Canberra dentist DR HENRIETTE MACRI-ETIENNE has been presented with a Making Waves Award and a Wildcat of the Year Award by the national business group Roar Success at a gala presentation on the Gold Coast.

Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne has always followed 13th century poet Rumi’s advice that “our greatest strength lies in… gentleness”.

It has, for more than two decades, been a principle of her work as a dentist and is key to the operation of her practice, Integrated Dental Canberra (IDC).

Late last month, her approach to dentistry as a holistic practice where both professional expertise and “care of the whole person” matter, was recognised with two national awards.

Dr Macri-Etienne was presented with a Making Waves Award and a Wildcat of the Year Award by the national business group Roar Success at a gala presentation on the Gold Coast on June 21.

The Making Waves Award was presented in recognition of Dr Macri-Etienne’s – and IDC’s – significant impact in the dental industry through innovation and change, and the Wildcat of the Year Award, in recognition of strength in the pursuit of excellence and the care of IDC’s patients.

A spokesperson for Roar Success described the Making Waves Award as celebrating “trailblazers who have set new standards, pushed boundaries and inspired others”.

The Wildcat Award was for those who had “gone above and beyond, exemplifying exceptional leadership, innovation and dedication in the running of their business”.

Dr Macri-Etienne said the awards were of particular significance to her and her team, given IDC’s work since she relocated her practice from the Blue Mountains in NSW to Canberra – a city she loves and is committed to personally and professionally.

“The team is happy most of all that our holistic approach to dental treatment and our commitment to patients’ comfort, along with a high level of clinical expertise, has found a natural home in the ACT.

“I’ve always believed, and my team believes, that dentistry can be different: we’ve always sought to bring a new paradigm to what we do, an approach that considers the whole person, not just patients’ teeth and mouths.”

The national Roar Awards are now in their fifth year and recognise businesses across the country for their success in areas such as product development, service delivery, global expansion and e-commerce excellence.

This year’s presenters noted in particular the difficulties faced by businesses across multiple sectors in the past two years.

“Running a business at the best of times comes with its challenges, but the last couple of years really tested the patience, finances, and sanity of many business owners,” they said.

Winning an award was a chance to celebrate “the hard work, grit and determination it’s taken to still be standing and thriving in 2024”!

Dr Macri-Etienne said Integrated Dental Canberra, which is located in Moore Street, Civic, prided itself on its state-of-the-art equipment (for example, the ability to produce same-day quality crowns in-house) and “comfort menu” designed to relax patients and provide a “spa like” experience.

As well as high-quality clinical care, the practice specialised in treating dental anxiety and dental phobia, recognising that anxieties and fears are things “we all experience at different times in our lives around a range of issues and there is no judgement attached to them”.

Dr Macri-Etienne, who has previously won awards for her expertise in treating patients with dental anxiety, says her passion is to “change the old idea that dentistry has to be painful and unpleasant.

“Rumi was right – a gentle, tender approach can be our greatest strength, whether in the dental surgery or more broadly.

“Rumi also suggested we ‘be empty of worrying’! We can’t always guarantee that completely, but IDC will always do what we can to make our patients’ experience the best possible. We’re very happy to have that recognised.”

Integrated Dental Canberra, 5/16 Moore Street, Civic. Call 6249 8551 or visit integrateddentalcanberra.au