Looking for ethical dental treatment and education for all people

“It was at that point that I knew dentistry would be my future,” Dr Chinotti said.

The Ingham student enjoyed her experience so much that she returned for more work experience over her final years of school. As luck would have it, her graduation from high school coincided with the opening of James Cook University’s Dental School in Cairns.

“It was an adventure being part of the inaugural cohort of students.  Not all the facilities were ready so it meant trips to Townsville to use anatomy labs, driving to Smithfield to the off-site dental simulation clinic and studying in our demountable home-rooms until the Dental building was complete”.

During her years at the JCU Dental School Dr Chinotti discovered a passion for health education and promotion that would shape her future career.

“It started during my fourth year of study when we were asked to complete research projects. My group and I chose a qualitative project where we reviewed Atherton Shire residents’ perspectives on their oral health and their oral health literacy”.

It was Dr Chinotti’s first experience in the field of Oral Health Promotion.  After seeing the impact that proper education could have on a community, she knew it was the direction she wanted to follow.

After practicing as a Dentist in Ingham and Townsville, she returned to JCU to study for a Master of Public Health, majoring in health promotion.

A relocation to Sydney for family reasons saw her consider career options within the field of health promotion.

In January 2019, Dr Chinotti was appointed the Australian Dental Association’s new Oral Health Promoter.  A role she believes will give her a platform from which to effect real change in the delivery of oral health education on a national level.

“My current role as the ADA’s Oral Health Promoter is exactly what I want to do. It incorporates both health promotion and dentistry.  It gives me the chance to help educate the Australian public and assist other dental professionals to improve oral health nationally.

“I’ll be overseeing the creation and implementation of the Association’s Dental Health Week Campaign, as well as completing all other oral health promotion work.”

So far this has included developing the ADA’s Oral Health Promotion Strategy and resources for practitioners, including fact sheets addressing oral health and eating disorders, in collaboration with the National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC)”.

“My driving force has always been about fair, ethical dental treatment and education for all people,” Dr Chinotti said.

“I hope in some way I can contribute toward achieving this.”