Lifeboat volunteer from Inverness is all smiles after winning young dentist of the year title
A LIFEBOAT volunteer from Inverness has been named Scotland’s young dentist of the year.
Jane Hier (29) picked up the accolade after judges recognised her outstanding credentials, especially with children and nervous patients.
Since graduating in 2012 she has worked at the Torwood practice in Inverness, one of two practices in the city operated by Clyde Munro Dental Group.
She was honoured at the Scottish Dental Awards in Glasgow.
Mrs Hier said: “I couldn’t believe it when my name was read out. Comedian Fred MacAulay was the host and warned everyone to keep their acceptance speech to just three words.
“But I managed to sneak in four – ‘I love my girls’. That was for all the girls from work who were sitting at our table on the night. There’s a team of around 20 of us at Torwood and they are all brilliant.”
While Mrs Hier collected the young clinician of the year award, the Clyde Munro practice, in Kenneth Street, was also shortlisted for the dental team of the year award, narrowly missing out on the night.
A huge part of Mrs Hier’s success is her ability to reassure young children and other nervous patients. She says that half are affected by previous poor experiences elsewhere, while the other 50 per cent simply have a phobia.
She said: “With kids I want to do anything I can to put them at ease so that in the future they will always see visiting the dentist as a positive experience. I will do whatever it takes, even if that means having a tea party on the floor to persuade a child to hop into the seat. And I’ve lost count of the number of treatments I’ve performed on teddies.”
Originally from Ballynahinch in County Down, Northern Ireland, she says that her love of the Irish “craic”, has also helped her build a powerful rapport with patients, by chatting about their families, hobbies, interests and personal lives.
She added: “One of my best successes was a young bride-to-be who’d damaged her teeth in a car accident. She was already nervous about getting in the chair and the fact her big day was coming up made it even worse. It was round the time I was planning my own wedding, so I knew exactly how important wedding photos would be.
“It was challenging because she was so nervous. But we overcame that and also got a brilliant result on her teeth with a combination of really nice white fillings, a couple of crowns and a wee bit of Invisalign braces, to do a bit of straightening.
“Not only did she look absolutely beautiful for her wedding, but six months later she was back for her next check-up, hopped into the chair and was totally relaxed. That was so rewarding to see.”
She met her husband Martin while undergoing punishing training at a Crossfit gym in Inverness. The couple both regularly compete in triathlons and iron man events.
Meanwhile, she is also studying towards a diploma – and later a master’s degree – in restorative dentistry. Yet despite her packed diary she also finds time to volunteer with RNLI’s Kessock crew.
“Clyde Munro has also been brilliant supporting me to be part of the lifeboat crew, making sure I have the time I need for all of our training or whenever we are called out for an incident," she said.
“I grew up in a coastal community where we knew every member of the lifeboat crew and they were each seen as heroes. So, I feel privileged to be part of the Kessock crew and part of something that is so important in the local community.”
