Chantal, Oral Health Therapist

Chantal’s day-to-day work includes check-ups and cleans, preventive dental care for patients of all ages, and restorative treatment for children and teenagers. She particularly enjoys providing check-ups and cleans for children, restorative work for patients under 18, teeth whitening, and periodontal cleaning with local anaesthetic.

A non-negotiable part of her practice is the time she spends on each thorough check-up and clean: she polishes with airflow, uses an ultrasonic scaler as needed, follows with hand scaling and a floss check before the patient sits up. She also tailors the background music or video to the patient’s preference.

For nervous patients she slows the pace, offers a detailed introduction, listens to concerns, and follows a tell-show-do protocol for any procedure. As Chantal puts it: “I understand that coming to a dental clinic can be overwhelming, and even scary. In the end, their comfort matters to me more than optimal treatment. No judgement.”

Chantal graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health from the University of Otago. She then worked in a rural private dental clinic before taking an Oral Health Therapist role in the public sector, travelling the West Coast of New Zealand to care for children under 18. She now practises in Australia at a specialist orthodontist clinic and Dental Embassy.

She is a member of the Oral Health Association of Australia and can treat patients in Tagalog as well as English.

Outside work Chantal enjoys ballroom dancing, video games, board games and cooking.