On todays show I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Sarah Thomson a dental hygienists who shares her remarkable personal story about her recovery from alcoholism. She is an absolute inspiration and there are many lessons in this podcast recording for us all. Sarah I want to personally thank you for sharing all you have in this recording.

Sarah initially qualified as a Dental Hygienist in 1989, but returned to Bristol Dental Hospital to qualify as a Dental Therapist in 2012.

During her career she has worked in a number of different types of practices including a periodontal practice. Last year, to coincide with her 50th Birthday, she took her skills to Kenya where she volunteered with Dentaid and is due to go to Uganda with them again next year.

Her 'me time' includes stand up paddle boarding, singing in a choir, yoga and park runs.

Sarah is a recovering alcoholic and therefore has a vested interest in helping others who suffer, or who are heading towards alcoholism both inside and outside our profession.

1.  The Dentists’ Health Support Programme - provides dentists with free advice & support on health, alcohol, drugs & other issues.

Tel. 0207 224 4671

2. In Northern Ireland ‘Probing Stress in Dentistry’ a BDA supported multi- agency group, has released a PROBING STRESS IN DENTISTRY FRAMEWORK, along with an accompanying letter from the Chair, 2019 BDA National President Roz McMullan

3. Alcoholics Anonymous - 0800 9177650

Which in my experience to date I have found most useful.

4. Samaritans provides confidential support to anyone experiencing difficulties or in distress.

Tel. 116 123

Amber Ojak is currently a dental therapist in Edinburgh. She qualified from the University of Edinburgh in 2018 and has helped improve many patients oral health ever since. 

Amber is an ambassador of the BSDHT as well as a council member. She works on many projects with the society and has written many articles for their journal Dental Health.

Amber also writes for other publications such as Dental Nursing, Dentistry Online and Oral Health magazine. She bases all her articles on her own experience and tries to give a voice to the younger generation of dentistry. Amber is a strong advocate for the profession.

Amber has a great passion for helping people and has inspired many students going into the working world. She gives talks at different universities as well as communicating online.

The poignant dental professional I had the pleasure of interviewing for this recording is Jemma Hook a family dentist and clinical teacher of paediatric dentistry, with a passions in spreading oral health advice for mums and babies, in this recording we explore making the most of pre-natal dental appointments to win the parent over to buy into oral health for their future child OR children as well as reflecting on how the delivery of messages has changed for Jemma since having a child herself.

'Make sure you enter the Zendium competition giveaway by heading over to the smile revolution facebook page or @mysmilerevolution instagram account.

Thanks to Zendium for sponsoring this podcast and offering the patient samples to the listeners.

To obtain your patient samples email [email protected] and quote Smile Revolution Podcast in the subject.

The poignant dental professional I had the pleasure of interviewing for this recording is Melanie Pomphrett who qualified from Essex in 2015 and has certainly achieved so much since then. On todays show she speaks about her career path to date, and the different roles she has had, and what these varied roles entailed. Melanie was so interesting to speak to, and I know you are going to feel invigorated to do even more after listening to her podcast. If you are unsure of how to spend your time in isolation now Melanie will certainly get your thinking.

 

Melanie qualified as a dental hygienist in 2015 and has been working in practice ever since, In 2016 she embarked on a master’s degree in Dental Professional Practice at the University of Kent. Currently she is working in practice part time whilst also working as a Professional Educator for Philips Oral Healthcare, this role gets her out of the surgery and travelling round to dental practices and events to educate on the benefits of Sonicare electric toothbrushes. Melanie has created an Oral Health Education course for dental nurses with Dental Nurse Network which continues to support as a distance learning course and is an ambassador for the BSDHT. Currently she continues her education working towards a postgraduate certificate in education.    

 

Instagram - @Melaniepomphrett

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-pomphrett-4473a996

Email - [email protected]

Here are some links Melanie thought may be useful that she used a lot during her time in Community:

Community Dental Services (CiC) - https://communitydentalservices.co.uk/

The National Oral Health Promotion Group – www.nohpg.org

Mouth Care Matter - https://mouthcarematters.hee.nhs.uk/

Healthwatch - https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/response/2019-06-24/our-response-cqc-report-oral-care-care-homes

The poignant dental professional I had the pleasure of interviewing for this recording is Nina Lord. Nina has worked in the dental industry for 20 years and progressed from working as a dental nurse to a dental therapist in June 2013 at Sheffield University. Not long into her career Nina became passionate about taking a whole body approach with her patients and after 3 years of studying whilst working, Nina graduated as a Nutritional Therapist in February this year. In this recording we speak extensively about the microbiome, nutrition and oral health. I am sure you are going to be very interested to learn what Nina talks about in our conversation.

Instagram - @the_holistic_floss_boss

Make sure you enter the Zendium competition giveaway by sharing the podcast on social media, and following zendium on instagram, tagging 3 friends in the @mysmilerevolution instagram zendium giveaway post, or facebook. Competition running until the 30th June 2020.

Take advantage of 50% off your next tube of Zendium toothpaste and enter the money off code SMILE50 when ordering your toothpaste from online Zendium shop - https://zendium.shop/collections/all

The poignant dental professional I had the pleasure of interviewing for this recording is Caroline Smith who qualified from Newcastle University Dental School in 2009 On todays show she speaks about her career path that has taken her down the road of myofunctional therapy and nutrition, that she expands on at length in the podcast. A perfect time for us to learn more about this now. I know you will enjoy listening to Caroline who broadened my mindset in this recording and I am sure will broaden your thoughts outside the dental setting. This recording took place pre Covid -19, the course caroline mentions has now been postponed until next year.

Caroline is a registered Dental Hygiene/Therapist specialising in Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT) and Nutritional Science (MSc Student).  Caroline qualified with a diploma in Hygiene and Therapy from Newcastle University Dental School in 2009 and completed my BSc top up degree in Dental Studies at UCLAN in 2015.  I am continuously learning and striving to improve my knowledge so I can to help my patients on their road to optimal health.

As a child, she was plagued with digestive issues and poor sleep/anxiety, which makes this journey quite a personal one as well as professional.  Since discovering the world of Functional Nutrition and Airway Focused Health, so many of the dots have been connected in her own health puzzle and she is so passionate about helping others do the same.

MyofunctionalCaroline is a registered Dental Hygiene/Therapist specialising in Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT) and Nutritional Science (MSc Student).  Caroline qualified with a diploma in Hygiene and Therapy from Newcastle University Dental School in 2009 and completed my BSc top up degree in Dental Studies at UCLAN in 2015.  I am continuously learning and striving to improve my knowledge so I can to help my patients on their road to optimal health.

As a child, she was plagued with digestive issues and poor sleep/anxiety, which makes this journey quite a personal one as well as professional.  Since discovering the world of Functional Nutrition and Airway Focused Health, so many of the dots have been connected in her own health puzzle and she is so passionate about helping others do the same.

Myofunctional Therapy and Nutrition Therapy is just two of the missing pieces of the health puzzle, looking at the whole body is essential for us to thrive and not just survive.

https://www.thefunctionalhygienist.com/about-me Therapy and Nutrition Therapy is just two of the missing pieces of the health puzzle, looking at the whole body is essential for us to thrive and not just survive.

Website - https://www.thefunctionalhygienist.com/about-me

Email - [email protected]

In this podcast recording you will hear how Jennifer Thompson, a hygienist who currently works within 3 practices and has began a very interesting new business venture working from home, that is an opportunity for all dental professionals to become involved in if they wish. I am sure you are going to be very interested to learn what Jennifer talks about in our conversation.

Jennifer began her profession at the age of 17 as a trainee dental nurse, not really understanding the opportunity or the role for that matter. She went on to qualify as a dental nurse and continued her education with post-registration qualifications before starting her education as a dental hygienist. It took four years before she was accepted onto the course, but she knew that it was what she wanted to do, so she never gave up. Jennifer qualified from the queen's university of Belfast in 2013 and was awarded 'Best overall student'. Although Jennifer currently works in 3 different practices and has worked in quite a few more throughout her career as a hygienist, she remain in the practice that she started in as a trainee dental nurse. Jennifer feels blessed to have an amazing dentist mentor that continues to work with and learn from.

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.edgar.509

Following on from the podcast recording with Megan Fairhall.

I caught up with Megan who shares what she has been working on during COVID - 19.

This is worth a quick listen for now!

Social Media 

IG: @meganfairhall_livetosmile

IG: @livetosmile_dentalbeautybox

FB: Megan Fairhall #livetosmile

Website: www.livetosmile.co.uk

On todays show Megan speaks about how she built her brand Live to Smile, elements within her career path to date and marketing herself. Thanks to Megan for her transparency of everything she shares in this conversation. I really enjoyed recording this podcast, and I am sure you are going to enjoy listening to Megan. This was recorded before Isolation, yet I know you will still be able to learn, and utilise content from this podcast

Megan qualified from the University of Portsmouth in 2010 with a BSc degree in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy. She has since developed her own dental brand #LIVETOSMILE. Where by she utilise social media and online marketing to attract new patients, focusing on teeth whitening treatments, a part of dentistry she has  discovered a real passion for. 

#LIVETOSMILE has since been introduced into three different dental practices one being on the famous Harley Street in London. Subsequently Megan was asked by the global brand Philips in 2017 to represent them as a key opinion leader. Megan has since been working closely with Philips to help raise awareness of the issues surrounding illegal teeth whitening including featuring in numerous documentaries with the BBC. In addition teaching Philips whitening treatments to DH&DT across the UK, helping to uplift and inspire DH&DT’s. 

Megan also works with the prestigious toothpaste brand Regenerate as a KOL helping to raise awareness to the consumer on acid erosion. This has lead to exciting opportunities and features in lots of beauty press and events. Including a world wide feature in Virgin Atlantic’s inflight magazine.  

Megan has recently launched her latest project #LIVETOSMILE Dental Beauty Box. Helping to educate and inspire the public when purchasing their dental products. Providing them with the dental products they need combined with beauty products they want, all delivered to their door in a bespoke reusable pink beauty box. 

Social Media 

IG: @meganfairhall_livetosmile

IG: @livetosmile_dentalbeautybox

FB: Megan Fairhall #livetosmile

Website: www.livetosmile.co.uk

The eminent dentist I had the pleasure of interviewing for this recording is Mark Cronshaw, who has held the position of Professor at the University of Genoa in Italy since 2014, where he teaches the advanced masters in science course, in oral laser applications, and is a co-director of the international “Dental Laser Training Academy Ltd” to name a few positions, and is actively involved in clinical research on laser tissue interaction. Dr Cronshaw is the President of the Pandora Dental Group - an Association of Private Dental Surgeons, Founded in recognition of the need for evidence based best practice and guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic. and for the past 6 weeks has been researching with colleagues, and pooling resources to create a protocol that we discuss in this podcast recording, with a pathway which mitigates the risk of cross infection, to patients to less than 0.1%, enabling the profession to get back to treating the nations dental needs ,at the earliest opportunity.

Email: [email protected]

Pandora Group: https://pandoradental.org.uk/

Facebook: Pandora Dental Group

Dental Laser Training Academy Ltd: www.dentallaseracademy.co.uk

Webinar on: “Dentistry: Future-Perfect” with Dr Mark Cronshaw, Dr John Kois and Professor Mike Lewis, 7pm Wednesday June 10th on Dental Update. This event will feature the various devices mentioned on cross infection control including the extra oral suction, Isovac, Durr high volume aspiration tips and air purification systems.