Posted in Posts
Cat Edney explores how mentorship shapes dental therapists’ growth, sharing insights from two professionals with diverse experiences. The journey of a dental therapist is rarely linear. It is shaped by unique experiences, professional challenges and the evolving role we play within modern dental teams. While some therapists find themselves in well-structured, supportive environments, others struggle…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney looks back on 20 years of Valentine’s Day patients, and the highs and lows of a relationship with dental therapy. As we started 2025, a realisation dawned on me. This year marks twenty years of seeing patients (I still had to double check this because I am sure I didn’t hit 30, and…
Posted in Posts
Introducing a therapy-led model requires a strategic plan – this month, Cat Edney shares how to make it as smooth as possible. Dental therapy has attracted significant attention in recent years as a potential solution to the increasing demands and operational costs associated with practice ownership. Despite its benefits, the widespread adoption of shared care…
Posted in Posts
With the GDC’s scope of practice review soon to be released, Cat Edney proposes how the scope of dental therapists could be modernised to align with the realities of 21st-century dentistry. The General Dental Council’s (GDC) scope of practice document is a cornerstone of UK dentistry, defining the clinical boundaries for dental professionals. However, since…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney shares five essential topics for conversations every dental therapist and practice owner should have before joining forces. Beginning a new working relationship can feel overwhelming, especially in a dental practice setting where both financial and time investments are high. For practice owners, the cost and commitment of recruitment adds significant pressure. Equally,…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney examines how the role of dental therapists has evolved in recent years and explores whether they might be the solution to fixing NHS dentistry. First we saw the NHS FP-17 form altered to allow dental therapists to undertake examinations, then in came the personal number for dental therapists to use for tracking these…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney shares 10 things you need to consider to successfully put dental therapy into practice and get your shared care team working like clockwork. With modern dental teams embracing shared care, the transition to a dental therapy led practice, or even that of just picking up a fast handpiece again, can be daunting for…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney explores how the role of dental therapists have evolved and their impact on modern dentistry. The role of dental therapy has been an ever evolving one, and we have seen much development in the last few years in terms of progression, integration and utilisation. In addition to changes in legislation, there have been…
Posted in Posts
Reflecting on the last few years, Cat Edney shares the lessons she has learned about the integration of dental therapy within the profession. I have been incredibly fortunate that my passion for putting dental therapy back into practice has led me to a whole host of wonderful events and organisations. Over the years I have…
Posted in Posts
Dental therapist Cat Edney explains the growing influence of powder therapy and how to choose the right powder for the job. From stain removal on natural teeth, restorations and orthodontics to essential long-term implant maintenance, powder therapy is heralding a new era of professional oral hygiene for dental hygienists and therapists. Powder therapy is a…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney explains why utilising dental therapists’ entire scope of practice is crucial and offers some advice for achieving it. I’m Cat Edney, a dental therapist and founder of The Modern Therapist, providing training for both dental therapists and their teams to enhance dental therapy and better utilise therapists in dental practices. My passion stems…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney explains what a therapy-led model looks like, how to implement it and the many benefits it will bring your practice. My memories of dentistry before I worked in the industry are of the standard 1980s style dentist. It was a lovely man, using the bottom floor of his house as a dental surgery. He…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney explains how dental teams can overcome barriers and bridge the gap to help put dental therapy into practice. When I created my training brand ‘The Modern Therapist’ it was with one goal – putting therapy into practice. However there have always been two aims in achieving this goal. Firstly, making therapists confident in their…
Posted in Posts
Cat Edney speaks to three dental therapists at different stages of their career to find out what they look for when searching for a new role and what would put them off applying. The dental landscape has been shifting for some time – where it was once nearly unheard of to utilise the skills of…
Posted in Posts
This month, Cat Edney explores the concept of the associate dental therapist and why she believes more therapists should adopt an associate mindset. What is an associate dental therapist? We have become very accustomed to viewing the majority of non-owner dentists as ‘associate dentists’. This is partly due to the nature of the role being…
Posted in Posts
This month, Cat Edney discusses the benefits of updating your personal development plan for 2024 and her tips for getting started. What better way to start the year than by setting some new goals? And what better way to do that than by updating your personal development plan? Creating a personal development plan (PDP) as…
Posted in Posts
This month, Cat Edney discusses how ‘the H30 life’ – the Green Mile – can impact patients, the practice and your personal wellbeing. The Green Mile – a term that shot to fame thanks to Stephen King’s book about death row, is also a term we are becoming familiar with in dental surgeries: otherwise known…
Posted in Posts
This month, Cat Edney explains how dental therapists can create a portfolio that showcases their skills and the type of work that interests them. The term portfolio has a varying range of definitions depending on your industry and also your understanding. In project management, it would be the group of projects you are overseeing. In…
Posted in Posts
This month, Cat Edney discusses the concept of confidence – how can practices encourage dental therapists to feel confident and colleagues to have confidence in them? There is an elephant in the room that I have found hard to ignore over the course of my year meeting with hundreds of dental professionals: confidence. Confidence in dental…
