Dental assistants recognised as smile makers at Townsville HHS

Behind every patient smile from Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s oral health service is a dental assistant, and their contributions are being celebrated this Dental Assistant Recognition Week.

Townsville HHS has 48 dental assistants who do everything from cleaning and preparing work areas to talking with patients to help them understand their procedure.
For dental assistant Chenice Sibley it was her first job out of school, and she couldn’t be happier with her career choice.

“I’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, and being a dental assistant allows me to combine my passion for talking to people with clinical work,” Ms Sibley said.

“I love giving people their smiles back.

“A lot of people have a fear of the dentist and feel alienated or scared, and being able to get them into the chair and make them feel comfortable is so important.”

Ms Sibley said she was proud of the work she does, and she recently achieved a major career goal by returning to her home community on Palm Island to provide dental services to her mob.

“It was a very humbling experience to go back to my old school and treat my community,” she said.

“It’s important that people see someone who is Indigenous in these environments because it makes them feel a lot more comfortable and less anxious.”

Principal dental assistant Libby McDonald said the service would be impossible to run without dental assistants.

“They provide essential services to the dentists, oral health therapists, and prosthetists,” Ms McDonald said.

“They make sure everything runs smoothly day-to-day, from sterilisation to patient support.

“More young people, including First Nations staff like Chenice, are beginning to enter the profession, and it’s great to see them come through and be so eager to learn and strive to make the experience better for the community.”

For Ms Sibley, this recognition week was a chance to reflect on her growth and encourage other young people to consider the career.

“I didn't think I was capable enough when I started, but I proved to myself that I could do it,” she said.

“The service wouldn't run without us; we are here to make sure every patient’s needs are met.”

Dental Assistant Recognition Week is from Sunday, 1 March to Saturday, 7 March.