I share my birthday with as we are triplets.

I left school at eighteen, not knowing which career path to take. All I knew was that I wanted to go into a field that involved working with people. I took a receptionist job at a local dental practice, and it was then that I realised I wanted to pursue a career in dentistry. I enjoyed the patient interaction and seeing how dentistry can have a huge impact on people’s lives. After a couple of years of working on reception, I was given the opportunity to begin a dental nursing course and take a more hands-on approach. 

A career in dentistry was never something that crossed my mind during school or college – in fact, while I was growing up I had no idea what I wanted to do. At the age of eighteen, I found myself desperate for a job and was lucky enough to be offered a position as a trainee dental nurse in a local NHS practice.

When did you start working as an orthodontic nurse?

In the year 2000!

How it all started

Throughout my life, I have always been a very caring person with a desire both to help others and to take advantage of opportunities to grow in whichever career I decided to pursue. I have multiple family members working in the health industry, and they all offered me loads of valuable advice.

For this month's Inspiration Q&A, we have interviewed Hilary Urry. Hilary completed a degree in dental nursing and was recently awarded a Level 3 assessor award.

Many of you will know me as a tutor on various courses offered by Dental Nurse Network or as the quality assurance lead for the oral health qualification, but I’m also practice manager of a five-surgery dental practice. I’m writing this article because I’m aware that there are many nurses out there who want to progress in their careers and become practice managers but who have never been given the opportunity. I wanted to share my story with you and tell you to never give up hope.

If I told you I had always wanted to be a dental nurse, I’d be lying. I remember finishing my training course, and I was not going to register with the GDC – I was so adamant that I didn’t want to be in this job. 

Hi, Sophie. You’re another of my fellow second-year Oral Health Science students. Firstly, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, and big congratulations on getting through your first year of university – you are well on the way to becoming a dental hygienist now! This interview has the aim of finding out a little more about your experiences as a dental nurse and how you managed the transition from full-time work to full-time study. Hopefully it will help others who are also thinking about returning.