Why training new Dental Assistants is one of Kristy’s greatest passions

When Kristy’s sister-in-law told her that the dental clinic she worked at was looking for a sterilisation nurse, she had no idea it would blossom into a fulfilling fifteen-year-long career, ‘I have never looked back!’ she says.

‘I’ve worked in all roles - sterilisation nurse, dental assistant, receptionist, treatment coordinator, trainer and practice manager. I love the variety of the industry; it provides so many opportunities for career development.’

Since starting out in her first Dental Assisting role, she has amassed a range of qualifications from Certificates III and IV in Dental Assisting, to a Diploma in Practice Management and a Graduate Certificate in Management, giving her a huge oversight over all processes in a dental clinic.

But in those fifteen years, it’s not just qualifications she’s achieved –  it’s also versatile skills that she uses in all areas of life. Kristy explains that since working in dental, she’s had to become more adaptable, compassionate and understanding, and develop some top-notch time management skills to keep up in the fast-paced industry.

‘Treatments can change mid-appointment; we need to think on our feet and adapt to the situation. We need to act quickly, prioritise tasks and multitask to ensure that we provide a great service to our patients.’

Kristy has also built up a strong sense of empathy through working with patients who may have phobias of the dental clinic.

‘Just because we love the industry, it doesn’t mean our patients do! We have to be understanding of dental triggers and phobias and nurture our patients through these,’ she explains.

But it’s a part of the job that she finds highly rewarding, especially when she sees how far a patient can progress emotionally in order to achieve great dental health.

‘I love the feeling of seeing a patient that had a major dental phobia be able to calmly attend an appointment. It is one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of the job.'

It may then come as no surprise that what she loves most about working in dental is the moving results and transformations of her patients. Especially because dental health allows people to express their happiness with a confident smile. 

‘I also love seeing people’s self-confidence grow after orthodontic treatment or other treatment to create a new smile. Witnessing that change is amazing. A smile says a thousand words!’

Kristy’s experience in Training and Assessing 

Another aspect of the job where Kristy found fulfilment was guiding new staff through their learning curves – and this ended up being just the thing to steer her career onto a new and exciting course.

‘From early on in my career, I started training new staff, and this has become one of my greatest passions,’ she explains ‘I love creating training resources, practically training staff and watching them develop into capable and competent team members. It is probably the most rewarding thing for me, hence the decision to become a trainer and assessor.’

She has now joined us at Foundation Education as a Dental Trainer and Assessor, and we are delighted to have her on our team. Kristy is looking forward to using the skills she learned in her fifteen years on the ground to inspire, educate and support students who are at the beginning of their dental industry journeys, and who may be encountering some dental concepts for the first time ever.

‘I can put myself in the students’ shoes… I have supported students through coursework at a practice level, so I know how to adapt explanations to different students.’ she says.

‘When a student calls because they don’t understand something and by the end of the conversation they can now comprehend the information or question. That is a rewarding feeling.’

In her experience, part of supporting students is ensuring that she pays special attention to every student’s unique needs, not using a one-size-fits-all approach to her mentoring.

‘I think the most important part of our role is ensuring that our students are supported in a way that best suits them, and that will be different for everyone,’ she says. ‘It might be having a chat about career opportunities within the industry or helping a student find placement or working through multiple questions over a coaching call.’

As someone with several qualifications of her own, Kristy might be one of the best people to ask when it comes to the value of getting qualified in Dental Assisting. According to her, a nationally recognised qualification ‘ensures that you have a theoretical understanding of the practical tasks you complete every day and generally you can be paid higher.’

It’s not just a short-term solution, either, as she explains that it can open up the doors to futures you may never have considered. ‘It’s a pathway to higher education such as university, and you will learn new things that you can put into practice.’

After seeing what it’s like to work with us, Kristy also describes a huge range of the benefits of getting that qualification with Foundation Education – including our multiple support options, our industry partnerships (which create better opportunities for students) and a team of ‘people that are passionate about the industry and supporting the students’, just to name a few.

Kristy’s closing words for anyone still on the fence about getting qualified in Dental?

‘Do it, you won’t regret it! The opportunities that stem from continued education are endless.’

Is an education in Dental Assisting the key to your future? Find out by exploring our range of Dental Assisting courses here, or chat with a friendly Careers Advisor today.

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