Kezia Smith
Hygienist
Kezia Smith
Why did you decide to become a Hygienist?
Having worked as a dental nurse for several years, and even stepping up into a Lead Nurse role, progressing into dental hygiene felt like the completely natural next step for me. While working in surgery, I realised how much I loved the clinical side of patient care, especially when it came to preventing oral disease and helping people feel comfortable in the chair. I wanted to be the one directly delivering those treatments and making a real difference to my patients’ lives, which inspired me to go to university and train as a hygienist!
Where did you train?
I trained at Teesside University, where I graduated with my BSc (Hons) in Dental Hygiene. During my time there, I gained fantastic, hands-on clinical experience treating patients in the North East. It was an amazing opportunity that truly helped me build my confidence and fine-tune my clinical skills.
Tell us about your career so far.
My dental career started right here in Gloucestershire, where I worked as a qualified dental nurse for several years, eventually stepping up to become a Lead Dental Nurse! I gained fantastic experience across NHS, private, and community settings. To keep my skills sharp while studying for my hygiene degree, I continued to work as a locum dental nurse. I love being part of a collaborative team, and I’m so excited to bring all my experience to Hilltop to help our patients achieve healthy smiles.
What aspect of dentistry do you enjoy most?
What I enjoy most is empowering patients to take control of their oral health through tailored education and helping nervous patients completely transform their relationship with dental visits! I feel like I have done a good job when I have used a gentle, gradual desensitisation approach to help an anxious patient progress comfortably through their treatment. I love building rapport with every one of my patients and creating personalised care plans that keep their comfort right at the centre of everything that I do.
Tell us about Hilltop Dental Practice.
I love being part of the team at Hilltop because it is such a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment. I feel that everyone works beautifully together, which makes the practice a genuinely happy place to be. Having that kind of well-trained, positive team dynamic around you is so important because it not only makes everyday working life a pleasure but ensures we can consistently deliver the absolute highest standard of care to all of our patients.
What do you do when not at work?
When I’m not at work, you’ll most likely find me out running! And, I love to play board games, sharing a laugh with my family and friends.
What are your aims for the future?
Dentistry is always evolving, so my main goal for the future is to continuously embrace new clinical updates and expand my professional training. I love learning, and I look forward to bringing new skills back to the clinic.
