Get To Know Our Dentists – Part 2 of 5
People often ask me how I knew that I wanted to become a dentist. The answer really is very simple— I fell and broke my two front teeth when I was 10/11 years old. This resulted in multiple visits over the years to a number of different dentists, the majority of whom were really kind to me. To this day, I require regular dental treatment to monitor these teeth, and to best maintain their compromised health.
As a dental student in University College Cork, I very much enjoyed my studies and college life (perhaps a little too much of the latter in the early days), and was very focused on my clinical work and my studies in the last couple of years, when we began our clinical work on real living patients! This was what dentistry was all about, and I loved it, and still do thankfully.
Immediately after graduation, I and pretty much all of my dental classmates moved to the UK to begin working in general dental practices. Having worked there for approximately 7 years, and gaining invaluable experience, I decided to return to Ireland. I set up the practice in 2001, and was joined by Nick as a partner in 2004, and we formed Portobello Dental Clinic together. We both shared the same aims and vision to provide high quality, painless and affordable dentistry in a great environment for both patients and the team.
Of course my days at UCC were really only the beginning of my dental education…. I have learned so much more since then, and am still studying. Besides multiple and varied courses and conferences, and further training in advanced adhesive cosmetic dentistry, I completed a Post Grad Diploma in Conscious Sedation at Trinity College Dublin (very beneficial for nervous/anxious patients, of whom there are lots), and more recently a Masters in Clinical Dentistry at TCD (all aspects of general dentistry taken to a higher level).
Currently, I am upgrading my skills and studying for a Level 7 qualification in Aesthetic Uses of Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers (Botox and Fillers), having previously trained in this area in 2008, and hope to be able to offer this service to our patients (over 30 years of age) at Portobello Dental Clinic over the next few months.
I feel very fortunate to have no regrets about my decision aged 17 to study dentistry, I still really enjoy the variety of general practice, and feel very privileged to be in a position where I can restore someone’s confidence in their smile on one level, via cosmetic dentistry, and yet be able to provide necessary dental pain relief on another.
Outside of work and study, I love to keep fit and attend Pilates classes and jog 5 km twice weekly. I am also married, and a mother to two girls aged 8 and 10, who keep me very active. At home, I also fill the roles of “Laundry Fairy” , “Fridge Filler”, “Cook”, and “Play-date organiser/personal assistant to the children”; all essential and very valuable roles in the running of a home.
Now, gotta dash and pick my ruling ladies up from school……
