I have been a dental nurse for over 2 years now, and I’ll admit it wasn’t the career I thought I would ever choose to do. Alike many people, I was fearful of the dentist and I also found what they do kind of gross (being in people’s mouths all day).
I found myself needing to find a new career, and my older sister (who is a dental hygienist) kept suggesting I become a dental nurse. Although I had zero clue on what the career would involve and still finding the idea quite gross, I decided to give it a go.
So I enrolled myself to North Metropolitan TAFE in a Certificate III course for Dental Assisting. It was the best decision I have ever made!
I studied hard, went to my work experience placements and even found my own work experience (private temping). It was an intense and grueling 10 months, but was worth it in the end as I landed myself a permanent job before even graduating.
Through my training at TAFE, I developed an interest in specialist dentistry and this interest led to my passion for patient care. I found it was important to create a trusting relationship with each patient, so that the team can give him or her the best treatment. I have had patients in each workplace I’ve been to, begin to know me by first name and remember my birthday or milestones.
I’ve always believed that building a solid professional and friendly relationship would encourage the patient to feel at ease in the practice.
I would get a buzz from going that extra mile for each person who walked through our doors, to care for and guide through treatment coordination is the most amazing feeling.
To be able to turn a fearful patient in to a confident and compliant smile is the best thing ever.
I developed an interest in Periodontics and Orthodontics whilst studying because it felt gratifying seeing patients leave feeling more confident and healthier than when they entered.
Whilst studying I temped at an orthodontic practice, and it was there that I saw how orthodontic treatment gave people a bigger and more confident smile.
I loved being part of removing braces; as I watched the patient smile as they look in the mirror for the first time always made me smile.
When I was training at TAFE, my very first patient that I got to sit and assist was diagnosed with periodontal disease. I got to watch and assist the periodontal scale and root planning (deep clean); and as I watched the calculus (calcified plaque build up) chip away and in to the suction, I felt a sense of satisfaction when the patient’s natural tooth became visible again after all those years hidden away.
When we finished the clean, seeing the mouth free of calculus was such an accomplishment for the dental student I was paired with and myself.
It was after this patient that my passion for periodontal patients began. I had decided at that moment that I would one-day work at a periodontal practice.
For a little under 2 years after graduating, I worked at a general dental practice. I chose general dental because it would build my confidence, knowledge and experience. Despite loving periodontal specialty more, I still loved being in general. My passion wasn’t only for the procedures but it also was with the patients (as I’ve mentioned before).
I found myself being drawn to treatment coordination. So whenever the dentist would create a treatment plan for the patient, he does so simply hoping the patient would willingly come back on his or her own accord. This wasn’t always true with scared patients, so I found myself setting time aside to go through each appointment and explained the reason why they need such a procedure.
If they were super nervous, I would even go in to explaining step-by-step explanation of what the dentist would be doing.
The dentist even noticed patients responded positively with treatment coordination, he would even assign treatment planning and post-operative explanations to me (eg: how to care for their dental implant, denture or splint).
Just before I reached 2 years of general dental nursing, I found myself with an opportunity with my dream job: coordination at a periodontal practice.
This leads us to today.
I work at a practice that has two periodontists and one periodontal therapist.
The dream career!
It’s crazy to think that a mere 4 years ago (2015) I thought that this career was too weird and gross to consider. Back in 2015 I couldn’t imagine myself working in stranger’s mouths day in and day out, but now it’s so normal and fulfilling!
My advice: if you are considering a career change, take the leap of faith! It doesn’t have to be dental, but just anything.
If you are unhappy with your career path, change it!
In the wise words of Barney Stinson from “How I Met Your Mother”….
Homenum Revelio 