“We have a very tight-knit, small team. There are three of us. It’s really enjoyable! I like people and having people around me,” says Vries.

In addition to spending time with her colleagues, Vries is able to spend ample time with patients every working day, and helping them is perhaps the single most rewarding aspect of her job. “Not only can I help their teeth, but I can also help them be relaxed and more comfortable during treatments. When patients do not feel anxious during treatments, they keep coming back,” Vries adds.

Vries’s affection for dentistry is one that runs in the family. “My dad was a dentist and my older sister is also a dental hygienist. When I was in high school, I visited her school and thought it was very interesting. I saw that I could help people,” she states.

Ambidextrous dental units

Living in a world designed by right-handed people can present certain problems for left-handers. This is also the case in dentistry, as dental units have often been manufactured to fit the needs of right-handed users exclusively.

Planmeca has been an industry leader in introducing dental units designed for ambidextrous use. These dental units can be converted quickly from right- to left-handed dentistry with ease. This is a great advantage for dental units that have several users and is something that Vries also greatly appreciates.

“I’m very happy with our Planmeca Compact i Touch dental unit. As a left-handed user, it is very easy for me to adjust the unit and work with it. There is also a lot of space for my legs under the patient chair,” she says.

Working with Planmeca dental units has shown Vries that they are also extremely comfortable for patients—so comfortable that they do not want their treatments to end, she jokes.

“Every patient says, ‘I don’t want to get up, I just want to lie here!’—the chair is so soft and comfortable,” Vries says, laughing.

Setting an example

Vries already has extensive experience working with Planmeca dental units, and she regards the company as setting something of a benchmark in the field. “I have a lot of history with Planmeca. It is such a great company, and I think it has been a very good example for others,” Vries states.

The company that started small in 1971 has steadily grown into one of the biggest in its field over the course of several decades. Planmeca’s 50^th anniversary is fast approaching, and it is certain that further great features and innovations are on the way.

“The owner, Heikki Kyöstilä, built the company starting from dental chairs—and look at it now! It has set a very good example,” Vries concludes.

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