Dentist

Shane Maguire

Adelaide-based Dr Louise Cooper is part of the new breed of dentist.

Dr Cooper, 31, sees patients ranging from children experiencing their first visit to the dentist through to distrusting mature-aged patients who remember how a trip to the dentist was once a terrifying experience.

“It is lovely to build a rapport with patients and their families,”says Dr Cooper speaking from her clinic, Preventive Dentistry, in Torrens Park.

“Unfortunately, so many patients have a fear of dentists, mainly from past experiences. However, the experience should not be unpleasant. Modern dentistry is generally pain free and we offer a variety of methods for avoiding pain, discomfort and anxiety,” she says.

London-born Dr Cooper’s parents were both chemists and her sister is a vet but she was initially interested in being an architect but work experience with an architectural firm changed her mind. She then gave some thought to becoming a vet.

“I enjoyed art and science at school and was always interested in studying some form of medicine,” she says. Early on she identified a skill – manual dexterity – essential in the world of dentistry.

“I was always very good with my hands and wanted to do something practical,” she says. “I wanted to do something to improve people’s health and lifestyle.”

“[Dentistry] takes five years of study which, when I think back on it, is a lot. Towards the end of the course, I treated patients all day and then studied at night,” she says.

Dr Cooper studied at Kings College in London. However, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery offered at the University of Adelaide is also a five-year course.

According to federal Government website, My Future entry to the Adelaide-based course is highly competitive and requires passing the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT).Applicants must also achieve a top 10 per cent TER and attend a structured interview.

In 1999 while Dr Cooper was studying she was offered the opportunity to do her elective at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital. The hospital then offered her a lecturing position and it was during this period that she first visited Adelaide.

“I enjoyed working here and enjoyed the lifestyle so I decided to stay,” Dr Cooper says. That was seven years ago.

“I enjoy dentistry because every day is different and I encounter new challenges. It is a profession responsible for the total oral health of people and a many may not realise good oral health is integral to good general health.”

“As dentists we can improve the quality of life for people through diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral diseases and conditions involving the teeth and surrounding tissues.”

Dr Cooper stresses healthy teeth and gums can prevent the development of many other conditions, including heart problems.

“Maintaining optimum dental health for children is more important now than ever before because educating them spares them from the bad dental experiences,” she says.

“Cosmetic dentistry is particularly satisfying because not only is someone’s appearance improved, it boosts self confidence in a person.”

“Then there are those patients who have a toothache and it is very satisfying just to ease their pain.”