Hi Hannah, how did you first get into dental nursing?

When I left full time education I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. As a teenager I had completely unrealistic plans – you know the sort of thing – convert everyone to vegetarianism and achieve world peace!

It didn’t take me long to realise that this wasn’t going to happen and I needed to get myself a job, and in truth it was more by accident than design that I soon found myself employed as a trainee dental nurse.

So Shelley, tell me a bit about your career background?

I worked for 10 years in sales, administration and recruitment. I gained experience in various sectors and genres ranging from medicine, motoring and telecomes. I was working from business to business. I enjoyed my work but I started to get a bit bored of always trying to sell things to people. I wanted a change and so I took up a job as a dental receptionist. I had always been interested in dentistry but never really taken the opportunity. I instantly loved working in the dentistry industry.

Ivoclar Vivadent is a leading international dental product manufacturer with a comprehensive system of product for Dental Professionals.

How would you describe it?

The company based in Lichtenstein with offices worldwide, focuses on three major dental product areas: composites, all-ceramics and implant esthetics with our products shipped out to over 120 countries worldwide. For dental professionals, Ivoclar Vivadent offers products and product systems for prophylactic and restorative procedures, as well as treatment processing.

When did you first become a dental nurse?

I started in 1994, when I was just eighteen. I had just finished school and I decided to train in Oral Surgery and Orthodontics in London.

What led you to become a dental nurse?

I have always been interested in health care and I just knew it was something I wanted get into. I did my National Exam in 2001 at Kings College and from there I worked myself up to be Practice Manager of my Practice.

How did you first start out as a dental nurse?

I trained in South Africa and first became a qualified dental nurse in 2001. I decided to move to London in 2004 when I was twenty four to get more exposure in the dentistry industry. In London, you get to work with more specialist dentists. I wanted to get the work experience and I really wanted to travel. I wanted to become more open-minded and to see what was out there in the world.