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It’s interesting that now, there are actually more female than male dentists in Australia. According to the latest research over 50.2% of Australia’s dentists are female, whilst in other countries, such as the US, female dentists only make up around 30%.
In fact, the trend at the moment shows that the percentage of female dentists is set to continue increasing. The Department of Health states that in the 20-34 year age group, 55 percent of dental practitioners are now female. It’s interesting to take a look at why.
For me, being a business owner, as well as a dental practitioner definitely has its challenges, but is something I sincerely love. Many female dentists like myself list “helping people” as one of the biggest motivators to study Dentistry.
Other factors, of course come into play too, including the notion that dentistry is a profession where people skills are a central part of your role. Developing long term relationships with people, encouraging self care and communication are everyday aspects of a dentist’s job. This isn’t to say that males don’t enjoy developing these skills, however they are popular attributes females look for in career options.
Each day, we need to talk to our patients, sometimes explaining complicated dental procedures, treatments and options. As a family dentist, I enjoy establishing a relationship with a child who requires dental treatments, as well as their parents who need to understand the procedures, after care and implications.
Of course, it goes without saying that you do need to be a people person in dentistry. We work at very close quarters with people and it’s important that we have the right balance of professionalism, compassion and care when we are dealing with your teeth!
One of the other elements believed to inspire so many women into dentistry is the increasing amount of aesthetic work involved in the profession. Teeth whitening, veneers, crowns and straightening have become more significant aspects of general dentistry in the past few years, encouraging more creatively inclined people into the profession (both male and female alike).
Balancing science and creativity, dentistry allows us to celebrate the incorporation of new technologies and ways of improving our smiles.
The creative aspect of dentistry is something I have been enjoying more and more. As new treatments emerge, the possibilities to improve the cosmetic appeal of teeth has also grown. I’m constantly inspired by the movements towards incorporating natural elements into aesthetic procedures. I’m always on the hunt for naturally based products and have introduced many ranges such as @curaprox for natural whitening toothpastes and @lovebeautyfoods who create organic tooth powders and pastes.
With the advent of eco-dentistry, the industry has also seen an increase in the number of female dentists. Perhaps, this is in part due to the ability to incorporate a real difference in an otherwise largely single use and not terribly environmentally friendly industry.
As a Bondi business owner, I am proud to include as many eco-friendly dental practices as possible. Sustainability and the care of our environment is a big focus for our practice. We promote the use of recyclable materials in our practice, cultivate our own organic garden and encourage as many naturally based treatments as possible. Whilst I don’t claim to be a holistic dentist, we do try support prevention rather than cure.
Dentistry is also experiencing an era of “gentleness”. Gentle dentistry is a term we are hearing more frequently as clients are searching for more non-invasive procedures, restorative practices and treatments which lower pain experiences and natural elements.
In my line of work I deal with patients who have just started walking through to more mature members of the community. It is important to us that each patient is treated as an individual and supported by appropriate care, open communication and care.
Dentistry definitely puts you in a position of nurturing as you work alongside clients who may need treatments which take time. Teeth straightening – such as Invisalign, the creation of implants and dentures are such procedures which require care over longer periods of time and really provide a great opportunity to develop long term relationships with clients.
This means of helping people in the Bondi community is what really inspires me. Generating happy and healthy Bondi smiles is what I’m all about!
