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Amber Ojak talks about her decision to not have children and why it’s an important topic for people inside and outside of dentistry to discuss. Choosing to live child-free – do you think it is an important topic that should be discussed? I think it’s a very important topic. There are so many pressures on…
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We hear from Amber Ojak as she tries Fluorodose from Centrix and lets us know what her patients thought of the product. Did you know of Centrix and/or used a Centrix product before? Which products have you used? Are you still using them? No I had never heard of Centrix before, so I was quite…
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Dental hygienist Amber Ojak shares how she set up an Instagram page for food lovers and discusses the incredible opportunities it has given her. How did you first get on the food scene? I have always been a massive foodie! I think it comes from my mum as she was a patisserie chef many years…
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After the BBC reported that eight in 10 NHS practices aren’t taking on new children for treatment, Amber Ojak discusses the importance of schools adding oral health to their curriculum. This week, the news has reported some statistics about the critical state that NHS dentistry is in, especially for children. BBC news reported that one…
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This month Amber Ojak discusses how dental therapists and hygienists play a crucial role in the wider setting of healthcare, such as spotting skin lesions and oral cancer. Recently it has been highlighted how having full access to patient medical records could improve patient outcomes and their safety resulting from our dental treatment. The number…
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This month for Oral Health Highlights, Amber Ojak discusses the true potential of dental therapists and how they can help resolve the dental crisis. Recently I have seen many people talk about the dental ‘crisis’. There have been many articles published on how multiple NHS dental practices are closed to new routine patients. I actually…
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Amber Ojak gives some simple tips to give patients so they can maintain a good oral health routine whilst on holiday. Now that restrictions have eased and we are able to get on a plane once more, the typical holiday phrases are popping up again. The common: ‘I didn’t take my electric toothbrush’ or ‘I…
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Amber Ojak explains why it’s so important to remind patients about not forgetting to clean their tongue during their oral health regime. Over the last few years, I have noticed that patients always talk about their teeth, gums, oral health and their lips when they come to see me for appointments. One key part of…
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Amber Ojak reflects on the crisis facing those living in Ukraine and explains how the dental community is helping in the UK. This month’s column was going to cover how we can utilise dental therapists in practice. But I don’t think any of us can really take our eyes off what is currently happening in…
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Amber Ojak explores patient perceptions of hygiene appointments and how they may need educating on their own oral hygiene routine. Recently I have become increasingly aware of patients coming into the surgery and saying they have: ‘A lot of build-up, purely because they haven’t been’ (for an appointment), due to the Covid pandemic. I am…
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Amber Ojak launches her new series – Oral Health Highlights. In her opening column she reflects on 2021 and predicts what 2022 might hold. As we come into 2022, it’s worthwhile taking a step back and looking at the last 12 months. I will admit I did not think we would reach another new year…
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After experiencing burnout herself, Amber Ojak details the methods she uses to help recover and move forwards. Many of us in the dental sector recently have been discussing burnout. Whether we have experienced this ourselves, or known others who have. Last year was one hell of a year. And with the back log of patients…
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After noticing a rise in ‘mask mouth’ due to the pandemic, Amber Ojak provides her top seven tips for managing halitosis. Ever since the introduction of wearing face masks due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, I have found a lot more of my patients have been noticing that they may have halitosis. Over the last…
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Amber Ojak explores what has changed over the last 15 months and how dentistry can combat the long waiting lists for treatment. It has now been 15 months since the start of the pandemic. As a dental care professional, it really has taken me a while to reflect on what’s happened. We were all faced…
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Amber Ojak reveals how it felt to win at the Dentistry Awards and Oral Health Awards last year. The year 2020 was certainly full of low points but winning two awards was definitely the highlight of my year. Being awarded Highly Commended Best Recently-Qualified Therapist at the 2020 Oral Health Awards as well as Best…
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Dentistry should utilise the full capabilities of dental therapists to resolve the dental crisis, Amber Ojak says. Recently I have noticed an increase in focus on the impact Brexit may have on the dental sector. At the end of 2017, 16.3% of dentists registered in the UK were from the European Economic Area. Yet the…
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Amber Ojak speaks to us about winning at the Oral Health Awards, what it means to her and what her next steps are after winning the award. How does it feel to have won an award? It feels very overwhelming, but I am so proud of myself too. I never would have imagined winning an…
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Amber Ojak and Christie Lawton discuss their ‘you are not alone’ social media movement and explain why dental professionals should discuss their mental health. We are sure we speak for most of dental care professionals when we say that 2021 was supposed to be a year that we would see a much-anticipated light at the…
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With many in dentistry back in the practice, Amber Ojak explains how the COVID-19 experience has changed the way hygienists and therapists treat patients. I can honestly say, it feels like we never had six months off. Yet I have never been happier to return to my profession. Even though it was a very productive…
