Louise Baguley graduated as a dental hygienist from the Royal Dental Hospital, London, and has since built over 30 years of experience in preventative care. Her passion for guiding patients toward better oral health led her to the Curaden Academy and its iTOP, Individually Trained Oral Prophylaxis programme, where she now contributes as a Lecturer. Here, she shares her story:
“I was first introduced to iTOP in 2008 when I was invited to attend a seminar in Prague, presented by the founder of the programme himself, the late Jiri Sedelmayer. At that point, I had already been working as a dental hygienist for over 20 years, yet the course completely reframed how I approached oral health. I spent three concentrated days exploring the iTOP philosophy and was fully immersed in this new way of thinking.”
“It was my first experience with the Touch2Teach concept, and the importance of guided biofilm control tailored to each individual. It immediately resonated with my passion for prevention.”
For Louise, iTOP was more than a training course; it was a shift in mindset:
“The philosophy of iTOP perfectly aligned with my own values as a clinician. It wasn’t just about telling patients what to do; it was about showing, guiding, and empowering them in a way that is effective, non-traumatic, and sustainable. I knew I wanted to share this with others.”
Becoming a UK iTOP Lecturer with the Curaden Academy allowed Louise to combine her clinical expertise with a deeper mission: to support other professionals in rethinking what preventative care can truly look like.
At its core, iTOP is about teaching dental professionals how to guide patients in achieving optimal oral health using personalised techniques. The course explores the challenges of biofilm control, the systemic impact of poor oral hygiene, and, crucially, how to apply this knowledge practically and empathetically.
The iTOP programme includes four seminar levels: Introductory, Advanced, Recall, and Educator. The Introductory session is a one-day course that lays the foundation. The Advanced level delves deeper over two days, both courses introduce the hands-on Touch2Teach method. Louise explains:
“There’s a strong emphasis on practical learning throughout. With the Touch2Teach approach, we use real-life scenarios to personalise routines to each patient’s anatomy, needs, and lifestyle. It’s about helping patients to help themselves and finding value in that process.”
The Recall seminar offers an opportunity to revisit and refresh key skills annually. And to meet up with like-minded dental professionals. For those interested in becoming instructors themselves, the Educator level offers a four-day immersive experience that completes the training journey.
Reflecting on her experience as an iTOP Lecturer, Louise has witnessed first-hand the shift it creates for dental professionals:
“It’s genuinely inspiring to see those lightbulb moments, when clinicians realise that, despite years of training, they may not have fully appreciated their own oral care routines in such detail. I’ve had participants say things like, ‘I never realised I didn’t know how to brush my teeth properly.’ That level of honest reflection is what makes iTOP so impactful. It’s about unlearning, then relearning together.”
Louise believes the course offers something deeper than clinical instruction; it reconnects professionals with the reason many joined the field in the first place.
“iTOP has transformed how many dental teams approach prevention. Rather than defaulting to treatment, we focus on equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills to train patients in effective self-care. That leads to fewer interventions, better long-term outcomes, and more engaged patients. It’s also brought fun back into oral health for me, the show, tell, do has become second nature.”
For more information about iTOP courses and to book your place on one, please visit The Curaden Academy website http://www.curadenacademy.com/
To arrange a Practice Educational Meeting with your Curaden Development Manager please email us on sales@curaden.co.uk
