Dental Q&A – Cabinteely dentist Dr Mary Crossling
In this article, DCI Cabinteely dentist Dr Mary Crossling talks about how she became a dentist, what she loves about the job, and what the future holds for the sector.
Q: What made you decide to go into dentistry when you were younger?
A: I decided early on that I wanted to be a dentist; I think I was 11! I’ve always enjoyed people’s company, and as I grew older I really developed a love of science and chemistry which obviously helped. After doing dental-related work experience in school, I knew it was the right career choice for me. I briefly considered veterinary studies, but interacting with people on a day-to-day basis was important to me, so dentistry it was!
Q: What do you really enjoy about your job?
A: It’s great to meet so many people from different walks of life in our Cabinteely dentist. It’s really rewarding in particular to work with small children, young adults and older patients. Of course, helping people get rid of aches and pains is one of the best parts of the role, and it’s also interesting to work in a relatively small team here in the practice. That kind of exposure creates a very personal, dynamic environment where we all feel like we’re making a real difference in the community.
Q: Would you recommend dentistry as a career choice?
A: I would say that if you love science, you enjoy the company of people but you’re also not afraid of working independently in a problem-solving environment, then dentistry would be a fantastic career choice. One of the things I’ve been particularly happy to see has been the emergence of so many women in what has traditionally been quite a male-dominated sector. I’m originally from Newcastle in England, and studied there too. In my university class, for example, we only had 11 male graduates out of a class of 70!
Another positive about dentistry is the flexibility in terms of your working hours and week, as well as the ability to practise abroad. I went to Australia and worked with Aboriginal communities, which was fantastic. There’s also lots of sub-specialities such as orthodontics, paediatrics, periodontology, and much more. Dentistry is a great sector in which to work, and advances in technology are making it better all the time.
Q: What advice can you give people about looking after their teeth?
A: It depends on the age of the patient. For example, we would always tell parents to bring their baby to see the dentist once they get their first teeth, so that we can examine them and make sure that any potential issues don’t turn into problems.
For young adults, obviously we would recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, but it’s also important to watch your diet. Sweets and fizzy drinks have been highlighted as being bad for teeth, but juices and smoothies can also be very acidic and, although they may be good for your body, they may not be doing your teeth any favours if you consume too many of them. Most of all, people should see their dentist regularly. Don’t wait until your teeth start to hurt before you see us!
Q: What’s it like to work in Cabinteely?
A: Honestly, no two days are ever the same in our Cabinteely dentist. I just love the variety of the work here. As I mentioned earlier, there’s a broad demographic that comes to this practice – from older patients to teenagers – which means our team get to know the whole spectrum of the community. I’ve been working in Cabinteely since October, but even in that time I’ve built up a great rapport with our clients. Part of that is also down to the fact that we have a personal, dedicated service and we’re in a strong community setting. I’ve been in Ireland for six years now, having lived in the UK beforehand, and I just love it here. The people are so friendly!
Q: Having lived in both the UK and Ireland, how do the two countries compare in terms of dentistry?
Obviously the NHS makes a huge difference in the UK, and our public sector has a long way to go to catch up to that level of treatment and care. I think that particular emphasis has to be placed on treating children, older people and those with special needs in the public healthcare system in Ireland. It is promising to see specific dental policies being discussed and planned for the years to come, and we have to hope that they come to pass sooner rather than later. And don’t forget, private patients here on the whole receive excellent care and benefit from the time spent on their tailored prevention and treatment plans.
The Cabinteely practice of Dental Care Ireland is a local, family dentist formerly known as Park Clinic Dental. To make an appointment with Mary or any of the team in Cabinteely, just click on this link. Alternatively, just call 01-2853666
