How long have you been a dental nurse?

I have been a dental nurse just over four years now.

How did you get into dental nursing?

I was at college but I kept quitting and going back again. Eventually, I dropped out and I wasn’t sure what to do at all. I worked as a barmaid for a while but I wanted a full time job so I went for a job as a receptionist at a dental practice. When I went for the interview the boss’s husband said he wanted me to be a dental nurse at his practice. So I went for it and got the job.

When did you first become a dental nurse?

I first became a dental nurse in 1998. I had always had an interest in dentistry. I didn’t feel like I was very good at school so I applied for a job as a dental nurse when I was sixteen. I trained with my practice for two years and eventually became qualified. I am from Ayrshire in Scotland.

What led you to dental nursing?

My interest developed from my own experience of going to the orthodontist when I was younger.

Tell me about your career as a dental nurse?

From an early age I have always enjoyed looking after people and knew that I wanted to start my career within a caring profession. On leaving school at the age of 16, I took up a role as a trainee Dental Nurse, staying with my first practice for approximately 12 years. My Dentist put me through my registration and I studied for my National Examination For Dental Nurses, before developing my skills and knowledge within the dental industry and working both as the Receptionist and a Dental Nurse in the same practice.

Q&A with Melanie Joyce

So tell me a bit about your career? Did you start off as a dental nurse?

Yes I started off as a dental nurse. I actually was at college at the time studying but I had to drop out because I couldn’t afford my rent and so I needed a full time job. I saw a job for a trainee nurse advertised in the newspaper and I went for it. I got the job and loved it from my very first day. I worked at this practice for a while but this got a little tough when one of the associate dentists gave me bit of a hard time. She told me I was a rubbish dental nurse.

What’s your role?

I am a dental nurse.

When did you first become a dental nurse?

I was originally a registered general medical nurse. I then had to leave nursing as I became ill with cancer. It was a very difficult time but I recovered and decided that I wanted to go back into health care.