In a ground-breaking collaboration, Janine Brooks and Fiona Ellwood have unveiled their latest publication, How to Develop Your Career in Dental Nursing.

Targeted primarily at dental nurses in the UK and abroad, this comprehensive book promises to be a valuable resource for anyone interested in dental nursing, dental history, gender issues, social science, dental education and healthcare strategy.

The collaboration between the two was a natural fit – both women are driven by their shared passion for the subject and their extensive experience in the field.

With a deep understanding of dental nursing, both professionals have actively contributed to the industry through various roles, including internal and external verification, mentoring, and panel membership for the General Dental Council.

Their combined expertise and aligned vision for the future of dental nursing make the book particularly impactful.

It takes readers on a journey through the past, present and future of dental nursing. It starts by delving into the history of dental nurses and dental nursing in the UK and worldwide.

From there, it explores the current status of dental nursing in the 21st century, considering its role within a social and gender context. The authors also shed light on how dental nurses have found their voice in modern dentistry, shaping the future of the field.

How to Develop Your Career in Dental Nursing offers a comprehensive overview of the profession, tracing its evolution from the role of handmaidens assisting male dentists to the emergence of independent professionals.

Capturing the rise of dental nursing around the globe, it highlights significant milestones such as the Nuffield Report of 1993, which recommended statutory registration for dental nurses.

The book also explores the development of the scope of practice and the advancements in educational progression within the field.

The authors look at common challenges, including the lack of a clear career path and structured educational opportunities.

They emphasise the transformative changes that have taken place in the profession, fostering a sense of professional identity and expanding the role of dental nurses.

The book also examines the differences in dental nursing worldwide, providing a comprehensive and comparative analysis.

Janine Brooks, MBE, brings a wealth of experience to the book. As a general dental practitioner, she retired from the NHS in 2011 and now focuses on postgraduate education, mentoring, and coaching. Janine is a respected figure in the dental community, holding various roles such as a registration assessment panellist for the General Dental Council, CEO of Dentalia Coaching and Training Consultancy, and co-founder of Dental Mentors UK.

Fiona Ellwood, BEM, is a dental nurse with extensive experience across different dental settings. Her career has evolved into academic and strategic roles, including serving as the academic lead and moderator for dental nursing at Bangor University. She is actively involved in mental health advocacy and is a practising mental health first aider, mentor and coach. She has played a crucial role in driving forward initiatives that address mental health wellness in dentistry across the four nations.

The writing process for the book spanned two years, from the initial idea in March 2021 to its publication. The authors pitched the concept to Wiley, who recognised the importance of filling the historical and educational gaps in dental nursing.

Commenting on their collaborative efforts, Janine and Fiona explained, “Dental nursing is a relatively new profession within the UK with its history lacking comprehensive documentation. Understanding history shapes the future, so we have brought them together in this book. Most published works are articles covering the post-introduction of qualifications period, but the broader and deeper history is largely absent. Research including this professional group is sparse.

“Many dental nurses are looking to progress, yet there are few resources and extraordinarily little literature to turn to once they are at university. This book aims to be a vital go-to resource for all dental professionals, especially for dental nurses progressing in their career or dental nurse students at the start of their journey.”

How to Develop Your Career in Dental Nursing is available through Wiley.com and major online retailers, including Amazon.

The authors hope this new resource will help dental professionals, particularly dental nurses, navigate their career paths and provide valuable insights into the history and future of the role of dental nursing.

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