CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST49 AUSTRALIAN DENTISTRY AWARDS Applied to the treatment room, that philosophy looks less like protocol than attention. “It is noticing when someone is anxious, explaining what is happening in a way they can understand, anticipating what the clinician will need and creating an environment where the patient feels safe and genuinely cared for,” she says. “Many of the most important things a dental nurse does can appear invisible, but they can completely change how a patient experiences their treatment.” Her career has moved through NHS and private practice, hospital and maxillofacial surgery, operating theatres, implant dentistry and complex surgical care over more than 28 years in the UK and Australia. The skill she names first, though, is a cognitive one. “A highly skilled dental nurse does not simply react to instructions; they understand the procedure, recognise what will be needed next and help the entire appointment flow safely and efficiently.” Clinical ability alone, she is clear, does not explain the result. “Through Dental Assisting and Beyond, I want dental nurses and assistants to feel educated, respected and confident – not as though they are ‘just’ assisting. When the entire team is properly trained and no team member is left behind, patients ultimately receive better care.” The announcement itself caught her off guard. “I was genuinely shocked,” she says. “In that moment, I thought about the 16-year-old girl from Yorkshire who began dental nursing without any idea of where the profession might take her.” Having the award presented by Professor Neil Meredith sharpened the symmetry. “It felt as though my journey had come full circle – from starting out at Leeds Dental School to standing on a stage in Australia receiving this recognition.” What she intends to do with the recognition follows from what she believes it represents. “If this recognition allows another dental nurse or assistant to dream bigger, invest in their education or recognise that their work has genuine value, then that is incredibly meaningful to me.” iSmile Studio – Digital Practice of the Year iSmile Studio There is a version of “digital practice” that amounts to an equipment list. iSmile Studio’s account of its win begins by ruling that version out. “For us, being a digital practice is not simply about owning advanced technology. It is about using technology thoughtfully to provide more precise, comfortable and personalised care,” says Dr Milla Duchovni, Practice Principal. Outlining the purpose that technology serves, she states plainly: “It supports our philosophy that health is the foundation of beauty. By improving function and establishing oral health first, we create the conditions in which a naturally beautiful smile can be released.” Asked which systems most likely impressed the judges, Dr Duchovni declines to nominate any single one. “We believe it was the way our technologies and workflows function together, rather than any single piece of equipment.” Digital imaging, CBCT/ICAT diagnostic tools, iTero intraoral scanning, clinical photography and digital treatment planning are used in combination so that, in Dr Duchovni’s words, “Patients can see what we see, understand our recommendations and become active participants in their treatment.” The clearest expression of that principle is the trial smile. “For patients considering a smile transformation, we digitally design and model the proposed new smile before treatment begins. We can then 3D-print a trial smile for the patient to try on,” she says. The point is participation rather than presentation: the patient sees the proposed result, raises refinements, and enters definitive treatment with, as the practice puts it, “greater clarity and confidence.” Preventive care runs on the same logic, with iTero scanning and the iTero Oral Health Suite documenting oral health visually and comparably over time so the team can “monitor changes, identify concerns earlier and educate patients more effectively.” Internally, the effect has been distributive. “Our digital workflow involves every member of the iSmile Studio team. Each person contributes to capturing information, educating patients, coordinating care and supporting treatment from beginning to completion,” Dr Duchovni stresses. Efficiency gains are spent in a particular way: the workflows “allow our team to spend more meaningful time with patients – listening, educating and designing care around the individual.” The practice reads the award as a brief rather than a trophy. “Being named Digital Practice of the Year is both an honour and a responsibility. It recognises the commitment of our entire team and validates our belief that innovation should always serve a meaningful clinical purpose.” u More than ever, Buy Australian. Support Australian jobs.
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