From familiar ground to new challenges

Annikaisa Heikkilä is a health centre dentist at the Niittykumpu Dental Clinic in Espoo. From an early age, she knew she wanted a career where she could help others. At school, she was particularly drawn to human biology, and during her lower secondary years, the thought of working in healthcare began to resonate with her.

Originally from Helsinki, Heikkilä headed north to study dentistry at the University of Oulu. Her summer placement took her to Veteli in Central Ostrobothnia, and she later completed the in-depth practical training required as part of her degree at the main health station in Hämeenlinna.

“I felt it would do me good to experience more of Finland. It also helped me become independent in a whole new way,” Heikkilä says.

After graduating, Heikkilä returned to the Helsinki region and joined a private dental practice, where she spent the next six years.

Before long, her duties soon extended beyond patient care: she onboarded new dentists, supported recruitment and stepped in for the lead dentist when needed. The variety in her role made her day-to-day work both engaging and rewarding.

“When I was younger, I thought a dentist was simply a dentist. I never would have guessed how broad the role can be, with so many different tasks and responsibilities.”

Over time, Heikkilä grew curious about what it would be like to work in the public sector.

“Although I was happy in my role, I began to feel it might be time to try something new,” she says.

While browsing the Kuntarekry recruitment portal, she came across a job advert for the new dental clinic in Niittykumpu, Espoo. The brand-new premises and a permanent position caught her attention, as did the chance to help shape services from the very beginning.

Now, a year into her time in Niittykumpu, Heikkilä says she has settled in well. One of the key reasons is the strong sense of community at work.

“I have been so pleased. The supervisors are genuinely friendly, and everyone is easy to approach. You can talk about anything, which makes a big difference to how you feel at work and how you cope day to day,” she says.

Heikkilä also encourages others to stay curious about where their careers could lead.

“Changing jobs was daunting, but I am happy I had the courage to do it. It is good to experience both worlds rather than getting stuck in just one,” she says.

Heikkilä explains that the patient work is largely the same in the public sector as it is in private practice, but day-to-day routines are shaped by a slightly different framework. For example, the appointment system works differently, and some treatments follow more clearly defined criteria.

For Heikkilä, the most noticeable differences relate to decision-making. Not every decision is made within the unit itself, as some policies are set at a higher level. Even so, she feels staff perspectives are genuinely taken on board.

“The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is a good employer, and many things work well here,” Heikkilä says with a smile.

In the public sector, she has also had more opportunities to work with paediatric patients – something she has particularly enjoyed.

What Heikkilä enjoys most about her work is meeting patients and seeing the results of her own efforts so clearly. She finds working with anxious patients especially meaningful. Heikkilä has the kind of empathy and patience the job calls for, and she feels it matters to help patients overcome their nerves and leave with a positive experience.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see a patient leave the clinic thinking it was not nearly as bad as they had feared and realising they had been nervous for nothing.”

What makes the work even more meaningful is the chance to work with all kinds of people, as well as the variety each day brings. At Niittykumpu, Heikkilä has also been involved in development work, and she will soon be taking on the induction of new student trainees. She encourages others to be proactive at work and to seize opportunities to develop services.

“It gives you so much in return. The fact that you can influence your workplace and make it better for yourself and others – that is the best thing ever!”

More new challenges are on the horizon: in June, Heikkilä will step in as acting chief dentist for Niittykumpu and Haukilahti. She is looking forward to taking on the new responsibilities and to seeing what the new role has in store.