Rate My Professor Yolin Govender

Dr. Yolin Govender is the Acting Clinical Director (Auckland) and Clinical Director for the Auckland Dental facility in the Faculty of Dentistry, Health Sciences Division, at the University of Otago. She holds the position of Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the Faculty of Dentistry, with an appointment dated 2021 as per the University of Otago 2023 Calendar. Govender obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from the University of the Western Cape. Her postgraduate education encompasses training in Oral Surgery at the University of the Western Cape from January 2011 to December 2012, studies in Orthodontics at the University of the Western Cape from January 2018 to December 2020, and a postgraduate diploma in Orthodontics from the London Dental Institute from January 2021 to January 2022. These credentials position her as a specialist in clinical dentistry with a focus on orthodontics and related surgical practices.

Affiliated with Auckland Dental and the Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences at the University of Otago, Dr. Govender oversees clinical operations at the Auckland site and contributes to dental clinics services. She supports graduate dentist intern programs, serving as a key contact for recruitment and training opportunities. Her academic contributions include research on orthodontic pain management and dental pedagogy. Key outputs feature the 2024 article 'Does chewing gum manage orthodontic pain better than sucking sweets?', the August 2024 randomized clinical trial 'Is conventional sugar-free chewing gum effective in the management of orthodontic pain associated with fixed appliances? A randomised clinical trial comparing the pain-reducing effects of sugar-free chewing gum versus a placebo medicament', and the August 2018 poster 'Dental Student feedback on a blended learning approach'. Dr. Govender participated in the Faculty of Dentistry's SAFE-D team, honored at the University of Otago Staff Awards for health and safety excellence. She also represented the faculty in accreditation visits by the Dental Council of New Zealand.