Lizzy Harbison is an Oral Health Therapist at Advanced Dental Centre and says one of the most rewarding parts of her work is seeing the progress patients make with their own dental care.

“On the hygiene side of things, when you help patients manage dental issues and begin to see improvements because they are taking on board everything you’re saying and playing their part, that’s really rewarding,” Lizzy says.

She also gains a lot of satisfaction from seeing young patients being comfortable at the dentist.

“Sometimes kids will come in and they’re excited to tell you how much better they’ve been doing with their brushing, because you’ve demonstrated it well enough and motivated them to brush properly,” Lizzy says.

“With children, helping them manage their emotions is a big thing. We have a little mascot called Toby, a dog with human teeth, and Toby is a big help with getting the children involved. We count Toby’s teeth, count how many adult teeth he has, look at the tooth surfaces he should be brushing and so on.”

Lizzy and the team enjoy getting involved in the community and have taken the positive dental care message into primary schools. “We visit children in schools and talk about healthy foods, brushing their teeth and what happens at the dentist.”

She says the Advanced Dental Centre environment helps patients of all ages to relax during the dental experience. “When you walk in, it doesn’t look like a typical dental surgery, it’s more like a hotel lobby or spa. All the rooms have big windows looking out at a garden of plants. Our patients love it.”

On weekends Lizzy likes to relax with surfing or yoga.

For Oral Health Therapist Kate Spicer, working with patients from childhood through to adulthood makes for a fulfilling career.

“We provide preventative dental treatment and services, and I’m qualified as a hygienist as well, so we can provide dental care for a patient’s whole lifespan,” Kate says.

Kate enjoys getting to know patients and says they appreciate Advanced Dental Centre’s environment. “We have a warm environment. It’s nice and open and light-filled.”

Working with children is often about trying to foster positive dental habits in the early years and parents play a vital part in that. “Parents are always involved in the appointments; we need to work together to find solutions if there is a problem,” Kate says.

“It’s great to build relationships so people keep coming back and together we can foster good early dental experiences.”

“I find it incredibly rewarding – I really enjoy working with the kids and knowing I’ve made a difference, seeing them long-term and celebrating the improvements together, whether little or small. You get to see the results of your work fairly quickly and I do enjoy that.”

Kate has a Bachelor of Oral Health from The University of Adelaide and spent the year following graduation working with the South Australian Dental Service, a role she enjoyed.

Outside of work, Kate tries to spend time outdoors including hiking in the Adelaide Hills where she grew up.

Oral Health Therapist, Malvina Filip completed her Bachelor of Oral Health at Adelaide University in 2007 and spent a year honing her skills in the Clare Valley before joining the team at Advanced Dental Centre. The ability to work with children sparked Malvina`s interest in Dental Therapy when she was still in high school.

Having completed her Bachelor`s Degree and Honours in Oral Health Therapy, Malvina has successfully made it into the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program at the University of Adelaide. A keen Zumba fan, Malvina says she quickly felt at home at Advanced Dental Centre.

Kim Barbetti is a busy person. While she’s already a qualified Oral Health Therapist, she’s also studying a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at The University of Adelaide.

“I’m really passionate about dentistry,” Kim says. “I absolutely love my work as an Oral Health Therapist but when the opportunity presented itself to learn more, it was tempting. I love learning and challenging myself.”

Originally from rural Victoria, Kim has lived and worked as an Oral Health Therapist in Queensland, in both the private and public sector. “I love Adelaide and will settle here,” she says.

Kim has a focus on caring for people which has fuelled her enthusiasm for dentistry.

“With hygiene work you usually see your patients every six months – sometimes every three months – and so you’re really developing a relationship with patients as you see the health of their teeth improve, and the effort they are putting in,” Kim says.

“We work together as a team and that’s really rewarding. The relationships you develop with patients, in particular when they’re in pain and you’ve been able to help and have an impact on their overall health – they are the best aspects of the job.”

Kim said it is wonderful working with the Advanced Dental Centre team: “the team makes it such a positive experience, with everyone working together”.

While studying means she doesn’t have a lot of spare time on the weekends, Kim enjoys socialising. “On weekends I prioritise catching up with family and friends,” she says, “I also love travelling, so I try to work in a holiday every year.”

Robyn graduated from The University of Adelaide in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Oral Health Therapy.

She worked privately and with the South Australian Dental Service before joining the Advanced Dental Centre team in 2013 and has since been an integral part on the team. After a number of years in the dental industry, Robyn Pavy knows exactly how to make children feel welcome and comfortable at the dentist.

Robyn currently works part-time as an Oral Health Therapist and is also a full-time Mum to her two beautiful boys, James and Alistair.

“My biggest passion is working with kids and getting them involved and on the right track to great oral hygiene,” the mum of two says.

“But I also love working in dental hygiene and interacting with adults – especially as I know the right treatment can make all the difference to their overall health and confidence.”

Robyn thoroughly enjoys her roles in both therapy and hygiene and strongly believes prevention is superior to cure. Robyn believes early childhood intervention and education is paramount for optimal lifelong oral health.