‘Dr Lidiia didn’t just heal my child’s tooth, she helped her trust healthcare’

A LETTERKENNY dentist has been crowned the Ulster Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year for her exceptional patience, empathy and skill in caring for young patients with autism.

Dr Lidiia Dydyn was nominated by a mother whose daughter required urgent and specialist care.

The four-year-old girl who has autism required treatment for a painful dental crisis, but her family found it extremely difficult to identify a dentist who could treat the problem without the use of general anaesthesia.

The patient’s mother had noticed subtle swelling in her daughter’s jaw and a growing reluctance to eat.

Having already visited several clinics, none of which had been able to complete an exam due to the girl’s severe sensory sensitivities, she feared that general anaesthesia was the only remaining option.

After months on a waiting list and growing concern about infection, a friend recommended Dr Lidiia Dydyn.

Dr Dydyn works as a General Dentist at Blue Poppy Dentistry and Orthodontics. She focuses on aesthetic work and helping patients feel confident in their smile.

Speaking to the Donegal News Dr Dydyn said the case has really stuck with her and served as a welcome reminder to why she chose her profession.

“I knew that we could not rush anything so instead of starting with the treatment, I started by working on building a connection with the young girl who was really overwhelmed.

“It wasn’t about the procedure it was about making her feel completely safe,” said Dr Dydyn.

Dr Dydyn spoke about her huge respect for the patient’s mother.

“We both knew that the goal that day wasn’t to treat the tooth but to rebuild her and her daughter’s trust in healthcare.

“We took it step by step and created an environment where she could relax and understand what was happening.”

From the very first phone call, the patient’s mother recalls feeling something different. While they weren’t expecting miracles, they hoped someone would help their young daughter feel safe in a dental chair.

“When we arrived, Dr Lidiia’s approach was unlike anything we had experienced before.

“She greeted us personally, crouched to my daughter’s level, and began with a simple hello, no gloves, no tools, no pressure.

“The first visit was focused solely on creating comfort and connection.

“Over the next two sessions, that trust deepened, and Dr Lidiia remembered our daughter’s interests, introduced equipment slowly, used gentle explanations, and involved her in every step of the process, even though she is nonverbal. By the second appointment, my daughter allowed a full oral examination for the first time.”

That exam revealed an urgent issue and one baby tooth required extraction.

Dr Dydyn went as far as to even demonstrate the anaesthetic process on herself, allowing the young patient to observe that it was safe and painless.

To everyone’s astonishment, the 4-year-old then opened her mouth and accepted treatment something previously thought impossible without sedation.

This moment has really stuck with Dr Dydyn.

“For me that moment when she opened her mouth and I saw that trust building pay off – I’ll never forget that.

“It touched my heart,” she said.

The young patient’s mother was also amazed.

“It was the first time my daughter had ever accepted treatment in any medical setting. I never imagined we could do this without trauma.

“Dr Lidiia didn’t just heal my child’s tooth, she helped her trust healthcare for the first time in her life.”

Dr Dydyn spoke of how a lot of people avoid the dentist because of the fear or anxiety and how this is a major challenge in their profession.

So she is extremely grateful to the child’s mother for sharing their story, she thinks it will help other people to build trust and a relationship with their dentist and overcome these barriers.

“As a dentist we often focus on the technical side and doing the best treatment, but seeing how a small act of patience of empathy can change a person’s general experience reminds me why I chose this profession in the first place,” Dr Dydyn concluded.