The unexpected additonal career as a Dental Nurse.
Back in 1977 I was a recently qualified primary school teacher working in Southampton when my husband's health required a complete change of lifestyle. Consequently we moved to Dornoch in Sutherland to live in a croft. Quite a difference especially as we made the move in the heavy snows of January 1978. Obviously I could not just walk into a teaching job in Scotland so I cast around for alternative employment. I heard through a friend that the local Schools Dental Service needed a nurse who could also help with talking to children about good oral health so I went along and got the job based on my child wrangling skills!
It was a great job. The surgery was a caravan fully fitted with everything you would expect including dental chair . It was towed around the highlands behind an ancient Landrover and set up in the playground of a school for a week or so at a time. The dentist I worked with was a lovely man who exalted in the name of Alexander McArthur Bennie. As we pitched up at the schools there would often be a small gathering of adults waiting for ' a wee word Mr. Bennie'. In addition to the kids we were responsible for pre and post natal dental care of many young women and anyone else who could persuade Mr. Bennie to see them - our days could be very long indeed.
As an introduction to working in dental health it was a fantastic grounding in how taking the care to the community can have a direct and lasting effect. Many of the young women who came during their pregnancy had grown up attending Mr. Bennies' surgeries and had benefitted from his gentle but firm advice. As a result they would be keeping their own teeth for many years instead of having dentures in their twenties as their Mothers had done.
Back in England this experience enabled me to work as a dental nurse on and off between children and businesses. Last year, having sold our final business, I was fed up with retirement and looking for a part-time job. I went for my regular check up and there in the window was an advert for a part-time dental nurse - it was obviously meant to be! So here I am, after a break of twenty five years, back in the surgery and loving every minute. Many things have changed not least the requirement for qualification! At fifty four years old it is a challenge to get the brain to go back to the classroom but it is worth it for recognition that Dental Nurses are essential and multiskilled members of a professional team delivering essential care in our community.
Back in 1977 I was a recently qualified primary school teacher working in Southampton when my husband's health required a complete change of lifestyle. Consequently we moved to Dornoch in Sutherland to live in a croft. Quite a difference especially as we made the move in the heavy snows of January 1978. Obviously I could not just walk into a teaching job in Scotland so I cast around for alternative employment. I heard through a friend that the local Schools Dental Service needed a nurse who could also help with talking to children about good oral health so I went along and got the job based on my child wrangling skills!
It was a great job. The surgery was a caravan fully fitted with everything you would expect including dental chair . It was towed around the highlands behind an ancient Landrover and set up in the playground of a school for a week or so at a time. The dentist I worked with was a lovely man who exalted in the name of Alexander McArthur Bennie. As we pitched up at the schools there would often be a small gathering of adults waiting for ' a wee word Mr. Bennie'. In addition to the kids we were responsible for pre and post natal dental care of many young women and anyone else who could persuade Mr. Bennie to see them - our days could be very long indeed.
As an introduction to working in dental health it was a fantastic grounding in how taking the care to the community can have a direct and lasting effect. Many of the young women who came during their pregnancy had grown up attending Mr. Bennies' surgeries and had benefitted from his gentle but firm advice. As a result they would be keeping their own teeth for many years instead of having dentures in their twenties as their Mothers had done.
Back in England this experience enabled me to work as a dental nurse on and off between children and businesses. Last year, having sold our final business, I was fed up with retirement and looking for a part-time job. I went for my regular check up and there in the window was an advert for a part-time dental nurse - it was obviously meant to be! So here I am, after a break of twenty five years, back in the surgery and loving every minute. Many things have changed not least the requirement for a qualification! At fifty four years old it is a challenge to get the brain to go back to the classroom but it is worth it for recognition that Dental Nurses are essential and multiskilled members of a professional team delivering essential care in our community.
J Yallop
