President Preetee Hylton (left) with retiring Honorary President Joan Hatchard
BADN WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT
The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK’s professional association for dental nurses, is delighted to announce the inauguration of Preetee Hylton RDN as President 2024-26 at its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 16 November 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. Additionally, 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’s contributions to the dental community extend beyond her work – she is an editorial board member of the Dental Nursing Journal and regularly authors articles. She has also been featured in Dentistry, BDJ Team, Dental Therapy Update and the Primary Dental Journal. She 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.
In the past, 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; she was also one of the 4 founding members of this dental nursing community.
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 recognized through various accolades. She received the Best Dental Nurse award at the DDS Recognition Awards in 2020 and went on to win Best Dental Nurse (South) at the Dentistry Awards in 2021. She was also 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.
Mauritian-born Preetee was born in the picturesque tea village of Bois Chéri, Mauritius, a small but culturally rich village renowned for its lush tea plantations and serene landscapes, steeped in Mauritian tradition, and grew up in a close knit family that fostered a deep respect for education and ambition, which laid the foundation for her inspiring journey. She now resides in Hertfordshire, with her other half and her step-children, but remains in close contact with her family in Mauritius.
Rooted in the values instilled during her upbringing, 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.