Hello! I am Millie, a dental nurse at The Waterside Dental Clinic. I am 24 years old and started dental nursing when I was just 17. I was elated when I received a job offer! I took the leap and never looked back. After I qualified, I went on to be Lead Nurse and Decontamination Lead. Last August, I relocated to Preston, moving away from my hometown, Kidderminster as my partner and I have purchased our first home together.
I feel so grateful that I now work at Waterside with the most incredible and supportive team, and I have now progressed onto Endodontic nursing. I work alongside Dr Levi, carrying out root canal treatments for our lovely patients. My job is to reassure our patients, whilst assisting the clinician with treatment and making sure his day runs as smoothly as possible.
Dr Levi has top-of-the-range equipment to carry out root canal treatment. I set up the equipment and materials and ensure the surgery is clean and tidy. I then set up the microscope. This is a specialized optical instrument used in endodontic treatments to provide enhanced visualization. It allows the clinician to see fine details not visible to the naked eye. It can help identify issues like cracks, hidden canals, and blockages.
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I prepare many different materials to use, such as Sodium Hypochlorite and EDTA, which are both critical for effective root canal treatments. Sodium Hypochlorite is used first for its antimicrobial properties. EDTA removes any thin layer of debris that form on the canal walls in the tooth. Both agents ensure thorough debridement and disinfection of the canals in the tooth. I also prepare Glyde, AH Plus, and FUJI which is a type of temporary filling, or composite if we are placing a permanent filling. I also prepare hand files and rotary files, paper points and GP points. Dr Levi has the best materials to hand to ensure a successful root canal treatment. He also has specific instruments that we use such as the rotary machine and rotary hand piece, an Endodontic root canal spreader and a ruler.
My favourite part of my job is reassuring our patients and making sure they feel as relaxed as possible. As we accept referrals here, it’s lovely to meet so many different patients. Many patients Google root canal treatment treatment and read so many horror stories and therefore are very nervous when they arrive. In reality, root canal treatment is completely the opposite, and it’s rewarding to show this to patients.
Usually, we see around 2 to 3 patients a day. This allows us enough time to allocate to our patients and give them the best quality of care. My role is to make sure the clinician has everything they need, and to reassure the patient, and keep them comfortable. It’s important to have efficient teamwork and communication between the clinician and nurse.
In some cases, root canal treatment may not be possible because the tooth cannot be saved. This can be due to cracks or fractures, extensive decay, insufficient tooth structure, complex root canal anatomy, or uncontrolled infection. In cases like this, we always take our time to explain this to the patient. It can be upsetting for patients when they must have a tooth removed, so I always put myself in their shoes and reassure them.
After a root canal treatment, I call patients the next day to follow up. This is important, as it means a lot to the patient to know we are thinking about them. If a root canal treatment is successful and the patient has been referred to us, we will refer them back to their GDP for continuation of care.
We give patients post op instructions following root canal treatment, such as avoiding eating until the numbness wears off, managing any pain or sensitivity with over-the-counter pain medication, sticking to a soft diet and avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods, maintaining excellent oral hygiene, avoiding smoking and alcohol and advising a follow up appointment to see how the anatomy is healing.
Want to discuss your dental needs? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
When I close down at the end of the day, I ensure all the clinician’s instruments are sterilised, bagged, dated and signed, and are stored away safely. For his materials, I ensure they are wiped over and stored away correctly. I ensure the microscope is wiped over and stored away with care.
After 7 years in dental nursing, there is no better feeling than seeing a nervous patient leave feeling happy. This job really is so rewarding. In the future, I wish to continue expanding my knowledge and skills, and helping other dental nurses achieve and see their potential – as this is something I am very passionate about!
