We are delighted to have chosen dental nurse Naeema Nalban as BDJ Team's first DCP of the month.

Naeema's entry to our competition, which was announced in the May issue of BDJ Team, was very impressive, so we would like to include it here:

I am a 25-year-old Oral Health Promoter with a sincere passion for oral health. I have been working within the Bradford District Care Trust for the best part of three years and provide a range of programmes which vary from speaking to other health professionals, delivering workshops and attending schools. Our aim is to reduce oral health inequalities in the Bradford District based around the evidence interventions; I plan, design and coordinate health promotion interventions. I do this by creating relevant resources that are underpinned by the Public Health England document: Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention.

Alongside my oral health role, I work as a dental nurse in Bradford which is part of the Unplanned Dental Care (UDC) service for patients who require emergency dental treatment during out of hours. We mainly provide temporary treatments which in most cases are extractions, temporary fillings and extirpation which need to be delivered in a fast paced work ethic as there is a high demand of patients waiting to be treated in a short time scale.

Alongside working within the dental environment, I have been driven in enhancing my knowledge within the field and have undertaken courses which include:

  • Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS)

  • Health Promotion/Public Health MSc Level 7 Certificate – Leeds Beckett University

  • Dietitians Food Nutrition programme for 0-5 years – St Luke's Hospital, Bradford

  • Recently completed a Level 2 NCFE certification for Awareness of Mental Health Problems.

I have also offered my free time to nurse for the DentAid charity who offer their services to treat patients who are not registered (recently featured on Channel 4 news). This has been such a valuable experience seeing patients appreciate what is presented within the clinic and providing robust treatment to relieve them of their dental pain. It has also been an honour to reach out to children within my hometown of Dewsbury by attending a nursery to help them understand the concept of oral health and the importance of looking after their teeth.

I am very enthusiastic and passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience with a wide audience. I believe it is important to embed the concept of oral health from a young age, discussing key messages with the community, as it is such a colossal benefit in driving them to better health and well-being.

We would like to thank Naeema for entering our competition and wish her all the best with her endeavours, and with improving Bradford's oral health! Naeema wins a Little Bear demonstration puppet, sponsored by the Oral Health Foundation.

DCP OF THE MONTH: SEPTEMBER: ENTRIES PLEASE!

The next issue of BDJ Team is published on 2 September 2016. If you would like to be considered as DCP of the month for September, email the Editor, Kate Quinlan, k.quinlan@nature.com by 2 August 2016. All entries must include a photo.

The Little Bear and a range of other demonstration products, models and downloads can be purchased from the Oral Health Foundation shop at https://www.educatingsmiles.org/.