Meet Our Mentors

I am a dental hygienist working in private practice in North County Dublin. My journey to becoming a dental hygienist wasn’t the typical story we often hear. I was on a different career path having previously studied cell and molecular biology, but I knew the road ahead of me wasn’t what I really wanted. It was my dentist at the time who planted the seed of returning to study dental hygiene. To be honest when she first mentioned it to me, I wasn’t aware of what a dental hygienist was, but when I looked into the course and the profession there was a lot that I liked the sound of, mostly that I could combine my love of science with more person to person contact than I was getting in the lab!

I qualified from Trinity College Dublin in 2012 receiving the Dentsply Award for Clinical Excellence and the Colgate Travel Bursary Award that allowed me to spend some time studying in Malmo Sweden. After graduating I worked voluntarily in the National Coagulation Centre at St James Hospital Dublin, then in a mixture of specialist and general practices.

Initially, I found working as dental hygienist quite isolating and lonely. So in 2014 I joined the IDHA committee. I worked in several different roles during my time on the committee and in 2020 I began my two-year term as President of the association. One of my main goals as president was to introduce a mentoring programme for our members. I had seen the benefits of mentorship during my time as a peer mentor in UCD, and I knew I would have benefited from mentorship in the early years of my career as a dental hygienist.

It was a longer road than expected to get the programme up and running but I am delighted that we now have a panel of qualified mentors to offer support to IDHA members. I truly believe that we can all benefit from some mentoring at all stages of our careers. My style of mentoring revolves around inspiration and fostering a positive outlook, guiding individuals in identifying and achieving their goals.

I am a dental hygienist currently working for the HSE Dental Service in Dublin South-East. I accidentally stumbled into dentistry by answering an add in the newspaper (showing my age!) looking for a dental nurse, no qualifications needed. I managed to work and train for my dental nurse course in Dublin Dental Hospital during my time at this clinic and in 2006 started my training to be a dental hygienist, graduating from UCC in 2008.

My interest is mainly the promotion of oral health, on an individual basis but all also through campaigns. I was awarded the KIN Dental Hygienist oh the Year award in 2022 for my leaflet “Helpful Tips for Growing Healthy Smiles”, focusing on the oral care for 2–6-year-olds. I also was awarded the Oral Health Promotion Research Group Bursary 2022 for my project “Keep Smiling, Think Before You Eat and Drink” which is designed to help reduce sugar consumption in in children by highlighting the amount of sugars within regularly consumed foods.

I worked in private practice for over 12 years, gaining a wealth of experience working in both general and periodontal dental clinics. However, very burnt and stressed out, I took a career break in 2020 to work for the National Ambulance Service. Oh, how I wished I’d of had a mentor then! In 2021 after working with a coach, my love for oral health promotion drew me back and I began working as a dental hygienist for the HSE where I work with both children and adults. And now my journey has moved on to mentoring.

Becoming a mentor had a huge draw for me as I feel it’s such a valuable thing to have a trusted peer to help guide and mentor you through your career, whether that’s when you are starting out, coming to the end of your career or struggling with the stresses and problems that can come with this profession.

So what to expect from our sessions? Drawing from my experience, my mentoring style revolves around inspiration, confidence building and guiding you to identify and achieve your goals. 1 to 1 confidential and non-judgmental sessions, to support you to achieve your goals and ways to grow professionally.

I am a dental hygienist currently working between three private practices in Carrick on Shannon, Sligo and Athlone. I qualified from Trinity College Dublin in 2020, and I’ve gained experience working both in Dublin and the west of Ireland. I acted as class representative for my final year.

I thoroughly enjoy working in private practice due to the wide variety of treatment provided. I also choose to split my days between practices to gain as much experience as possible in different fields of dentistry. I work alongside orthodontics and implantology.

In 2023, I received the honour of Kin Dental Hygienist of the Year, for which I produced a leaflet on menopause and oral health. A topic I am both very passionate about and encourage professionals to talk about more freely with patients.

I strongly believe working alongside other hygienists in a field so small can really benefit new graduates and old due to our extensive knowledge in the field of dentistry. As hygienists, we really appreciate the small improvements in patients, and we all have a different perspective to bring to oral hygiene for the better. I am delighted to have gained an in-depth insight to mentoring through this course and I look forward to using my skills to aid others professionals in my field.

Since first joining the Dental community, as a trainee Dental nurse, in 1996, I have had the pleasure of watching the Dental profession evolve and grow. I graduated as a Dental Hygienist from UCC in 2001, and have worked in many general, private practices around Ireland since.

After settling in Wexford in 2007, I now work full time while raising my two daughters. It’s a busy life as I try and navigate through work/ family life balance, but worthwhile. Completing the Certificate in Mentoring in Dentistry has allowed me to challenge myself and expand my skillset to assist others. I have also gained post grads in Oral Health Promotion from NUIG, Tutoring from SETU and Extended Duties from UDH Cardiff and DDSH. Each course has helped me further develop my perspective and knowledge. In 2021, I was named Kin Dental Hygienist of the year after creating a patient information leaflet on Stress and Oral Health, much to my surprise! I have experienced peaks and troughs throughout my career and would have greatly benefited from a mentor at different points. Support is so important due to the specialised and potentially isolating nature of Dental Hygiene work. I have always found the Irish Dental Hygienist Association to be a constant pillar, whether for further education or advice, and as a past committee member, it allowed me to meet some special colleagues along the way. The addition of mentors to the Association can only improve and enhance Dental Hygiene in Ireland. When I am not working you will find me with my kids, my dog, somewhere outdoors or on the side of a GAA pitch. I would describe myself as open, empathetic, calm, considerate and organised, and my style of mentoring is a refection of that.

I am a dental hygienist working in private practice in Co Dublin. I qualified from Trinity College Dublin in 2006 with the Gold Medal Award. I have worked in private practice in Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford. I am really interested in oral hygiene instruction and its delivery and really promoting oral health as whole health.

I had never heard of a dental hygienist when I was filling out my CAO. After a disappointing Leaving Cert I spent 5 years working in various admin jobs and finally landed in a medical and dental practice. I always knew I wanted to go to college, but I never knew exactly what I wanted to do. This bit of exposure to dentistry inspired me to return to school and repeat my leaving certificate aged 23! I haven’t looked back since. I absolutely loved studying dental hygiene. I love that the core of what we do is prevention. We hold a unique position in healthcare.

On qualifying in 2006 I was surprised at how we are just thrown into the workplace. It was daunting and at times overwhelming. I found dental hygiene to be somewhat isolating, lonely and challenging.

I joined the IDHA and covered areas like employment, journal editor etc., but found what I loved best was the roles of European and International federation rep. Being part of this global community really changed my perspective of dental hygiene. It challenged me and motivated me to work differently. I was so fortunate to work on IDHA committees with incredibly committed and passionate dental hygienists. In many ways the IDHA committees that I volunteered on were my mentors! These women cared so much, and it was so inspiring. Having that network to draw on, to run things by was invaluable.

I absolutely adore my work and love being a dental hygienist. I feel really passionate about the care we give, how we are viewed withing the dental team and how our profession is perceived.

When the opportunity to study mentoring and coaching became available, it was a no brainer for me. Everyone will at some point come across an issue, problem or situation that perhaps they find they can’t figure it out. Being an IDHA mentor means you now have a go to to aid you! MY mentoring style is very much based around problem solving and allowing you, the mentee to grow in confidence and find solutions. Session are 1 to 1, completely confidential and non-judgemental.

My name is Seren Truter and I am a registered dental hygienist working in a specialist referral practice in county Kerry. Our focus is mainly periodontics and implant dentistry. I am also trained and practising in facial aesthetics. I am a mother of 2 young boys, so have lots of experience juggling childcare and work!

I am actually not a ‘real’ hygienist; I graduated and qualified as a dental therapist in South Africa in 2016. I have been working in Ireland under the category of a dental hygienist for the last 4 years now and have been loving it. Some people can’t believe that I have given up my restorative scope to focus on purely perio and oral health promotion. This is where I currently feel able to make the most difference and improve my skillset. I am hopeful that dental therapy becomes legislated for in Ireland and am currently a volunteer on the sub-committee for the IDHA. I was a finalist in the KIN 2023 Dental Hygienist of the Year competition based on my leaflet called Your Dry Mouth Matters.

I am passionate about my work and have high clinical standards which I love to transfer to those who show interest and passion. I have had a few patient mentors who have guided me and moulded me into the clinician I am today. And I am still learning!

What you can expect from my mentoring sessions is a caring and engaging manner, where we focus on your goals, and how you would like to achieve them.

I’ve been navigating the world of dentistry since 1993. The politics in practice, the varied personalities, and those wonderful but challenging patients that we all encounter. I believe that we all naturally mentor each other in dentistry, and while this generally comes from a good place, how we do this is key. We need to ask ourselves are we always giving good advice, and taking advice, that will work in out best interests. Having completed the mentoring programme we now have this incredible tool that is here to work for us as a profession.

I can say that I have had my fair share of good and bad days on practice. There are so many times I have looked back and thought how I wished I had dealt with a situation better, or challenged an unfair decision, but how to do this is the skill. Mentoring has given me the skills to advocate for myself in a positive way. We may not always get the outcome we want but we are starting from a place where we feel empowered. I look forward to sharing those skills. If you need someone to listen, or empathise or guide you to your goals, in a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space.

My introduction to healthcare began in a nursing home working as a nurse’s aide in 6th year. The one thing that always stood out was the poor care given to the residents’ oral hygiene, and how grateful they were when I brushed their teeth or handed them a freshly washed denture. This is where my passion for oral healthcare began and my journey to becoming a dental hygienist started.

I graduated from the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1999 with a dual qualification in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy. From there I went to work in industrial dentistry at the Bank of England, Southwest London NHS Trust at Roehampton and Kingston Hospitals Department of Maxillofacial, Oncology and Orthodontics. Currently I am working in orthodontics and general practice in Dublin. Having completed the mentoring programme this year it has spurred me on to further education in the form of a Postgraduate Diploma.