The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) announced the inauguration of Preetee Hylton as president at its Annual General Meeting on November 16, 2024.

Preetee works full-time as a dental nurse and safeguarding lead at a private dental practice in London. She is actively involved in education and training as she delivers the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice in Dental Nursing. She serves as an associate examiner for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN). She is also an honorary ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation.

Preetee is also an editorial board member of the Dental Nursing Journal and regularly writes articles. She has been featured in Dentistry, BDJ Team, Dental Therapy Update and the Primary Dental Journal. Pretee is also an empowering and dynamic public speaker, addressing topics ranging from negotiation skills for dental nurses to raising awareness about domestic abuse (lived experience) at various dental events and conferences.

Previously, she has held the roles of lead dental nurse and receptionist, practice manager, and clinical mentor to student dental nurses. As an advocate for continuous learning and professional development, Preetee was an ambassador and the dental nurses' study club co-director for the International Team for Implantology (UK and Ireland Section) from 2020 to 2022. Preetee was also one of the four founding members of BADN.

Preetee obtained her NEBDN National Certificate in Dental Nursing in 2010, followed by her BDA Education Certificate in Dental Radiography in 2013, and then her Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) qualification in 2015. In 2021, she completed her DDS Treatment Coordinator Programme. In 2023, she achieved her BDA Education Certificate in Oral Health Education and in 2024, she successfully completed her Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA). In addition to her academic accomplishments, Preetee has also obtained certificates in Covid-19: Psychological First Aid, Covid-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression, and Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence.

Preetee's dedication and expertise have been recognised through various accolades, receiving the Best Dental Nurse award at the DDS Recognition Awards in 2020. She also won Best Dental Nurse (South) at the Dentistry Awards in 2021 and was a finalist at the Private Dentistry Awards in 2022. She was one of the judges at the prestigious Dentistry Awards in 2023 and 2024 and was the only practising dental nurse to be included in Dentistry's Top 50 in 2023 and 2024.

Preetee attributes her success to a blend of perseverance, resilience, and the unwavering support of her family in Mauritius and the UK. Beyond her professional commitments, she remains a passionate advocate for domestic abuse survivors, using her platform to raise awareness and drive change.

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