Lecturer Details: Proposal For The Use Of Exemptions In Medicines Legislation By Dental Hygienists And Dental Therapists

Lecturer nameMichaela O'Neill
Lecturer profileAfter qualifying from King’s College Hospital, London in 1991 Michaela took up a part time staff hygienist post in the hospital and worked in a variety of different practices in London before returning home to live in Belfast in 1997.

Here she attained a part time tutors post in the School of Dental Hygiene at Queen’s University Belfast which she undertook whilst also fulfilling a part time clinical role in practice, and providing consultancy services to a dental company.

Michaela has lectured throughout the UK and internationally on topics of interest to the practising dental hygienist and therapist. She has held a research dental hygienist role and currently works in a specialist restorative practice.
More recently Michaela held the position of President of The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy. This two year tenure has seen Michaela represent the UK nationally and internationally being published in many countries on topics relating oral health
She was voted onto the board of the International Federation of Dental Hygiene in 2016 and has 25 years of experience both clinically and professionally as a dental hygienist.
Lecturer nameDr Fiona Sandom Ph.D., MSc. DIP DT, Dip DH, FDTF RCS Ed, FCGDent
Lecturer profileDental Therapist
Fiona qualified as a Dental Hygienist from Manchester Dental Hospital in 1993 and as a Dental Therapist in 1999 from Liverpool University Dental Hospital, in 2013 gained her MSc in Medical Education from Cardiff University, and her Doctorate from Bangor University in 2023. She currently works part-time in a busy NHS Practice, as DPSU Lead and North Wales Regional Lead for Health Education and Improvement Wales and at Bangor University as a Lecturer. She is an Education Associate for the GDC and an Examiner for the RCS Edinburgh and a past President of the British Association of Dental Therapists. She has been fortunate to work as a dental therapist in practice, in the hospital, the community dental service, and in personal dental service, and has an interest in treating anxious patients with Inhalation Sedation. She has been awarded two Oral and Dental Research Trust DCP Awards, in 2013 and 2015. She currently working on the proposal for the use of exemptions in medicines legislation by dental hygienists and dental therapists across the United Kingdom and is the current Chair of the British Association of Dental Therapists.
Fiona is an Associate Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Trainers and a Fellow of the Dental Trainer Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. and of the College of General Dentistry and sits on the “Dental Update Editorial Board