Stephanie Horner

Stephanie is a 43-year-old dental nurse at Creffield Lodge Dental Practice in Colchester. Stephanie is married to Darren, a Data Privacy Advisor.

How long have you worked in dentistry? 25 years

Why did you choose dentistry for your career? As a result of a work experience placement whilst undertaking a BTEC qualification in Health and Community Care.

Do you have any special responsibilities within your dental practice? I’m Decontamination lead.

What do you like best about your job? Having been at this practice for over 12 years I love seeing the familiar faces of my patients and catching up on their news and events as the months go by.

What is the most challenging part of your job? Keeping abreast of the constant changes in dentistry, especially with the introduction of the HTM 01-05 document and the involvement of the Care Quality Commission.

What are your outstanding ambitions? To return to the country of my birth, Singapore, for a visit and to gain my elusive gold club standard for a half marathon.

What do you like to do outside work? I am a member of a local running club, so I partake in many events for them: anything from 5k to full marathons. My favourite distance is a half marathon, 13.1 miles.

Tell us a secret. Oh gosh no, that would be telling!

What do you like about BDJ Team? It’s the only dental magazine I feel is truly devoted to dental nurses, so the contents are always relevant and interesting.

What three things could you not live without (besides people)? Hair straighteners, champagne and a sports bra!

Claire Rudman

Clare Rudman is a 43-year-old practice manager at The No8 Partnership in Sloane Square, Chelsea, and lives in Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire. Clare is married to Dave, a manager at Thames Water, and has two children: Jake, 22 and Grace, 16.

How long have you worked in dentistry? Ten years

Why did you choose dentistry for your career? My daughter was starting primary school and I was looking for something new and exciting to get into. I saw an advert for a dental receptionist and within weeks knew this was the job for me.

Do you have any special responsibilities within your dental practice? I am Practice Manager so my responsibilities range from organising the Christmas party to preparing for CQC inspections. You never know what the day may bring.

What do you like best about your job? Mentoring my team and seeing them grow in confidence and enthusiasm.

What is the most challenging part of your job? Communicating with my team. I need to use a variety of methods as I have 13 staff and they all work different hours.

What are your outstanding ambitions? Currently: having a huge influence on the success of my practice.

What do you like to do outside work? I love to go out with my friends, going to concerts and festivals.

Tell us a secret. I am a box set addict.

What do you like about BDJ Team ? The free CPD and informative articles.

What three things could you not live without (besides people)? Jacket potatoes, box sets, Prosecco.

Alison Crump

Alison is a 48-year-old practice manager at Longborough Dental Practice in Dorking, Surrey. Alison is married to James, a headteacher, and has three sons: Jacob, Dylan and Joseph.

How long have you worked in dentistry? On and off since 1984, practice manager since 1996 (following a job in the cosmetics industry as a buyer).

Why did you choose dentistry for your career? It’s in my blood: my father was a dentist.

Do you have any special responsibilities within your dental practice? As practice manager my responsibility is to my team and our patients.

What do you like best about your job? I am passionate about high quality customer service, above and beyond the call of duty. I like my team to be well equipped; our nurses are encouraged to take on extra CPD, all have radiography and impression taking certificates. One of our nurses recently completed the DNETC Certificate in Dental Implant Nursing with King’s College Hospital.

What is the most challenging part of your job? I love a challenge and inevitably every day will bring a new one; finding the best solution is what I enjoy. The variety of challenges a practice manager has to overcome is part of what makes the job so exciting.

What are your outstanding ambitions? I’d like to spend some time abroad doing voluntary work once my boys have flown the next.

What do you like to do outside work? Cooking with my husband at the weekend really helps me unwind.

Tell us a secret. I am an open book. I don’t have secrets!

What do you like about BDJ Team? The dental profession are a unique breed, we get excited about teeth: something that not many other people share. BDJ Team is one of the places we can share that passion with each other and learn in the process.

What three things could you not live without (besides people)? Sense of humour (essential), passion and lipstick!

Debbie Fenton

Debbie Fenton is a 51-year-old dental nurse at Fylde Dental Clinic in St Annes-on-sea. Debbie is married to Peter, a car mechanic.

How long have you worked in dentistry? 34 years

Why did you choose dentistry for your career? I always liked the dental nurse when I went to the dentist as a child and wanted to do the same job as she was always so nice and kind.

Do you have any special responsibilities within your dental practice? I have responsibility for all the clinical waste management in the practice.

What do you like best about your job? Looking after our older patients.

What is the most challenging part of your job? Dealing with the increasing amount of paperwork.

What are your outstanding ambitions? To write a book.

What do you like to do outside work? Read and bake.

Tell us a secret. I’ve always wanted a fur coat.

What do you like about BDJ Team? The interesting articles you publish.

What three things could you not live without (besides people)? My Louis Vuitton handbag, my Samsung tablet and my car.

Sheree Dunbar

Sheree is a 23-year-old dental nurse who works at Your Perfect Smile Dental Clinic in Grantown on Spey in the Scottish Highlands. Sheree is engaged to Kevin, a welder, and the couple have a four-month-old daughter called Mya Grace.

How long have you worked in dentistry? Two years and nine months. Currently on maternity leave and returning to work early next year.

Why did you choose dentistry for your career? Growing up I always wanted to work in a dental practice; I was back and forth to my local dentist whilst wearing braces and was fascinated by the way they worked.

Do you have any special responsibilities within your dental practice? We all have equal responsibilities within our team.

What do you like best about your job? I love every aspect of my job. The smile on our clients’ faces after their treatment is so nice to see.

What is the most challenging part of your job? It’s hard to answer that question as no two days in the practice and their challenges are the same. I would say I overcome challenges on a daily basis.

Do you have any outstanding ambitions? I have fulfilled my ambitions to become a dental nurse and become a mother.

What do you like to do outside work? I love spending time with my baby girl and my family and friends.

Tell us a secret. I get emotional far too easily when watching soppy scenes in TV programmes.

What do you like about BDJ Team? BDJ Team gives us advice and opinions of others within the dental industry.

What three things could you not live without (besides people)? My mobile phone - so many photos on there! Also I could not live without my car - I live in a small village with no shops and food. I could not live without food - I love it!