‘I believe my passion is infectious'

Dental therapist Gemma Cowen, 41, describes herself as a ‘dental therapist with a passion to educate and motivate you so you can BOSS YOUR ORAL HEALTH'.

I live in Manchester, my hometown. I wake up at 6.30 am and have granola and yoghurt for breakfast, or I'm running on caffeine. I have been married for 18 years and have two children, Evie, 16 and Jesse, 12.

I work in various practices as a dental therapist: Timperley Village Dental Practice, Lume Dental in Wilmslow, Pro Hygienist (a dental therapist-led practice) in Didsbury and The Old Surgery Dental Practice Crewe. I drive to work which is between 15 and 40 miles away from where I live, depending on which practice I'm heading to.

I work Monday to Friday and occasional Saturdays; 8.30 am until 5.30 pm or 1.30-7 pm on Thursdays.

At the start of the week I carry out a mixture of treatments using my full scope of practice: paediatric and adult checks, restoration and private hygiene treatments. Tuesday is mainly GBT [Guided Biofilm Therapy] through Direct Access and then Wednesdays to Fridays I'm providing dental hygiene only. On Wednesdays and Thursdays post clinic I have sporting commitments with my children.

Leaving the Army

When I first left school, I was considering the aviation industry, but after a residential look at Army life, I opted to enlist with HM Forces.

Editor's note: We first heard from Gemma in BDJ Team in 2020 when she was a first year student at UCLAN: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41407-020-0469-8.

After leaving the British Army in 2007 and settling in the North East of England, I was in the field of telecommunication until my second child arrived. I was promoted within the private section (Virgin Media) however felt unchallenged, so I was looking for a new career direction.

In 2013 we moved back to Manchester due to my mother's diagnosis of cancer [she is still with us] and this is when I looked into dentistry. I didn't believe I could achieve BDS and then came across the job title ‘dental therapist' and liked the sound of the profession. However, I realised that I was missing some academic preferences which would mean I would have to go to college/night school. I then came across apprenticeships for dental nursing. I knew this would provide the insight into whether this career change was for me - and I've never looked back!

I really enjoyed dental nursing and felt that I excelled at it, and it came naturally. I felt that I could progress and the post qualification I enrolled myself in gave me the confidence and desire to continue to develop professionally.

I studied dental hygiene and therapy at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) and graduated in 2023.

Boss your oral health

‘Boss your oral health' is my motto! I want patients to feel empowered, to own their oral health! It is on the patient to put our advice into practice and absorb the education that we as dental professionals provide them with.

I want patients to feel empowered, to own their oral health! It is on the patient to put our advice into practice and absorb the education that we as dental professionals provide them with.

The most enjoyable part of my job has got to be turning around nervous/anxious patients, adults and children and providing positive experiences. The more challenging aspect is changing old mindsets where people don't understand the role of a dental therapist, or their scope of practice, and the benefits we can bring to the patients in terms of sharing care, accessibility and the practice's profitability. There are a lot of dental therapists who don't get the support or encouragement to practise their full scope of practice, so I hope this changes in the future. I think there are still some dentists who don't fully understand our role and how it can be implemented into the dental team.

The most enjoyable part of my job has got to be turning around nervous/anxious patients, adults and children and providing positive experiences.

It can be challenging to know that despite dental therapists increasingly using their full scope, over the past ten years pay scales have only had a minimal increase.

It's also challenging to educate patients about the link between the mouth and systemic health; many see a hygiene appointment as an aesthetic treatment.

Dental therapy is a very rewarding career; it allows me to work with people from all walks of life and no two days are the same. I'm an advocate of the benefits of a healthy mouth and body and I believe my passion is infectious.

Beyond the surgery

I stay in the practice for lunch to catch up with the wider team - it can be isolating in your surgery with back-to-back appointments. The time I get home after work varies; you can't get anywhere fast in Manchester and my commute varies. It might take me up to an hour to get home.

Outside work I enjoy fitness, so I try to incorporate that, however I'm out of sorts at the moment as I've just been settling into working full time and supporting my eldest with her education as she is just finishing secondary school. I've just signed up for a rugby camp on the weekends; I thought I would like to try something new. It will also be good to do this along with my children.

Weekends are family time, supporting my children and being their number one fan on the sidelines - rugby is a massive part of my children's lives. We also enjoy long walks with our dog, Uwe, with plenty of coffee and cake to refuel, and where possible, European city breaks.

I have signed up to volunteer with Dental Mavericks in November, a charitable dental relief organisation with ongoing operations in Morocco, supporting vulnerable communities. Going on the trip is something I'd been hoping to get involved with for a long time.

Interview by Kate Quinlan