So, you started out as a dental nurse how did you get into dental nursing?
I started dental nursing when I was sixteen. I had left school and I knew I didn’t want to work in an office. I went to a job recruiters and told them this and they suggested, ‘what about dental nursing?’ I applied to several practices, got a position as a trainee dental nurse and never looked back.
How did you find dental nursing at first?
I loved it. Nursing is an amazing job but I knew it wouldn’t be enough for me forever. After doing my National Certificate at night school, I decided to try and get into hygiene and felt that A-Levels would help me to achieve this. I continued to work full time and also go to night school to do A-Level Biology. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a role as a hygienist as it was very competitive and so I decided to stay in dental nursing. However, I continued to be ambitious. I was promoted to head nurse at my practice so I now had responsibility for training other nurses, I also gained my A-level in Biology and then my Oral Health Certificate.
What did you love about being a dental nurse?
I just found it the job I wanted to do. From the very beginning I was intrigued. I’m such a science geek and I always wanted to learn more. Dentistry is practical and right in front of you, it’s not about looking down a microscope, it’s right there, in the flesh. I loved the diversity as well, every day was different and it never got boring because every patient is different. It is not high paid, glamorous or high powered but I know many dental nurses who would ever change it for an office job. Dental nurses are very passionate about their work. It is a job which hooks you in, you can learn every day, there is always so much more to discover.
What would you say you didn’t like about being a dental nurse?
It was the long hours. When I first was nursing, aged sixteen, I was doing 45 hours a week. However, it is like any job, it has its good days and its bad days.
So, what happened next for you?
I got restless and thought, ‘why not get another A-Level?’ Then, seeing as I had two it just seemed appropriate to go for the hat trick and get three! It was towards the end of completing my final A Level that a friend called me up and asked me ‘why don’t you go to university?’ I was 21, I was worried that I was slightly older than most people applying and I wasn’t sure that they would take me seriously. I was aware that most applicants who apply often have 5 A grade A Levels.
How did the process go?
During the interviews I became aware that although I didn’t have as many A-Levels, I had a lot of practical experience because I had worked for 6 years in dental practice; most people who were applying had never even stepped into one. I was very pleased to get accepted into three different universities and decided to go to the Dental Institute at King’s College London (formerly GKT)
What was university like for you?
It was a 5 year, full time course. First year, I think was the most difficult. It was a lot of pre-clinical information, quite difficult science which you had to slog to get through. However, each year got more and more practical and interesting. My sole aim was to go to university and get my dental degree; I didn’t have much interest in living the ‘student life’. However, I made some amazing friends and they will continue to be friends of mine for the rest of my life.
Did you meet any other dental nurses?
No, I didn’t meet anyone else who had been a dental nurse but I did meet a dental hygienist who went back to do dentistry and some of the students already had a medical degree. I did feel unique, especially when mixing alginate for impressions in a practical; my tutor commented, ‘you’ve done that before.’ Obviously I had, hundreds of times! Things like that did boost my confidence in my studying.
What would you say inspired you to pursue dentistry?
The dentist whom I worked for when I was sixteen. I found I was lucky enough to be nursing for a dentist whose passion and interest in dentistry knows no bounds. He inspired me and showed me just how much was out there. More importantly he recognised my genuine interest and taught me so much, far and beyond the need for nursing. He shared his enthusiasm with me and I was hooked! I’m now back working for him as an associate. Four years after graduating, after VT and a different associate job, I’m back to my old stomping ground! I know it’s not a common thing to do but it is possible and I am living proof.
How would you describe the studying process?
Hard work. It is predominately science: remembering things and understanding how things work. At the same time however, it is very practical. You start by learning how to place fillings in teeth in a phantom head. Learning is based on trial and error. The next stage is practice on patients but you always have teachers guiding you through everything, you aren’t let loose on anyone! We also had regular practical exams, such as O.S.C.Es which consist of 15 stations set up and every 5 minutes you change stations to deal with different scenarios such as a heart attack, CPR , medical history etc. It puts you under pressure. In dentistry you often have to make quick decisions. It’s not life or death but you need to be confident and not back track. I would say that the studying process is fun but it is hard work, it’s five days a week, 8.30am- 5pm. Attendance is a major part of the degree and you are penalised for poor attendance
What experiences did you draw upon from being a dental nurse?
One thing that stands out in my memory is that as a dental nurse I used to look up to the dentists I worked with, I was fascinated by how self-assured and confident they seemed to be. I used to think that I would never be able to be that assertive. This does eventually come naturally to most graduates; five years of uni puts that into you!
Did you have a lot support when making the decision to pursue dentistry?
Yes, I had lots of support from my principal and from my practice, as well as my family and friends. Financially, it is hard and I had to take on loans but it is worth it. At first it was hard to lose my income as a dental nurse. I had been independent from my parents since I was 16 but I looked upon it as an investment in my career, an investment in myself and I’m happy now that I made the decision to go for it.
What do you love about your job now?
It is a great job. I get up in the morning and I don’t dread going into work. I get up and think, ‘I’m going to have a good day today.’ Obviously, sometimes you do have a bad day but I would never say I hate my job.
What advice would you give to other nurses who are thinking about getting into dentistry or develop their careers further?
If you don’t like dental nursing it is not the job for you. It is not a mundane job, it is a career. There is a huge career pathway to follow now which has developed in recent years. When I first started in 1998 this wasn’t the case and there was little aspiration. If you were a dental nurse you stayed a dental nurse. However, dental nurses now need to think about where they want their career to go and think long and hard when they are considering making decisions. Some people choose hygiene because it is shorter than dentistry but don’t let this hold you back. Doing dentistry at university is definitely worth it. There is the option to take a one year access course in science if you don’t have the A-Levels needed for the entry requirements. Don’t be scared; if you want to do it, you can do it and remember it is never too late.
