My dental career started in 1988 when I decided I wanted to join the Royal Air Force as a dental nurse. After completing my basic and trade training I finally got posted to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, where I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about military life. Over the next 6 years I served in RAF Wittering, RAF Guttersloh (Germany) & RAF Laarbruch (Germany) before finally leaving the forces to have my son.
Dentistry was never far from my thought, and as soon as I could I went back to work for the Army Dental Corp as a civilian, this time based in Andover looking after the teeth of the Army Air Corp.
In the next chapter of my life I found myself in Plymouth working at the Crescent Specialist Dental centre as an orthodontic and Implant nurse, where I gained my Specialist Radiography qualification.
I loved this new challenge and although very different from military life found it very rewarding. Before long I was offered a practice manager’s position in a large NHS practice in Plymouth. This was a very different focus, which had me thinking I would like to move into the word of education.
I joined the Peninsula Dental School in 2010 as a Lead Dental Nurse, managing the Derriford Dental Education Facility. This was just what I was looking for as it combined practice management and clinical knowledge alongside helping to support dental students. I really enjoyed being part of the team to form new dentists of the future.
In 2013 the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise took over the running of the education facilities, and new opportunities arose.
In 2015 I joined the Community Engagement team as an Oral Health Educator, this offered me new and exciting challenges, being able to move my focus from clinical work into the community. I was able to offer Oral Health Education to both clinical & non-clinical health professionals, also community groups and children.
I am now the Lead for the Dental Outreach Team and proud of the achievements the team have accomplished.
Working for PDSE has given me the opportunities and support to further my skills, in an ever-changing environment. Working on new projects and interacting with people from all walks of life makes my working day interesting and rewarding. Working with dental students is also really rewarding, knowing you are helping shape their future career.
Being able to help people to understand and gain knowledge of the importance of looking after their own oral health in a time when dentistry is limited is something that makes me feel valued, and in most cases is well received!
My past 15 years working for PDSE has been a positive experience and I have certainly enjoyed them, knowing I have the support to gain further qualifications and skills if I wanted too, is important to me as well as knowing there is a team of specialist behind me to help support me in my daily working environment.”
