Bringing her passion for dentistry to Dublin 4

As Northumberland Dental Care expands, we sat down with Dr Jennifer Collins, our Clinical Lead General Dentist, to find out more about her and the practice

Why did you become a dentist? And what do you love about your job?

Coming from a medical background, I was always interested in becoming a doctor or a dentist “when I grew up!”. I am told I had a very caring and empathetic nature as a child and my mother guided me towards dentistry from a young age as she thought it would suit my personality. I am grateful she did and have never looked back!

I also love meeting patients and caring for them. There is something very rewarding and fulfilling about people putting their trust in you and knowing that you can deliver excellent dental care time and time again.

What do you most like about Northumberland Dental Care?

There are many things: the excellent support team, the bright and spacious surgeries,  the state-of-the-art equipment and the fact we have a range of top dental specialists onsite. This means that all our patients’ needs can be met regardless of the complexity.

What are the most popular treatments at Northumberland Dental Care?

The most popular treatments by far would be the general dental treatments such as a dental examination, scale and polish and fillings for adults and fissure sealants for children.

Northumberland Dental Care is very much about specialist dental care, but do you also do general treatments?

Yes, traditionally, Northumberland Dental Care (formally known as the Northumberland Institute of Dentistry and Medicine and part of the Dental Care Ireland group) would have done mainly specialist work for their patients. However, we are now developing the general dentistry side of the practice.

This means that along with the specialities we cover, we also offer all types of general dentistry a patient may require, be it standard fillings, root canal treatments, simple orthodontics, crowns or cosmetic work.

What is the advantage for patients of having general dental treatments in the same location as specialists?

As the general dentists of Northumberland Dental Care and the specialists are very integrated, it means we can develop treatment plans collaboratively so that the best outcome possible for the patients is assured. It is hugely beneficial for general dentists to have a team of specialists under the same roof: cases can be discussed at ease and records transferred with the click of a button.

Why are cosmetic treatments such as whitening becoming more popular with working professionals?

People are becoming more and more conscious of their image and recognise that cosmetic dental treatments can not only help their appearance but also their mental wellbeing. My all-time favourite cosmetic treatment is teeth whitening: it is a safe, cost-effective way to improve the appearance of a patient’s teeth without causing any damage to the teeth.

Obviously Northumberland Dental Care has many young professionals as patients as well as older people looking for specialist treatment, but do you also look after families and children?

Yes, we love seeing families and children. As a mother to three young children myself, I know how busy families can be. We accommodate families as much as possible and often treat children before schooltime or on their lunch break.

Education and prevention are key, so I always encourage families to bring their children in from the age of one so we can get them used to us and the dental chair. Also, any dental issues they may have can then be managed and treated early.

Some people still think of braces as being just for teenagers? Is this changing?

Yes, absolutely! We see all age groups coming in for orthodontics. There is such a range of orthodontic appliances and solutions available now for patients, from clear aligners to clear “train tracks”. People are living longer and are prouder than ever of their appearance so why not?

What are patients’ most common misconceptions about dentistry?

A lot of people associate the dentist with discomfort or pain. Thankfully, with modern dental techniques, patients can be assured that their dental treatment will be as comfortable and pain-free as possible! Most patients hardly feel anything when they get dental treatment done. Also for very nervous or anxious patients, at Northumberland Dental Care we can provide different forms of sedation if neeed. We have a solution for everyone!

How do you see Northumberland Dental Care growing in the coming years?

Our vision at Northumberland Dental Care is to evolve further as a general practice and to continue to meet the ever-changing needs of our patients. I see us expanding and growing, treating patients, young and old, from the simple to the most complex of cases. The future is bright for Northumberland Dental Care and I feel grateful and privileged to playing a key role in its development.

To find out more about the general, specialist and cosmetic treatments at Northumberland Dental Care, go here: www.dentalcareireland.ie/nidm/

Book your consultation online. You can also call the practice directly on 01-6688441 or email on info@nidm.ie.

Dr Jennifer Collins, Clinical Lead General Dentist at Northumberland Dental Care, also has her own website and blog here.