Where Dental Nursing Took Me
📚 From Dental Nursing at 16 to Dual-Site Practice Manager: A 27-Year Career in Dentistry
At 16, Julie knew she didn’t want to stay in full-time education. With the support of a youth club worker (a former dental nurse herself), Julie applied for a Trainee Dental Nurse role. That decision marked the start of a journey that’s now spanned nearly three decades!
🤝 Building a Career Through Curiosity and Commitment
After qualifying as a Dental Nurse at 18, Julie took a leap and moved into Oral Health Education. Although the practices she was working in later closed, it set her on a path of continuous development.
She soon joined The Dental Spa where she’s been a proud member of the team for the last 19 years! Initially, Julie was encouraged to take on a role in reception due to her friendly and outgoing personality. This opened new doors, enabling her to become a Senior PA, and then progressing to Advanced Patient Care Coordinator – a role much like a Treatment Coordinator (TCO).
🚀 Expanding Beyond Dentistry
Working at the Dental Spa meant that the opportunities didn’t stop with dentistry. Julie was able to move into the Skin Clinic that was connected with the practice, and worked alongside the GP assisting in minor surgeries.
Before she knew it, she was running her own patient clinic! As she has completed her Level 4 in Laser & Light-Based Therapies, she could now perform laser hair removal, tattoo removal, and even chemical peels.
👣 Stepping into Leadership
Since then, Julie has taken on a range of leadership roles. From Assistant Manager to Practice Manager, she has now transitioned to dual-site Practice Manager – a dynamic and demanding role where she wears multiple hats in any given day to ensure her teams and practices are achieving their vision.
As dual-site Practice Manager, Julie has chosen to take on additional roles to support her team including:
✔️ Mental Health First Aider
✔️First Aider & Fire Marshal
✔️ Registered Manager
🎯 Julie’s advice for those just starting out?
“There is so much progression and so you can take it in so many different directions. [Dental nursing] is a great starting point for people that want to get stuck in at work and learn on the job!”
Want to Explore a Career in Dental Nursing?
Todays Dental has just launched a paid Dental Nurse Work Experience programme! This is for newcomers to dentistry and qualified nurses returning to dentistry.
This opportunity is perfect for those:
- Thinking about a future in dentistry.
- Qualified nurses looking to reconnect with the profession.
- Unsure what career path to follow, but are keen to try something new.
Through this program, individuals can gain paid experience in a supportive, people-focused environment. They’ll have the opportunity to build a long-term career in dentistry if they decide it’s the career for them!
Read more about the placement in our dedicated blog: Dental Nurse Work Experience
Ready to take the next step? Apply here: Work Experience Application Form
