In the run-up to International Women’s Day 2025, Catherine Rutland explores how dentistry has changed for female professionals with the help of two other inspirational women in dentistry.
On International Women’s Day 2024 I had been presenting at the North of England Dentistry Show when I was approached by a lovely lady called Ellie Rea. We started to talk, and it transpired that she was a second-year dental student at UCLAN. After a further chat, a common thread between us appeared. Ellie qualified from Leeds in dental hygiene and dental therapy 30 years after I graduated from the same department as a dentist.
Having worked in practice, she had then applied to UCLAN to study dentistry. Now she studies and continues to practise dental hygiene and dental therapy in holidays and when able. Unable to have the conversation we wanted in a busy show, we met up after on Teams and then in person at Twickenham to join ladies from across dentistry to talk and watch the Red Roses play a fabulous game of rugby.
Being reminded of my early career made me consider what, if anything, has changed for women in the profession. To further widen the viewpoint, I spoke to Lianne Scott-Munden, clinical quality, complaints and risk manager at Denplan. She entered the Royal Navy at the age of seventeen to train as a dental nurse. She then spent the next 12 years in the forces until her career pathway went on to practice management. Finally she joined my team at Denplan four years ago. Now, she manages the side of my team that provides professional support to practices.
‘Our strengths as women came through’
In my conversations with both, several themes emerged, and an awareness that while some things have changed, others have not. As three generations in dentistry spanning dental hygiene, dental therapy, dental nursing, dental student, practice management and dentist, our strengths as women came through, and the benefit these can be to patient care and our own careers.
One of the biggest themes that came through was how we valued and utilised our skill sets. Having emotional intelligence and empathy felt very important as we had worked through our careers. Most of us in the profession take on responsibility for patient care at at young age compared to other professionals. Even as trainees or students, you are directly responsible for either supporting or providing patient care. Being able to communicate, interpret body language and show compassion all need to be learnt and put into action quickly.
All of us felt the flexibility that dentistry can provide was a very positive reason for being in the profession. While Lianne and I had thought about the benefits of this with children, Ellie raised work-life balance and taking time in the week for life admin so you could enjoy your weekends. This is a generational shift, and a good one. Especially when we consider the levels of mental health and morale issues within the profession.
Shifting career paths
Although Ellie is still early in her career, she has already shown the opportunity for career choices within the profession. Each of us will take our own path, and many of us could not have ever foreseen where our career would take us. Lianne and I have both altered and shifted our paths many times. Yet we always move in a direction where we can build on our professional experience, stick to our values and utilise them in the best way we can. To have this opportunity and still remain in the profession is such a positive.
Over time, one thing I have seen and discussed with Lianne and Ellie is the importance of other women who inspire you in the profession. I have always been inspired by other women, yet in my early years, it was often from afar. Opportunities to meet or communicate were not so easy as they are now. I do feel the combination of ease of reaching out to people and also how widely women in dentistry is talked about is such a great thing.
Different challenges
We are different, and the challenges we face are different. While many parts of your career can be supported by a great mentor of any gender, other parts may require someone who has gone through the same challenges and can truly empathise.
Feeling the positive as we talked, and realising so much is unchanged, it gives me hope. These two wonderful ladies started from different points to me in the profession. However we all feel the same about why we work in dentistry. Seeing them strive to develop and give women in dentistry a voice is among the greatest ways to create change.
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