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.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an artist and a writer. I clung to my natural abilities and completed a degree in illustration in Hull. I had taken the trainee nursing job after graduating. I was working at McDonald’s and wanted to do something a bit more ‘grown up’, but in my head, it was just a stepping-stone. My thought process was: ‘I’ll do it for a bit until something better comes along!’ Fast-forward three years, and here I am, on a mission of professional development, with a genuine enjoyment of dental nursing. So, what changed?

After the training period, a little over two years, and a few job switches, I finally felt a little more independent. I realised that although there were certain things I was required to, I could be in charge of my own training (PDP), and I was starting to develop a nursing style that merged a professional attitude with a friendly personality. I started to receive compliments from dentists and colleagues, and I started to notice how my personality positively affected patients.

I eventually learnt that if you are creative and determined, there are more opportunities available than you think. At the beginning, I didn’t let dental nursing mean anything to me; I didn’t give it much of a chance, because I thought there was no interesting routes of progression. Now I am writing a blog and having my writing featured on various dental training sites. I combined my everyday work with one of my hobbies, and magic was born.

I have the aim of moving to Barcelona in a year’s time to work in a dental clinic. Dental nursing is not regulated in Spain, meaning I don’t need to re-do a course in that country. There is a whole lot of logistics involved in this plan, but I love adventure and would love to challenge myself, performing my role in a different country and language.

The start of my career journey was rocky for me; it took a while to get settled, and I am certainly still learning, but to me this makes the whole thing sweeter. I had a personal fight to get to a point where I could enjoy my job, and I will always remember the times I struggled at the beginning compared to how I feel now! This is what drives me to keep finding new ways to enjoy and progress in my work, and I feel lucky to have found this profession.

P.S. – Dental nurses rule!

By Rosie Connell

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.

This big birthday got me thinking that I have been a dental nurse for twenty-two years. I do not feel old enough to have this amount of years under my belt – I was around when we used to wear those elastic butterfly belts with our white dresses (as those other oldies among us may remember!). I was around when general anaesthetics were just being phased out of general practice and our steriliser was on the worktop in the surgery.

It amazes me how much dentistry has changed since I first started, and I feel privileged to see and experience the changes and how much things like cross-infection policies and our evidence base for preventative measures have improved. One of the biggest areas for me has been the development of extended skills for dental nurses. I love feeling more involved in patient care and working clinically with patients – I enjoy the collaboration and teamwork.

It all started for me when a dental nurse came into our school to provide our class with an oral hygiene talk and a demonstration. I'm not sure what made me think ‘I want to do that’. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I just remember thinking that I wanted to be that lady who told us how to clean our teeth. I had wanted to be other things, like a graphic designer, clothing designer or artist, but the lady who made our teeth purple stayed in my mind. We used to have a dentist who visited the school back then as well, and that was how I became a dental patient of our community dental service. I was picked up on a screening due to my hyper-plastic 6’s. This was the age where all the ‘dodgy-looking’ tooth was removed and massive amalgams were placed. I was interested in what the nurse was doing, and I also had orthodontic treatment and loved it when the nurse mixed the materials. I had my mind set on wanting her job.

In the sixth form, I carried out my work experience in private dental practice for two weeks. The dentist knew my dad, and it had been arranged on the basis that I wanted to go into dentistry. I had never considered becoming a dentist; that job didn't appeal to me, as they just sat at the head of a patient all day. It was the nurse job I liked – being on your feet, getting the patients. The nurse seemed to be the one doing the most interacting with the patients, and I liked how varied the role seemed in community dental work.

During the two weeks of work experience, I got stuck in, and I loved every minute. These were the days before the CQC, risk-assessing etc., and I got to participate in practical dental nursing rather than just watching. I nursed for all the dentists in the practice and the hygienist, and spent time on reception and in the laboratory, as they had a technician on site. This was definitely the job I wanted.

I looked into what I needed to do and found that our local college ran the National Certificate for Dental Nurses. A job came up at the practice whilst I was on work experience, and after discussions with them and my family, we were in agreement that I should stay and finish my A-Levels. They did agree to allow me to work one day a week as a volunteer. This was my suggestion because I was keen to start working on the two years’ experience I needed to qualify, and I needed to be working in a dental practice to enrol on the course. It didn’t bother me that I was working for free because I loved it. Luckily for me, a job came up in the practice not long after I had completed my A-Levels – I didn’t have an interview, as I was offered it straight away.

I started the NEBDN course on the agreement that my certificate would be held back until I had reached my two years of equivalent experience. In 2001, I became a qualified dental nurse.

I stayed at this practice for almost five years. Having the lab attached made me consider becoming a dental technician. I spent some time at another local lab casting models and learning how to make bite blocks, and I got a place at Sheffield on the technician course. However, at the same time, a job in the community dental service came up, and I couldn't help but feel that it was this job that had made me want to be a dental nurse. I had to apply.

I couldn’t believe it when they rang me to say I had got the job. I decided to go for it, and I turned down the technician opportunity. Reflecting on this, it was the best decision I made. It was interacting with the patients that I enjoyed and in community dental work, this joy became even more apparent. I was given the role of community dental nurse but was asked to be involved with the oral health promotion team. I was ecstatic.

After my first week, I was not sure I had done the right thing. I had cried every night when I got home during the first week, as it was not what I had expected at all. I was used to a private practice, computerised notes and things like automatic processing for X-rays, capsules for amalgam and compules for the composites. I felt like I had stepped into the Dark Ages; there were paper notes with strange filing systems, and I had found myself chasing mercury across the worktop as we had to dispense the components from bottles into a mixer. I had to empty one spittoon from underneath at the end of a session and the chairs and equipment were all really old. I had to manually process X-rays in a darkroom with tanks of chemicals, and there were lots of strange quirks that I later realised were someone else's bad habits.

After the first few weeks, it started to get better. I worked with a special care dentist twice a week, and I enjoyed the complexity of the patients and domiciliary care. We carried out school visits and epidemiological dental surveys. Once I had settled in, I became more involved with the oral health team, producing leaflets and other materials, and I really enjoyed this. I started to love it, and looking back now, those practical old skills were very valuable in making me into the nurse I am today. I understand so much more about the processing of radiographs than I would otherwise have done, and I even used to cast study models for the orthodontist due to my lab experience. I loved how the job varied and how I was not working within the same four walls all week.

I became more interested in oral health and wanted to do some of the post-qualifying qualifications. My boss suggested that I start with oral health. I gained this qualification along with my radiography qualification in 2005. Around this time, I was also given the title of specialist dental nurse.

I found I enjoyed learning new information and putting into practice what I had learnt. In 2007, our building was getting knocked down and replaced with a health centre. The boss valued my input and that of a colleague who had started not long after me. Together, we had brought their service more up to date; we had upgraded the darkroom to a dark box initially and eventually to an automatic processor and electronic notes. In the new building, we had the opportunity to work with the development team and an outcome of this was a room designated for oral health promotion. It was a good time, as Delivering Better Oral Health had not long been published and commissioners were beginning to recognise the need for further prevention work, and our consultant in dental public health had started a review of oral health services.

The oral health room had two sinks for toothbrushing and was designed around providing preventative advice to patients. I used it to carry out one-to-one advice sessions with patients, and I was so excited. It was also great to become more involved with oral health. I remember one of my scariest moments at this time was making a presentation to local doctors and hospital staff about issues around oral health and how they could improve oral hygiene. My supervisor at the time reminded me that I was the one with the specialist knowledge and that the people there were attending in order to learn. It gave me the confidence I needed – although it was pointed out by my supervisor that I’d had the teeth model upside down the whole time! I didn't care – I was buzzing afterwards. It had been great being in a classroom environment with adults as opposed to children.

In 2008, I did my SAADs course, as I had started to work more with a dentist who carried out treatment on patients under sedation. We also carried out chairside GA and recovery of the patients. Every time I completed a course, it gave me the buzz to do another one. I wanted to know more about nutrition because in my clinics I discussed diet a lot, so I carried out a Level 2 certificate in nutrition and health. I think doing courses has become a bit of a hobby! As the industry progressed, legislation and policies were coming more to the forefront of practice, and I completed a VTEC in health and safety and occupational standards and a Level 2 course in health and safety in 2009.

In 2011, our local university sent out information that they were now offering funded dental courses. The one that interested me most was a pilot they were running which was a foundation degree in post-qualifying dental nursing. It incorporated The NEBDN certificates, and I could use APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) for the ones I already had as credits. The first module I carried out was Special Care Dentistry. This included a 3500-word assignment around an extended case as well as the criteria for the NEBDN.

I really enjoyed being at university. My next module was a work-based learning module in which we had to present a topic. I chose to deliver tooth-brushing techniques to patients with learning difficulties, and I enjoyed how my study influenced my working practices. I was able to utilise the skills I had developed in my clinics. The next modules included Dental Practice Management, Key Skills in Clinical Practice, Evidencing Personal and Professional Development, Work-Based Learning – Fluoride Varnish Supervising, Mentoring and Teaching in Practice, and The Policy Environment for Practice. I enjoyed all the modules but particularly those relating to supervising and mentorship and policy. The tutor had talked about taking the course to degree level, but unfortunately the funding was pulled and the dental courses no longer run at the university.

I had the bug now, though, for studying and wanted to complete to degree level. In the midst of all this, I also had a baby (in 2012). During this time, the oral health promotion role had expanded. Delivering Better Oral Health was well-established and on its third edition. After I returned from maternity leave, I took on the full role as an oral health promoter, and I was well-respected as a valued member of the team. We had extensive involvement with Public Health England and met with a consultant in dental public health regularly. Oral health promotion was fast becoming part of the wider health agenda.

I started the BSc in Health Professional Studies in 2014 and also gained my competencies in fluoride varnish and impression-taking. I graduated in 2016. The modules were Work-Based Learning – Making Every Contact Count, Perspectives on Public Health, Social Health and Policy, Research and Evidence Applied to Practice, Theoretical Principles of Conscious Sedation, and Working with Families and Communities to Safeguard Children and Young People. The university was helpful in helping me to choose a pathway that complemented my dental nurse and oral health promotion roles. I have enjoyed every module, and what I enjoy most about studying is applying what I have learnt to my practice. Other students on the course were midwives, health visitors and school nurses, and it was a valuable experience to learn with other professionals, some of whom I now work within my oral health role. It was a little crazy at the time to think that I was doing the same course as these professional types, but I could never advance into their roles as I was not a registered nurse.

Almost immediately after this, I started my PGCert Educator in Practice Level 7. I wanted a teaching qualification to support my oral health promotion role and hoped to use APEL to transfer the credit onto a master’s programme in leadership.

My role then was very much the early stages of what I do now. I am classed as dual-roled in our department; I am assigned to clinical duties for the community dental service for two days a week, and for the other two days, I am commissioned by our local authority to carry out community health promotion. This involves the planning, delivery and coordination of population-based oral health promotion initiatives using local and national oral health strategies and statistics. I liaise regularly with schools, colleges, healthcare services and residential homes in which I provide training and provide targeted oral health programmes. I have developed and delivered specific training programmes, and these include regular updates for school nurses, health visitors, and residential staff. I also deliver workshops on dental health and safeguarding. I am involved in projects to improve oral-health-associated risks in hospital and community settings for aspiration pneumonia and to ensure patients receive an oral health care assessment when deemed high-risk in hospital. I have developed a local online training site which includes the Making Every Contact Count initiative and is specific to dental professionals.

I love my job, and I love the balance between my oral health promotion role and my clinical role. I still carry out my one-to-one sessions and regularly used my extended nursing skills. Most of our patients have complex needs, and they often need lots of acclimatisation and behaviour management. I find this very rewarding. I enjoy that I get to put my study skills into practice by inputting into the development of our local oral health strategies and oral health policy.

I am still studying – I think I always will be. As I have said, I think it has become a hobby; I miss it when I finish a course. I completed the NEBDN sedation certificate in 2018 to complete the set of dental nurse post-registration qualifications most relevant to my role. This year, I started an EMBA in management and leadership. Having completed the first three modules, I have realised it is a very different world than the one I am accustomed to, but I am learning about strategic management and marketing. It is hard work, but I am enjoying it so far. I have been able to utilise some of the skills learnt already in my oral health reports for commissioners.

I am currently seventeen years into working for a community dental service, and I still thoroughly enjoy it. I love the diversity of my role and how not one day is the same. I believe that all the courses I have done have strengthened my practice.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to work for Dental Nurse Network and share my knowledge and expertise. Oral health is my passion, and not only do I have the clinical elements, but I also work within the community as well as strategically with our local key stakeholders.

It is a pleasure to work with students to develop their skills and practice and to advise and contribute to someone else's learning experiences. In the future, I would like to become more involved in teaching the skills and knowledge I possess and look for opportunities to further develop my leadership skills.

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.

I liked the idea of doing something medical, but I didn’t have a very strong stomach, so dentistry seemed like the safest option. I got stuck into the job straight away and began my dental nursing course, studying one evening a week. I really enjoyed working whilst learning the anatomy and theory side of things at the same time. The practice was incredibly busy, and I would often be on my feet for over eight hours a day, but in hindsight I am glad that I was thrown in at the deep end early on, as it gave me a strong work ethic from a very young age. I worked with a really supportive team and loved all aspects of dental nursing – except for anything involving blood. I have always had a massive fear of blood!

Not long into my time as a dental nurse, I began thinking about the possible routes of progression for the future. My practice manager spoke to me about the role of dental hygienist, and I knew immediately that this was what I wanted to aim for. After I had gained my qualification as a dental nurse, I applied to university straight away. I was told by many people that it was a very hard course to get on to, and that I was unlikely to get a place first time. I understood this but thought that the experience of applying and possibly even being interviewed would be valuable, regardless of the outcome. To my surprise I was lucky enough to be invited for an interview at the University of Essex. The interview process was daunting; I had very little experience as a dental nurse and had not had the chance to undertake any post-qualification training, unlike many of the other applicants. On top of that, I had an agonising six-month wait ahead of me to find out whether I would get a place. I thought it would be best to try and put this to the back of my mind and try again next year.

I was so certain that my application for university would be rejected that I decided to take a new job as an orthodontic nurse in a specialist NHS orthodontic practice to try something new. This was a great experience, as it showed me a completely different side to dentistry. The patients were all children and teenagers, which could be challenging at times, and it was a very fast-paced environment with little spare time to run late. The more experienced nurses were able to take impressions, photographs and radiographs and to give oral hygiene instructions, and there was the chance to undertake an orthodontic nursing qualification, all of which gave me plenty to work towards.

After six months in the job, I was contacted by the University of Essex. To my surprise, I was offered a place on the hygiene course, starting in September of that year. After the shock wore off, I was absolutely delighted! I would be the first person in my family to go to university and it would be to train for a job that I knew I wanted to do.

The course was tough, with a normal week including two days of lectures, two days working in a placement, and one study day. Luckily, I could stay at home, as the university was just over an hour away from where I lived, although the placements could be located anywhere in the county. I enjoyed every minute of the course, especially the practical element of treating patients in placement. In our first year, we were each teamed up with a student in their second year, which was a great way to gain some mentorship and learn. We would then pass on the favour when we became second-years ourselves. There was a huge amount of theory to learn, so study days and weekends were spent revising hard for the exams and working on assignments. I came very close to losing my place on the course after a fall left me with a fractured elbow, which affected my dominant hand. However, I managed to recover enough over the two-week summer holidays to return and continue where I left off.

Graduating from university with an FdSc in Oral Health Science was a very proud moment for me; I never expected to attend university at all, so it was a huge personal achievement. After graduating, I filled my weeks with work in a mixture of NHS and private dental practices. This gave me a wide range of experience of working with lots of different teams and patients. It also allowed me to learn more about how I work best in practice.

After a year of working as a hygienist, I came across an opportunity to teach dental nurses part-time with Dental Nurse Network. I was interested, but I knew I needed a teaching qualification before I could apply. This prompted me to complete my Level 3 in Education and Training over a period of six months. Whilst completing this, I was able to write some articles for Dental Nurse Network. The first described my own personal journey from dental nurse to hygienist, and I went on to cover other topics to help provide nurses with CPD. I really enjoyed doing this and discovered that I had an interest in writing.

After completing my teaching qualification, I was fortunate enough to be asked to help put together an oral health education course for Dental Nurse Network. I knew this was something I would be able to do, as educating patients on their oral health was a real passion of mine. After a few months of putting the course materials together – including the tutorials, quizzes, a course booklet and a mock exam – the course was ready to go. Oral health education is a tough qualification to complete, with coursework including a case study and exhibition and a 90-minute multiple choice exam paper. I was keen to be involved, as I know the huge benefits that an oral health educator can bring to a practice, as well as the career opportunities it can open for dental nurses. The course has now been running since 2017, and over 93% of the September 2019 cohort passed the course, which is an amazing result! I look forward to seeing how this course can develop in the future as I continue my role as head tutor for the course.

After this, I found I still wanted to develop further. I found a master’s degree in dental professional practice offered by the University of Kent. This course was assignment-based rather than involving the stress of regular exams, which suited me well. The assignments were centred around my own professional practice, which made them much more interesting – they helped to develop me as a dental professional by teaching me skills such as clinical audit, evidence-based research, and how to conduct my own research project within my workplace. The master’s degree was a three-year programme, with classroom teaching on several weekends spread out throughout the year, allowing me to continue to work full time. I was in a class with a dental nurse and a dental hygienist, but we also mixed with dentists, GPs and teachers for certain modules. I graduated in 2019 and was fortunate enough to win an award for my research project, which had explored the views of dental hygienists and therapists on direct access.

Alongside my studies, I was ready for a new challenge in my career. I enjoyed being a hygienist, but I missed being part of a team and I missed interacting with lots of different people. As a hygienist you certainly get to interact a lot with patients, but it can be difficult to have a conversation with someone when you are treating them in the dental chair! I found a role within my local community dental services team which involved managing oral health promotion for my local county. This was perfect for me, as it was a part-time role, which meant I could continue as a hygienist for part of the week. Much of my time was spent providing oral health training to special needs groups, health visitors, care home staff and children’s centre staff. This was hugely rewarding, and it opened my eyes to just how little is known about how to look after the oral health of the most vulnerable groups in our society. I loved being out of the surgery and speaking to lots of different groups of people. This role also helped me with my presentation skills and public speaking, which is always daunting to begin with. Whilst I missed the clinical element of working in a dental surgery, I really enjoyed the flexibility of managing my own diary and working on several projects at once.

After a year within the community dental services team, an opportunity to become part of a small team of professional educators with Philips Oral Healthcare came up. The role was brand new, so it was difficult to know what to expect. For me, this seemed like the perfect role to move on to as I could utilise my new presentation and public speaking skills whilst remaining within the dental industry. Whilst I was sad to leave my community role, I was also incredibly excited to start a new venture with such a large, global company.

I now spend much of my week travelling to dental practices within my territory and speaking with other dental professionals. I also attend dental shows and events, and there are opportunities to speak at some of these events. I am now almost a year into the role and am loving every minute of it – we are still evolving as a team and have lots of exciting things to look forward to in the months ahead. So far i have been lucky enough to attend events in London, Birmingham, Scotland and Ireland which makes a big change from spending every day in a dental surgery. I remain at one dental practice as a hygienist on Thursdays, and I alternate between three dental practices on Saturday mornings. This means plenty of variety in my working week and has reignited my passion for the job, as I can focus all my time and attention on a smaller group of patients.

In the near future I plan to start a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Essex, I would also love to have the findings of my master’s degree research published in the hope that it may contribute in some way to some improvements in the current situation around direct access to dental care professionals. I also look forward to developing the skills I enjoy the most as a hygienist further by carrying out more cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening and air polishing. I am also excited to see how my role with Philips can develop and look forward to interacting more with other dental professionals, attending more events related to dentistry, and meeting more likeminded people. If I could give any advice to anyone wishing to try something new or develop further in their field, it would be to remain open to opportunities, as they often lead to unexpected but positive things. Most importantly, I would advise you not to let a lack of confidence or experience stop you from trying something new.

Melanie Pomphrett MSc, Fdsc, RDH, PTLLS

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.

However, the thought of shift work did not appeal to me in the slightest, which ruled out a few options that I had in mind. I shadowed my cousin at her practice where she was a dental nurse and learned about all the additional skills she had trained to acquire. She had worked both in a dental practice and a hospital setting, and she was able to interact with and care for patients – and she enjoyed normal working hours and the option to progress and even divert to other areas within the same industry. I found this all very appealing. Being a typical Sagittarius, I love freedom, exploring new avenues and having the ability to progress both personally and within my career.

From trainee nurse to orthodontic nurse

I started emailing dental practices in search of an established practice with a keen interest in having a new trainee on board. I was offered a job at my first interview and grabbed it with both hands – it felt right, and the practice seemed very supportive. I completed my NVQ Level 3 in Dental Nursing. However, not long after this, the practice was taken over by new owners and everything changed – I went from loving my job to reconsidering my career path. I decided to arrange a meeting with my practice manager to see if there was anything the practice/company could offer to make my job feel interesting again, as I had worked hard to qualify and it seemed a shame to waste it. She suggested that I worked alongside a specialist in orthodontics. I would have additional duties, including managing all incoming and outgoing referral letters, managing busy waiting lists, and supporting the specialist by becoming his full-time nurse. I was delighted with her proposal.

After a few years of working alongside one of the nicest dentists I have ever met, I still wanted my role to develop further. I felt my job was too easy, despite having one of the busiest diaries within the twenty-seven-surgery practice and despite my additional duties. I started looking into additional courses that would complement my dentist’s skills and help us work together for longer. I undertook an NEBDN radiography course and an impression-taking course. These allowed me to take all the impressions and X-rays for our orthodontic patients, meaning I could work with my dentist more efficiently. However, this was still not enough, and  I was starting to get bored again of the routine – there was no excitement. I loved the idea of becoming a dental hygienist, but the thought of becoming a full-time student really worried me – mostly from a financial perspective, as my outgoings were high and I felt that I had left it too late to consider university.

From orthodontic nurse to practice manager, writer and tutor

I spoke to the principal of the practice regarding the opportunity to become a practice manager. He shot the idea down almost immediately, telling me I was too nice to be a practice manager, the staff would walk all over me, and it would never work. This comment triggered my competitive side – I knew I could do anything within reason if I put my mind to it, and I was going to try it. I applied for a position at another practice. They had two positions available, as the practice was expanding from a three-surgery into a seven-surgery clinic. Most positions had been filled – apart from head nurse and practice manager. I applied for both and asked to be interviewed for both positions. I was thrilled when I was offered an interview date.

My interview lasted just over two hours and covered everything from general questions and personal questions through to role play. At the end, the owner of the practice said he would like to offer me a position and said I would be a perfect candidate for the practice manager position. I was ecstatic – I was only twenty-three at the time, had no experience, and had previously been told I was too nice. It really does show that if you want something in life, you shouldn’t let anyone hold you back – just keep trying until you succeed.

I had so much to learn to become a practice manager. There’s so much that happens behind the scenes of dental practices. Although I missed the clinical aspect of my previous work, my job was very interesting – I was always busy and was learning and developing both professionally and personally. Day to day, I had a team and practice relying on me for multiple things, so every day had to be a good one. I soon became a personal assistant to the owner along side my managerial role, which was a fun element to my job. I watched my team and the practice grow, and it was very rewarding to be a part of the process.

Nevertheless, based on my past experience I knew it was only a matter of time before I became complacent. I came home from work one evening and my partner told me that he had randomly come across an advert for a writer within the dental industry. He felt the position would be a great opportunity for me alongside my current role. I decided to apply and composed an article about the subject provided. I had a telephone interview and was amazed when I was chosen to work for Dental Nurse Network. It was another opportunity to stay up to date with knowledge, meet other dental professionals, and put my teaching and writing skills to the test. I have worked with Dental Nurse Network for nearly five years now, and I love how flexible and supportive Marama from DNN is in relation to my career.

After three years of practice management, I truly missed the clinical aspect of my work. The idea of becoming a dental hygienist had been on my mind, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to pursue it. I decided to enrol on the oral health education course and started paying off all of my outstanding finances to bring down my outgoings. I realised that a few years of struggling financially would give me a lifetime of further opportunities, so it was going to be worth it – I just had to appreciate the bigger picture.

From practice manager to dental hygiene student

I applied for the FdSc Oral Health Sciences course at the University of Essex in Southend. I knew that I was unlikely to secure a place the first time I applied, but that the experience of the interview would prepare me for future applications. I asked multiple hygienists for advice on how to increase my chances of acceptance onto the course. The best advice I received was: “If you secure an interview, you are already good enough. The interview is a chance to show your personality, so be yourself and enjoy it – that’s what will make you stand out from everyone else”.

So that is what I did – I turned up with a positive mindset, tried to stay as calm as possible, and was completely myself. I secured a place on the course, and I was so happy when I received my offer through UCAS. I worked every hour possible to pay off my outstanding finances and set off to university ready to take the next step in my career.

Qualifying as a dental hygienist was one of the most difficult tasks I have ever faced, but it was also one of the most rewarding. I worked hard, and after a few years I graduated with an overall distinction, which I’m super proud of. I remember waiting at the train station when my results came through – I was so nervous about opening the email but at the same time couldn’t open it quickly enough! When I saw my grade, I cried so much with happiness. I had FINALLY found something that fulfilled all of my professional needs and made me happy!

Dental hygienist and facial aesthetics 

I secured jobs around Essex at some wonderful practices. I had to pinch myself every day that high-end practices were offering me jobs despite the fact that I didn’t have the experience that they had advertised for – my passion for the industry and background meant more to them. When dental nurses ask me how to get into dental hygiene, I always forward on the advice I received and tell them about my experiences. I tell them:

“Be yourself always, no matter what you do. Knowledge is power, so always build on your current knowledge and always grow personally and professionally. People buy into people, so be the best version of yourself and everything that you deserve will follow”.

I met some lovely people during my time in Essex and was beyond happy with my practices, but I decided to move back to the Midlands where my immediate family live and start my new life back with my loved ones. I now work at a great practice on the outskirts of Warwickshire and have a very busy diary of patients and a great team to work with. I have also undertaken additional courses in facial aesthetics, including anti-wrinkle treatments, dermal fillers and tooth whitening.

What’s next

In the future I would love to become an ambassador within the dental industry and to become more advanced in periodontal treatments, perhaps working in a specialist practice or within a hospital setting to deal with more complex cases.