I'm a dental nurse AMA.

[IAmADNAMA]

Probably a boring one but anything anyone ever wanted to know?

[YerAWizardHarry]

@IAmADNAMA I worked in a dental hospital/school so got to see some really cool stuff! Lots of restorative dentisty including implants.

I really enjoyed multi department treatment plans especially if it was obviously making a huge difference to the patients life! Nothing like seeing someone get their braces removed after YEARSSS of surgeries/treatments etc

I left dentistry to train to become a teacher I do miss it sometimes but it wasn't my calling if you see what I mean

[IAmADNAMA]

[quote YerAWizardHarry]@IAmADNAMA I worked in a dental hospital/school so got to see some really cool stuff! Lots of restorative dentisty including implants.

I really enjoyed multi department treatment plans especially if it was obviously making a huge difference to the patients life! Nothing like seeing someone get their braces removed after YEARSSS of surgeries/treatments etc

I left dentistry to train to become a teacher I do miss it sometimes but it wasn't my calling if you see what I mean[/quote]
Oh I bet that was exciting and you saw all sorts!
Yes I think it's a job you have to really love to be able to stick it out.
Patients confidence after a treatment or procedure is why I love doing what I do.
We're not an orthodontist so have only ever done Invisalign but love the patients reactions from the results. They're like a whole new person. Love it.

[BenchHench]

@IAmADNAMA

Probably a boring one but anything anyone ever wanted to know?

How long does it take to train, how much do you get paid and what are the progression opportunities?

[YerAWizardHarry]

@IAmADNAMA We had nurses who just did ortho all the time, didn't want to do any invasive treatments for some reason. I enjoyed certain aspects of it but it can be very repepitive! Definitely a love/hate speciality I think.

[PriceEmUp]

How much do you earn? And in what part of the world?

[YerAWizardHarry]

@BenchHench @PriceEmUp I was NHS Band 4 as a qualified dental nurse but I was actually employed by the NHS rather than working in a practise that carried out NHS treatment

[IAmADNAMA]

Bench
To be just a 'standard' dental nurse it's a two year college course. A very intense one at that. I did night lessons after work. Exams are very hard to pass and if you do not pass them you cannot become a nurse. New rules come in that you can only sit the test 3 times with City & Guilds. If you did not pass after that amount of times you are seen as not competent enough.

When I worked in a corporate company I was on a rubbish wage. About £9 an hour. Now on £14 an hour with potential to earn higher every 6 months.

There is a lot of progression to be made if you want to. You can train for things on the side for example radiography so you can be qualified in taking the X-rays yourself. The more qualifications you have along side your standard nursing qualification the higher your pay PH should be.

[grassisjeweled]

@IAmADNAMA

Thanks

(I never floss!)

[IAmADNAMA]

@PriceEmUp

How much do you earn? And in what part of the world?

UK and £14 ph at the moment.

[IAmADNAMA]

[quote grassisjeweled]@IAmADNAMA

Thanks

(I never floss!)[/quote]
Better late than never I say! Once you get into the habit it gets easier then you wonder why you never did it before.

[PriceEmUp]

Sorry I mean which part of the UK?

I’ve just handed in my notice and am coming away from DN I live rurual and nowhere around here pays very well. I was 9.50ph, paid for my own CPD, indemnity and registration. Pay rises are like getting blood out of a stone and didn’t happen.
Plus, dentist get so angry it makes the entire place so stressful to work for.

I loved patients and patient care though. Implants we’re my favourite.. anything surgical.

You know what I hated the most? The stigma and fear around RCT. People would rather have teeth taken out than even try RCT because of a story they heard.

[IAmADNAMA]

@PriceEmUp

Sorry I mean which part of the UK?

I’ve just handed in my notice and am coming away from DN I live rurual and nowhere around here pays very well. I was 9.50ph, paid for my own CPD, indemnity and registration. Pay rises are like getting blood out of a stone and didn’t happen.
Plus, dentist get so angry it makes the entire place so stressful to work for.

I loved patients and patient care though. Implants we’re my favourite.. anything surgical.

You know what I hated the most? The stigma and fear around RCT. People would rather have teeth taken out than even try RCT because of a story they heard.

Did you work for a corporate company? Based in Hampshire.
Oh no. Sorry you've had a hard time with some of them.
I've been fortunate enough to only come across one rude dentist who I refused to work with. All the others have been lovely and we've formed a special bond.

Oh I don't like this either. It's always a story they've heard but once they've had it done they wish they had it done sooner!

[PriceEmUp]

No I worked for a small private, specialist practice.
The dentistry was second to none, the patients were great. The other staff were hit and miss.

[ginandgingers92]

Are home whitening kits effective, and if so, which would you recommend? :)

[IAmADNAMA]

@PriceEmUp

No I worked for a small private, specialist practice.
The dentistry was second to none, the patients were great. The other staff were hit and miss.

That's a shame the pay was so poor for a small private practice.

[IAmADNAMA]

@ginandgingers92

Are home whitening kits effective, and if so, which would you recommend? :)

Yes they are effective if done correctly. I personally like the Philips Zoom you can either have day or night whitening.

[Mummyoply]

What is your opinion about Smile Direct Aligners?

[MeganSparkle]

Do you recommend waterpik’s or air flosser’s?

[mammmamia]

Ooh OP I can’t imagine why you thought this would be boring. I find the dentist an absolutely mystery and would love to know more

Do you think the Waterpik is as good as actually flossing, or Tepes?

[IAmADNAMA]

@Mummyoply

What is your opinion about Smile Direct Aligners?

Never know anyone to use smile direct. We do Invisalign and see great results from them. Not everyone is eligible for Invisalign so I assume it's the same for smile direct aligners.

[IAmADNAMA]

@MeganSparkle

Do you recommend waterpik’s or air flosser’s?

Both in all honesty.
I prefer the water flosser as I feel it cleans the area a little with the water and doesn't just shoot it to another part of your mouth.

[IAmADNAMA]

@mammmamia

Ooh OP I can’t imagine why you thought this would be boring. I find the dentist an absolutely mystery and would love to know more

Do you think the Waterpik is as good as actually flossing, or Tepes?

.
They are as good as it's the pressure that comes out at the same time. Sometimes I do just prefer to use a tepe as I'm messy with my water flosser!

[Sparklingbrook]

I love my water flosser but my dentist says also use the dental tape and the Tepe brushes too. Plus mouthwash, but not straight after brushing.

Do you think that's all a bit much?

[Nets888]

@IAmADNAMA, what causes a niggling toothache (not actually a toothache but a niggling discomfort) if x-ray is cleared?

I've this niggling discomfort in my lower right first molar since September after having my teeth clean. This particular molar is higher than the rest of the molar and the gum has receded. Can this contribute to this discomfort? It's hard to describe but the sensation I'm feeling is weird. This sensation has now moved to my lower right front teeth.

The x-ray was taken around six weeks since this discomfort started so if there is an infection it would have showed up by then?

[skira]

I read that calculus happens after about 72 hours and can only be rid of by a hygiene appointment but you are recommended to go for hygiene appointment every six months so how long can you have calculus before it becomes a real problem. I have some really difficult areas that only the hygienist seems able to get to that get calculus.