MEET THE
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at Newcastle University. I then went on to complete my Dental Therapy degree thereafter. I have completed multiple courses to expand my knowledge and skills since graduation, such as in chair tooth whitening, orthodontics including Invisalign, and treatment options for the anxious patient. Continuing education is an integral part of my career, to keep up with the the fast paced changes in dentistry. What is your one dental tip? To focus
Fresh Dental Care Susan Waldorf
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O R A L
H E A LT H
hat is your role at FDC? My role at Fresh Dental Care is an Oral Health Therapist. An Oral Health Therapist (OHT) is dually qualified as a Dental Therapist and Dental Hygienist. As a Dental Therapist, I provide a broad range of dental treatments for children up to 18 years, such as dental examinations, dental cleans, fillings, placement of deciduous crowns, and extracting deciduous (baby) teeth.
T H E R A PIST
As a Dental Hygienist, I treat people of all ages for preventative dental treatments, gum conditions and oral hygiene instruction. As an OHT, I educate and motivate people to maintain good oral health by providing relevant education and information, not only in the dental setting, but in the wider community - at schools, parent groups, play groups and residential care settings. What did you study? I graduated in 2012 after completing a Bachelor of Oral Health
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on prevention! It is the key to reducing dental problems. Regular routine visits at the dentist means that if there are changes, the concern can be addressed before it becomes problematic. What is it that you love about your job? I love the interaction with my patients. There is nothing more rewarding than a child skipping down the hallway for their routine dental visit. I absolutely love what I do!
Dr Sam Brothill DE N TI S T
hat is your role at FDC? We have a range of clinical staff at Fresh Dental Care, and I am one of the general dentists within the team. As a general dentist I offer a broad range of treatments, mainly catering to assisting patients in the general maintenance of their oral health. This may be things such as check-ups and fillings, to more complex treatments such as crowns, root canal treatments and extractions. I also treat nervous patients under nitrous oxide (laughing gas). What did you study? I studied a Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS). This is a five-year undergraduate degree which I took in 2009, at the University of Sheffield, in the UK. I have since also studied for and passed my membership exams to the Royal College of Surgeons UK. What is it that you love about your job? There are many aspects of my job that I love, from feeling a sense of satisfaction doing high
quality work, to building strong relationships with my patients. But one of the main things is being able to help people when they are in real need of help. Toothache can be severely painful, and patients may put up with it for a number of days before seeking help. Seeing the relief on people’s faces when you relieve their pain is very rewarding. I would also say another area of my job which I enjoy is treatment of nervous patients and helping people with deep anxieties about going to the dentist. When someone thanks you for making an uncomfortable experience, comfortable, this is very satisfying. What is your one dental tip? Don’t leave things too long before seeking help, and attend as regularly as you can. Nothing is worse than when teeth cannot be saved. There are many ways in which dentistry can be made more comfortable, so don’t delay!
Bulk billing CDBS available Family-friendly practice Extended opening hours Saturday availability
(Coffs Harbour & Macksville)
Children’s therapist
Grafton
Cnr Queen & Victoria Streets
6643 2225
Coffs Harbour
Suite 1, 252 Harbour Drive
6651 1350
freshdentalcare.com.au
Urunga
46 Bonville Street
6655 5800
Macksville
1 Princess Street
6568 1335
/freshdentalcare.com.au Coffs Coast focus 61