Trudy Burgess, B.H.SC.
Dental Council of NZ ID: 14389
Areas of interest:
Dental hygiene
Dental therapy
Advanced periodontal care
Preventative dentistry
Community outreach
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Health Science – Oral Health
Trudy’s story
Early life and career
Trudy didn’t grow up in Northland, but she was pretty close! Spending her childhood in the picturesque Warkworth/Wellsford area, she developed a strong connection to her community from an early age. After completing school, she initially pursued a different path – a Diploma of Business, working in comms – however, her desire to make more of an impact on people’s lives soon led her in a new direction.
Her adventurous spirit took her away to the northern hemisphere, where she spent several years working and exploring Europe. This broadened her horizons, and reinforced her desire to work in a field where she could actively help others.
Trudy discovered her passion for healthcare upon returning to New Zealand, and graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science in Oral Health in 2017 – a proud moment which marked the beginning of her journey into dentistry. She quickly put her skills to use, joining Warkworth Dental as an oral health therapist the year after, where she worked for six years.
Joining Kowhai Dental
In 2024, Trudy was drawn further north, to Kowhai Dental, having heard about the practice’s excellent reputation and seeking an opportunity to work within a larger, more dynamic team. Here, she continues to pursue her passion for dental hygiene and therapy, and particularly enjoys the balance between these two aspects of her role – fulfilling her dream of helping people through both preventative care and the hands-on work of therapy.
Looking to the future, Trudy is excited to expand her skills in advanced hygiene, especially for patients with periodontitis. She also nurtures a dream to someday contribute her dental expertise to communities in the Pacific Islands, hoping to make a difference beyond New Zealand’s shores.
Elsewhere in life, Trudy is all about family. She can often be found cheering on her children at their various sports and school activities, and when she’s not supporting them, she’s staying fit mountain biking, snowboarding and enjoying time at the beach.