1) The document is a nomination for "Best Hygienist (West Midlands) 2012" and describes the career and qualifications of Rebecca Jane Gumm. 2) Gumm has over 12 years of experience as a dental hygienist and has worked in a variety of settings including general dental practices, dental hospitals, and community dental services. 3) She is praised for her communication skills, commitment to patient care, and efforts to improve oral health education.

1. A Woman of Substance
Statement in support of DH&T Award Nomination,
Best Hygienist (West Midlands) 2012
“You are a woman of
substance”, one of my
oncology patients
remarked. This was
shortly after she
informed me of her
terminal cancer and
was told by the
consultant that she had only three months
left to live. That felt like a very poignant
moment to me. I had seen her over the
course of a few visits, post chemotherapy,
and as with all of my patients, I have
strived to build a good rapport, together
with an element of trust. I believe that I
have done so, by being welcoming, and
listening intently to any concerns that
patients may have, tailoring the required
treatment, specific to their needs
.Instinctive communication comes very
naturally to me, I consider myself to be
very much a people person, and I am able
to converse easily with others In my
everyday working practice .The experience
that I have gained over the last twelve
years as a qualified Hygienist has no doubt
been valuable.
My career pathway began as a Dental
nurse. I trained at the Birmingham Dental
Hospital, and qualified in 1991. I
continued to gain further experience and
competencies, and began applying for
hygiene courses, as Dental Hygiene was
always my intended career. After eight
years within the dental profession, I
incorporated two years of college study
into my working life, and attained relevant
A-levels in order to enhance my
application.
I was accepted for a place at the
Edinburgh Dental Institute, and
successfully qualified in 1999 with a
Diploma in Dental Hygiene. Along with my
graduation ceremony came a career
highlight; I was awarded the Alice Lodge
Memorial cup for clinical excellence and
for consistently outstanding performance
throughout the course. As you can
imagine, having my efforts acknowledged
in this way was a fantastic
accomplishment for me. Since qualifying I
have had the good fortune to have been
involved with some very exciting
opportunities. I have worked at the
Edinburgh Dental Institute as a Staff
Hygienist, NHS Lothian Community Dental
Services dealing with high risk, immuno-
compromised adults and children with
additional learning needs, as well as in
corporate and general dental practice
including notably Boots Dental Care as
part of their initial cohort at the Watford
Centre of Excellence. Since qualifying as a
Hygienist, I have undertaken further
training, enabling me to perform all
extended duties.

2. In my current role, at Birmingham Dental
Hospital, I work as a member of two
specialist divisions; the Periodontal team,
who specifically treat advanced
Periodontal disease, and within the
restorative department, where I
specifically cater for the unique needs and
treatment challenges faced in treating
head and neck cancer patients, alongside
other individuals who present barriers to
treatment or are dental-phobic. I also
cater for patients who have had implants
placed, and who have undergone various
Maxillo-Facial reconstructions.
I pay close attention to detail, in order to
enhance the patient experience. It can
simply mean finding a support cushion for
those with back problems to aid comfort,
the use of SLS-free toothpaste in polishing
for those with reduced swallowing, gag
reflex, or in preventing exacerbation of
mucositis. These are just a few examples. I
am complimented regularly on the small
but significant touches such as this but
they are part of my everyday clinical
practice. Professor Iain Chapple, a world
renowned and published Periodontal
Consultant is one of my leading referrers.
As clarified in my supporting evidence,
Professor Chapple is highly
complementary of my clinical skills, and I
have always found him a truly
inspirational and motivational figure.
I like to believe that I consistently go the
extra mile in providing my patients with
the best possible oral disease prevention
experience. I approach every individual
positively, extending even to those who
have previously been recalcitrant towards
the dental team. Essentially I simply
accentuate my everyday character to all
whom I meet, and this is often
reciprocated by my patients, who
generally look forward to the next
instalment.
Much of my approach was formed whilst
working at Oaklands School, whilst in my
CDS position in Lothian. Treatment
planning had to be carefully co-ordinated
as part of an overall healthcare strategy
created for each child, including liaising
with speech and language therapists,
school nurses and carers as the children
were often service-users, and sometimes
demonstrated pre-cooperative behaviour
towards the dental setting at an age
where many children would be expected
to have some greater degree of
compliance. I was made an integral
member of the education team, and was
often invited to give oral health
presentations in classrooms as part of the
children’s day-to-day curriculum. This
helped the children to perceive me as a
part of their lives aiding in acceptance of
me, and in turn, the dental setting
throughout the acclimatisation process
and thereafter. I decided to make the
visits interactive, with play scenarios,
making it a fun experience! Having a
young child of my own has certainly given
me a greater insight through
responsibility, required in the
implementation of understanding the care
required for paediatric patients.
I produced two oral health promotion
books, one of which used boardmaker
software picture communication symbols,
which the children recognise as part of
their learning curriculum. The books were

3. just the start, and it could never be said
that I am not prepared to create to truly
multisensory experience for my patients.
In playing a part in National Smile Month
2010, the Teeth4Life campaign, I set up a
“mock” dental surgery, with an inflatable
dental chair, a dental exhibition
incorporating oral health information for
carers, sensory displays inviting children
to touch and smell, especially important
for inclusion of visually impaired pupils, as
well as multimedia activities such as a
large red button which initiated tooth
brushing sounds! Staff, parents, carers,
healthcare professionals and of course the
children were all invited along and this
was a great success in raising much
needed funds for the school. The event
was featured in the local press. This
demonstrates part of my ability to think
laterally about alternative methods in
caring for the needs of patients. This can
simply involve the recommendation and
sometimes sourcing of tailored products,
but can also extend to involvement of
other clinical specialities or indeed the
wider healthcare team which is something
constantly in the forefront of my mind
whilst tackling the presenting complaint.
Also held within the school was a
combined clinic for those who by
necessity were fed using Percutaneous
Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) feeding via
tube. The objective was to discuss and
demonstrate toothbrushing technique
which aids patient compliance, oral
hygiene and nutritional requirements
taking on board input from parents and
carers. A pivotal moment for me, as an
outside individual genuinely perceived by
all as part of that establishment, was to be
invited to pupils leaving party, and to
participate in the care of an individual
whilst enjoying the festivities – Scottish
dancing takes on a new dimension when
swinging a wheelchair around… risk
assessment dually completed!
Since re-joining Birmingham Dental
Hospital, I have found new vigour for
writing on a professional level, with the
aim of contributing to the pool of
knowledge amongst dental care
professionals. I have published articles
discussing communication with more
challenging patients, promotion of daily
prevention regimes, and industry
commentary regarding direct access
amongst other aspects. I have been
identified by a number of publications as a
Key Opinion Leader who have requested
that I join independent product review
panels. Possibly contributing to this vigour
was a bout of “Hot Bikram” Yoga in 30
degrees for 90 minutes, all for the sake of
Dentaid! As if this were not sufficient, in
my spare time I am formally planning the
commencement of my own business, a
DCP led dental practice. Few have tried,
some have failed, so planning is key.
Relaxed, dental environment. Commonly
not associated, but mentioned in writing
several times in the course of collating
testimonials for this accolade. I can testify
to twelve patients dozing off while
undergoing treatment, one for every year
of my qualified working life. To be more
specific, recently one of my special care
patients, whom I see for regular
periodontal maintenance, fell asleep
during her treatment and was snoring.

4. She would wake every so often, when I
would reassure her that everything was
okay and that she was doing well, and that
she could go back to sleep if she wished.
Her reply was “oh, okay then.” It was a
situation which needed direct observation
to fully appreciate.
I feel that I deserve this award for all of
my efforts over the years, hard work,
perseverance, motivation and enthusiasm
for the role. Some have cited that my
contribution to the improvement of
periodontal care and its public perception,
a largely preventable epidemiological
condition, is exemplary. I commend those
who have imparted this to me, and would
not want to discredit them on this point.
Rebecca Jane Gumm RDH, GDC #5605 (Edin. 1999)