What motivates you to keep going?

As part of National Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist Day, we hear what keeps people motivated to keep going.

Katie Cassidy, O’Brien and Molloy Periodontics

As a dental hygienist, what motivates me is the opportunity to make a positive impact on my patients’ oral health and overall wellbeing. I find fulfilment in educating them about proper dental care and seeing the improvement in their smiles and confidence.

Building strong relationships with patients and contributing to their health journey keeps me passionate about my work. Knowing that I play a crucial role in preventing dental issues and promoting a healthy lifestyle is incredibly rewarding.

Rosario Costello, 3Dental Limerick

I have been working as a qualified registered dental hygienist for 19 years and I love my profession. What motivates me to keep going as a dental hygienist is my patients. I am a people person and a hands-on worker who enjoys making a difference in a person’s life in relation to their oral hygiene journey.

I find helping others to improve their oral hygiene and making a difference in their health and happiness incredibly rewarding. Just seeing their bright smile and delight in their eyes after an oral hygiene appointment with me fills me with a sense of accomplishment.

CPD is key as it helps keep me informed, focused and up to date. I have an incredible team of colleagues at 3Dental Limerick and I look forward to meeting them every day. Feeling appreciation and recognition from my employers, colleagues and patients keeps me motivated to. I would encourage anyone thinking of studying dental hygiene to pursue it without hesitation as it has and still is an amazing, fulfilling career for me.

Claire O’Grady, Alexandra Dental Claremorris

I’m motivated to be a dental hygienist because I’m passionate about helping patients embrace positive change and improve their oral health. By creating an empathic, non-judgmental space, I build trust and encourage open conversations about their needs.

Many patients have faced challenges in their lives due to oral health issues, and my role is to support them with compassion, meet them where they are, and restore their confidence. I believe that by offering understanding and care, I can inspire lasting, positive change in their lives and overall wellbeing.

Eimear Mithen, Slievemore Dental

I am lucky to absolutely love my job. I thrive on the challenges dental hygiene presents, and changing attitudes and behaviours is exciting. Using products like Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) have been instrumental in keeping me motivated. It allows me to educate patients and bring them on that journey to achieve and then maintain health.

We are in an era where oral health is being linked to whole health and patients want to stay healthy. Working with my patients, not just cleaning their teeth, is what motivates me most. Also, seeing other dental hygienists that I admire keeps me motivated to always want to do better, to work harder and always be committed to my patient’s care.

Rachel Owens, Paste Dental Belfast

My motivation to keep going each day as a dental hygienist comes from the satisfaction of seeing improvements in my patients’ oral health. Witnessing a patient’s smile transform is incredibly rewarding to me and the reason I love what I do.

I thoroughly enjoy educating and empowering individuals to take control of their own dental hygiene, and seeing their confidence grow with each appointment. I love working collaboratively with all the dental team to ensure the best possible outcomes for every patient.

The IDHA (Irish Dental Hygienist’s Association) strives to promote the study of oral health and provide opportunities for post-qualification education. Click here to join the community.