Is there still sexism in dental technology?

‘We can’t change how people view us, but we can change our attitude towards it’: Nina Frketin discusses the attitude towards women in dental technology, including the challenges she has faced and the changes she believes need to happen.

Please introduce yourself

My name is Nina and I am a Croatian dental technician working at Mango Dental Laboratories who has lived and worked in the UK for the past 12 years.

Throughout my career, the training I have undertaken has covered all types of restorations. But my original love for dentures and implant work has never left me, and even today I am continuing to improve my ability to create life-like restorations using composites.

I am a lecturer, a mentor, an international speaker, a KOL, a published author, official Dental Technicians Guild (DTG) member and an all-round tooth enthusiast.

How did you enter the dental technology profession?

Growing up, my dream was to become a children’s book illustrator. I had my sights set on studying at the art college in Venice, but my parents weren’t convinced by my decision.

They concocted a plan for me to go and visit a lab, to see if i would like to dedicate my artistic skills to a more practical vocation, which ultimately would still work towards my main goal of making people happy.

As it turned out, after a week in the lab, I had fallen hopelessly in love with this profession. I have to thank my parents for their guidance since, as is so often the case. They knew 14 year old me better then I knew myself.

Do you feel women are equal in the profession and why?

A few years ago I would have said a firm ‘no’ in response to this question due to a number of reasons.

For me, the biggest of these was that, as a female technician, I felt that we were more prone to perfection. We are still highly self critical because, in order to feel fully validated in a previously male-dominated industry, we push ourselves to work harder and produce results that stand out in order to be taken seriously.

Even now, our impostor syndrome can be quite loud in our heads. We tend to diminish our worth, feeling like nothing is quite good enough, or needs that ‘little bit more’.

And unfortunately, there is still a touch of toxic masculinity that is alive in our industry.

What has your experience been as a woman in dental technology? What challenges have you had?

I feel as though I could write a book in response to this question. When I was 14 and I was getting ready for my admission test for the dental technology school, one of my teachers at the time told me: ‘You are never going to be able to do this, you’d better have a plan B.’

At the very start of my professional career, the advice given to me by one of my mentors was: ‘Go and clean apartments, that’s the only thing you are good for.’ When I was moving to England, one of my dentists stated that I will be ‘cleaning toilets’ here.

I have experienced countless incidents like the above in my career. Despite this, you have to remind yourself that, no matter what others say or think, above all you have to keep to your own course.

The best way to counter pieces of ‘advice’ like these is to firstly not let them phase you. Ensure that you take pride in your work – let your results and reputation be the loudest response to your critics.

Determination, courage, and hard work are the key tools that can take you anywhere. Become so skilled that your talent can’t be dismissed. Although, of course, a pinch of sass is always useful too.

What change have you noticed in attitudes to women in dentistry throughout your career?

The good news is that there has definitely been a noticeable shift in the industry in the last few years. Female technicians are starting to find their voices and become fearless! We do not want to be ‘tokens’ or novelties anymore. We want to be equal to our male peers.

What makes me incredibly happy is when we increasingly see that we have their support. There is so much talent out there, and as a big supporter of female technicians, it makes me proud to see women in our industry realising how badass they are and paving the roads for the next generation.

What do you think needs to change in order to make the profession more equal?

Our attitude to the status we hold in the industry. We need to recognise that we are not powerless.

I understand that we are not all lucky enough to work in a nurturing environment, but there are always things you can do to help yourself. Start by finding your people, surround yourself by technicians that inspire you and from whom you can learn. Social media is the place to be!

We all had to start somewhere, so be brave! You need to believe in yourself and your capabilities. Nobody else will do that for you.

Once you give yourself a chance, magical things will happen. We can’t change how people view us, but we can change our attitude towards it.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Because of my strong beliefs, I am starting a group called Nightshift which will aim to elevate and celebrate female technicians.

As a part of this journey I have recruited three like-minded, amazing technicians to help accomplish this goal: Deepa Barakhda, Emily Pittard and Eleanor Pittard.

Our manifesto is to:

Put the spotlight on amazing, female dental techs
Celebrate and normalise female dental technicians as leaders and educators in the industry
Connect women working in dental laboratories with their peers and build a strong sense of community and mentorship among them.

I truly believe you need to be the change you want to see, so I would like to use this opportunity to ask my peers to support this initiative by sharing, liking and talking about it!

Keen to get involved in our Future of Dentistry campaign? We are looking for contributors! Email [email protected] to get involved.