Yolande Keane wins national hygiene award
by Guy Hiscott
Yolande Keane from Eyre Square Dental in Galway was announced as the winner of this year’s Kin Dental Hygienist of the Year award at the Irish Dental Hygienists Association Annual Scientific Conference 2016 last month.
Over the last few months, patients up and down the country have been nominating their hygienists for the chance to be crowned Kin Dental Hygienist of the Year 2016, with more than 200 nominations for 26 hygienists.
Winners are chosen by expert judges and whittled down to just five. This year’s finalists were Yvonne Coleman from Kinsale Dental in Cork, Jennifer Corcoran from Bantry Dental in Cork as well as Mary Owens and Sharon Gaughan both from Eyre Square Dental in Galway.
The finalists were asked to compile a patient information leaflet from a number of pre-selected topics, which were then assessed by the judging panel. Yolande’s leaflet, ‘Caring for your dental implants’, was described as ‘easy to understand’ with ‘bright colouring and engaging images’.
Yolande told Irish Dentistry: ‘I’m delighted to have won this year, especially as two of the other finalists are colleagues in my practice as well. I feel very privileged to be nominated by my patients and believe we have some of the best patients and hygiene team with us!’
Yolande won a €1,000 educational bursary, a trophy, winner’s badge and certificate. The other finalists received €100 each, a certificate and a badge. Three lucky patients also won a weekend away to one of the Doyle Collection Hotels simply for nominating their hygienist.
