Karen Sleishman has been employed by Hunter New England Oral Health for 34 years. Most of this time has been providing dental care to children as a dental therapist. In 2008 her career path changed dramatically when she undertook a secondment with South Australian Dental Services to develop an oral health education and training program for residential aged care staff. This highlighted to Karen the difficulties and complexities of providing dental care for residents of aged care facilities. As a result Karen has developed and implemented the ResiDENTAL program to improve the oral health of residents of aged care through education of aged care staff and improving access to dental treatment. This program has won both HNE and NSW Health Quality Awards and a NSW Director General’s Innovation Award.