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Sarah McKimm shares her advice with a dental nurse who is questioning whether she should be more ambitious in her career. The scenario I’ve been a dental nurse for more than a decade and I genuinely love what I do – supporting patients, keeping things running smoothly, and being part of a close-knit team. I…
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‘Sustainability isn’t only financial, it’s emotional’ – Sarah McKimm advises a practice owner on coping with financial strain in dentistry. The scenario I’ve been a dentist for more than a decade and a practice owner for a lot of that time. While I’ve always loved my profession, the financial pressures have become overwhelming in recent…
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Sarah McKimm shares her advice for setting clear professional boundaries and managing inappropriate behaviour from a colleague. The scenario I’m a dental hygienist working in a busy mixed practice, and I’ve found myself in a situation that’s becoming increasingly difficult to manage. One of the dentists I work alongside has started behaving in a way…
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Coming back to the dental practice after a long period of sick leave can be daunting – Sarah McKimm shares her advice for easing the transition back to work. The scenario I’m a dental nurse due to return to work in a couple of weeks after being off on extended sick leave, and honestly I’m…
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With techniques and technology evolving fast in dentistry, Sarah McKimm advises a reader on how to feel relevant and keep learning throughout their career. The scenario I’m a dentist with more than 20 years of experience in general practice. Lately, I’ve been feeling increasingly anxious about how much the profession is evolving – digital dentistry,…
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When burnout hits, asking for time off can seem daunting – Sarah McKimm shares why speaking up matters and how to do it without guilt. The scenario I’m a dentist in my early 50s working at a busy mixed practice four days a week. Lately, I’ve been feeling completely drained by the work, both mentally…
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This month, Sarah McKimm responds to a reader struggling with a patient complaint and offers practical steps to manage the mental toll. The scenario I’ve just received notification from the GDC that a patient has submitted a complaint about their orthodontic treatment. What’s frustrating is that the patient had voiced some concerns during one of…
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Sarah McKimm tackles the problem of workplace bullying, and reveals the steps she would take towards reclaiming control and resolution. The scenario I’ve been working at my dental practice as a hygienist for six months and I’ve been experiencing workplace bullying from a more senior colleague. It’s been going on for some time, and I…
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Sarah McKimm considers a case of imposter syndrome and how newly-qualified dental professionals can reframe their anxieties into positivity. The scenario I am a recent dental graduate and am six months into my first job as a foundation dentist. I was really excited to start but it’s proving really difficult, and I am constantly questioning…
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Sarah McKimm offers up her practical tips and coping strategies for dental professionals who may be struggling to control their alcohol use. The scenario I never thought I’d be in this situation, but I’m really struggling to control my drinking. I started noticing it in the lead-up to Christmas last year. At the time, I…
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Introducing our new columnist, Sarah McKimm, who will share her practical tips, professional insights and coping strategies. Hello and welcome to the very first edition of Chairside Chats! I’m Sarah – a qualified counsellor with more than 20 years of experience in the dental profession – and I’m here to offer a space where we…
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Sarah Mckimm discusses her journey from dental nurse to counsellor, the daily challenges that dental nurses face and her advice to those who are struggling. I’m Sarah, and I’m a qualified dental nurse registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and a counsellor qualified to degree level. I’m also a registered member of the British…
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