Dr Cameron Roling is one of the lead dentists at Lumino Rosedale and also works at Lumino Long Bay.
Cameron has been working as a dentist for 10 years and brings a variety of experience from his time working in London.
What made you decide to get into dentistry as a career?
I always knew I wanted to work with people, and being in this job allows me to meet and interact with new clients every day. I love to hear about my clients’ backgrounds, their careers and hobbies. Dentistry is also a very hands-on field, requiring you to work with careful precision. I enjoy the practical artistry that goes into creating beautiful smiles.
How long have you been practising dentistry?
I graduated from the University of Otago in 2011.
Tell us about your career background.
I worked for 5 years in general and cosmetic practice in Auckland following my graduation, at which point I caught the travel bug!
In late 2016, I took on a role as a clinical specialist for the global company Align Technology, which manufactures Invisalign orthodontic aligners. I was based in their London headquarters for just over 2 years, working with British dentists and orthodontists on their treatment planning as well as lecturing and running training courses in Invisalign.
This role allowed me to travel to conferences across Europe and meet and learn from some incredibly talented dentists.
The experienced I gained from this role transformed the way I approach dentistry. It has also made me a great believer in short-term orthodontics, and the role it can play in providing safe, conservative cosmetic treatment.
After my spell at Align Technology, I was missing the direct interactions with patients and was ready to get back on the front-line of dentistry. I joined the Lumino team initially in our incredibly busy Invercargill practice but have now made the permanent move back to Auckland to be closer to family.
What do you love most about your job?
In dentistry, no two days are the same. Every day will pose new challenges, and I love working with my team to ensure each patient is satisfied with their results. Allowing our clients to feel they can smile with confidence can transform their lives in lots of unexpected ways and it’s a joy for myself and the team to witness.
Coming to the dentist can also be a stressful experience for many people for a variety of reasons. I like to create a calm and relaxed environment, and take it as a great compliment when patients tell me that they have no idea what they were so worried about!
What are your special interests in dentistry?
My special interests in dentistry include cosmetic treatments and short-term aligner therapy. Cosmetic dentistry has come along way in recent years with the advancements in aligner therapy (such as Invisalign).
Gone are the days when teeth would have to be unnecessarily filed down in order to cap each tooth – nowadays we can straighten the teeth in a few short months, whiten them, and use composite resins to add to the shape of the teeth if necessary. This is a much safer and conservative approach which will be a lot easier to maintain in the future.
What is the main piece of advice you give your patients?
If you know you haven’t seen a dentist in years, don’t keep putting it off because you haven’t had problems. Often issues don’t become apparent until it is too late – the earlier we detect them, the simpler they are to treat.
If dental anxiety is preventing you from regularly attending, find a dentist who you gel with and who helps you feel comfortable. This will make coming back for your annual check-ups much easier.
Where would we find you outside of the practice?
I enjoy running and completed my first half-marathon in Leeds, UK a couple of years back. I was due to run the Paris half-marathon in March of 2020 but it was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid! Now that I am back in New Zealand, I will be seeking out more local events to try next.
I also enjoy getting outdoors to go tramping in New Zealand’s beautiful national parks. Next up is a summer excursion to do the Rakiura Track on Stewart Island.
Book an appointment with Dr Cameron Roling at Murray Orr Dental today.