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RUTH AND BEN RUTH AND BEN MANSELL, HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO, MET WHEN THEY WERE STUDYING DENTISTRY AT UNIVERSITY IN WALES. AFTER LOOKING FOR AN IDYlLIC PLACE IN THE WORLD TO PULL UP STUMPS, THEY NOW ADORE PRACTISING DENTISTRY RIGHT HERE ON THE COFFS COAST.
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uth: Were did you meet your husband, fellow dentist, and what brought you both out to Australia - more importantly, Coffs Harbour? I met Ben at university in Cardiff, Wales, when we were both studying dentistry. After I qualified, I moved down to Devon, Ben’s home county and spent some time working as a general dentist. I then spent a year in a local hospital furthering my career and training by working alongside the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Ben had been back-packing around Australia before he went to university, and it was always his dream to come back out. We had only been married for six months when he convinced me to at least give it a go and see what happened. Ben sold me the idea of working in a small community on the east coast where the sun always shines and any spare time outside of work could be spent on the beach! We landed in Australia and a week later we headed straight to Coffs Harbour, where our dream was made a reality. I honestly did not expect to want to stay in Australia. We recently had to fly back to the UK to break the news to our families and pick up all our stuff. We love it! There are many advancements in modern medicine; what are you most amazed about in your chosen field? Yeah, there are some really amazing technological breakthroughs in the way we can image, diagnose, and treat different diseases. Leading the way in dentistry at the moment is the use of cone-beam or 3D imaging, soft tissue management using lasers, and different treatment outcome predictors. These things, however, do not excite me as much as the more refined advancements that
have an impact on what we are doing every single day. For example, the advancements of the dental filling materials, or the ability to give a painless injection and carry out pain free dentistry. These things have an impact on every single patient that walks through our door, so en: All the way from England for me, this is where I focus my attention. - why did you decide to In your spare time, where can we find study to become a dentist, you? What do you enjoy most about living and how are you finding livon the Coffs Coast? ing on the Coffs Coast? Since arriving in Coffs Harbour, I have learnt Back when I was finishing to surf and I love it. I still have a long way to school and looking at my career options, like a go, but any chance we get we will be out on lot of young people, I really didn’t know what one of the northern beaches. Failing that, I wanted to do. I made a list of all the things I we enjoy exploring the creeks in our kayaks, liked doing and was good at; I loved working or going for long walks around Dorrigo. The with my hands making things, I wanted to work Coffs Coast has so much to offer if with people, help people and my school you love the outdoors. We are subjects were all science based. both Christians and really I soon realised medicine was feel connected to the not for me and thought community through that dentistry would the good work of Life include all those things F IT IS A CA SE O House Church. I was looking for. After G ET TI N G TO What inspires you , spending some time TS EN TI K N OW YO U R PA EI R to continuously shadowing my own TH LI ST EN IN G TO TI N G help people? dentist and doing ET G D N N EE D S, A IO N That is what I AT some work experiIR SP IN E A LL TH love about dentistry; .” ence, I couldn't see EM TH M FRO you don’t have to go myself doing anything looking for inspiration. else. You never know what After I qualified, I spent you will be faced with a few years working in a hoswhen a patient walks through pital doing further training and the door. As a dentist we are not just then we came out to Coffs Harbour, treating a mouth, but treating a patient. Every and we just love it! The weather, the outdoor situation is so different. Everybody has their lifestyle, so many things to do in and around the own idea of what they want to achieve, with Coffs region, and the patients are great too. We different expectations of what can be done are blessed to have the opportunity to work and and different factors to take into account. It is live here, and we really feel part of the commua case of getting to know your patients, listennity now. ing to their needs, and getting all the inspiraWhat is the most satisfying thing about betion from them. ing a dentist?
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I find that those patients who are anxious and nervous often put off coming to a dentist until they can no longer tolerate the level of pain or discomfort. It is very rewarding gaining these patients’ trust and increasing their confidence in dentistry. It is so satisfying seeing a patient leave pain-free, with a newfound attitude to dentistry, and a better understanding of what is happening in their mouth. How important is going to the dentist? What if I don't show any symptoms of needing to see a dentist … Should I still go? Absolutely! With dentistry, the sooner we find a problem, the quicker and simpler it is to manage. How often you should visit a dentist is based on your risk of having a problem or tooth decay. Those who have a higher risk will be advised to attend a dentist more frequently until that risk is reduced, and then the visits can become less frequent. If you do not know your risk, then go and see a dentist and they can assess you and arrange what is appropriate for you. Early stages of tooth decay and gum disease are often asymptomatic, meaning a patient may not know if they have any problems. When found early, oral disease can usually be treated more simply and with more options available. What are some tips that can make our readers smile? Spit, don’t rinse! Brushing twice daily for 2 minutes with fluoridated toothpaste is our main weapon for fighting tooth decay. If we rinse our mouth with water after brushing, then we are washing away all of the good stuff. Thanks guys. Fresh Dental Care - Phone: 6651 1350. coffs coast focus 55