Oral Health Educators in practice

Former student Helen Mathias talks about how the Certificate in Oral Health Education transformed her life and helped forge an exciting new career.

Since Helen gained her qualification in 1994 she has embarked upon a successful career as an oral health tutor, and in professions allied to dentistry.

For the past two years she has played an integral role (Project Leader) in a national research project 'Best Practice, Better Practises, A New Deal for Carers in Primary Care', conducted by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. The concluding report makes recommendations for improved support for all carers in areas such as training.

Helen believes the Certificate in Oral Health Education was vital to her success...

"The OHE course is not just about developing professionally from a Registered Dental Nurse to an Oral Health Educator, this course is also about growing both professionally and on a personal level, developing the individual's self confidence, self belief, potentially leading to major life changing experiences.

"Everything I have learnt on this course has helped me to further my career: Aims and objectives; Pilot studies; exhibitions; pilot questionnaires; open and closed questionnaires; empirical and sociological evidence and evidence, has all contributed to my career progression, to my contributing to research on a national level."