2019 Winning Dental Assistant
Nicole Melanson
Kent Street Dental (ON)
Nominated for Giving Back
Described by her peers as exuding an energy of joy and calmness, Nicole is a passionate Dental Assistant based in Ottawa, Ontario. After nearly 30 years in practice, Nicole finds great fulfilment in educating patients on their oral health. “Being able to educate a patient about how oral health affects them—both physically and emotionally—is so powerful,” she says. “If I can be a part of the bigger picture by educating them, I feel a deep sense of accomplishment.”
Nicole’s decision to pursue a career in dental assisting stemmed from the compassionate care she received while undergoing extensive oral rehabilitation after a motorcycle accident left her with a broken jaw. “I knew after that experience that I needed to choose a career of service to others,” she says. “I wanted to be that inspirational person for my own patients.”
Nicole’s experience interacting with compassionate oral health professionals after her accident ultimately inspires her to pay it forward. “I felt understood and heard, which helped me trust the road to recovery and made it a pleasant experience despite a terrible situation,” she says. “Those moments guide me now as I share my expertise and experience with new assistants to mentor them in good technique, proactive assisting, and positive chair-side care for patients.”
In her daily practice, Nicole takes pride in making patients feel at ease. “It is my passion to make people feel at home and comfortable,” she says. “I pride myself in setting a very relaxed environment free of apprehension – instead focusing on offering a lot of laughter and listening intently to their concerns free of judgment.”
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“Being able to educate a patient about how oral health affects them—both physically and emotionally—is so powerful.”