Dr. Simpson, middle, at her white coat ceremony.

Let me start by saying, I hated dental school when I was in it.

My father had been having some undetermined health problems, so when I moved to Boston to attend Tufts University School of Dentistry, in the back of my mind there was some ever-present apprehension about what was going on with him. My father was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer and initially given four months to live — two months into me starting dental school.

So professionally, here I was in my first year of high-level graduate education almost a thousand miles from home, and personally, thinking my father was going to die.

Fortunately, he lived for another two and a half years, but he did end up passing away three days after I took part 2 of the NBDE.  I think it’s fair to say, no one would be surprised that I hated dental school.

Dr. Simpsion spending time at her dental school’s lab.

When I finally finished requirements and signed out, I felt with all my heart, that I was wasn’t going to practice dentistry.  In my mind, my pursuit of dentistry was twisted up with my father’s illness and ultimate death, and I didn’t want to be involved with dentistry in any way.

After a GPR and a couple years of working, the coinciding associations of dentistry and my father’s illness and death began to separate.

It took me five years after graduating before I went back to Boston, which was a lifetime sooner than I ever planned on. On my flight to Boston, serendipitously I got bumped up to first class. It was the confirmation I needed that this was going to be a good trip. The amazing thing was, walking around the city after I took a continuing education course I was there for, all I could remember were the good times: waking up early on a Saturday to meet one of my friends at Barnes and Noble to have coffee and look at magazines, trying to figure out where we were going to study, trying different cupcake shops, helping one of my friends put together the invitations for her wedding, going to the movies or out to eat, and hitting the town with my friends.

I was surprised at myself because for the first few years out of school, when people asked me how I had liked Boston, my answer, without fail was “I hated it.” I would then explain about dad getting sick and passing away while I was in school there.

To be able to walk around Boston and feel nostalgia for a place that had for so long would cause me to give a knee jerk response of disgust, was a relief. They say time heals all wounds, but in my case, time gave me the space to separate my dad’s illness from dentistry. It gave me time to have perspective and start my career and find things that I truly enjoy about it, and have my career give me things when I felt like its pursuit had taken so much.

While I like to think that my situation was unique, it was a trying four years for all of us in various ways. We were all in the trenches together, studying maniacally, trying to memorize things like the anatomy of the Loop of Henle, how to tell an eosinophil from a macrophage under a microscope, how many ATP came from the TCA cycle, and frantically trying to get all of our clinical requirements completed. I can still see the look on friends’ faces as we told each other things like “I still haven’t done any arches of dentures!” Or “I have GOT to get done by August or they are gonna make me come back!”  “My job wants me to start July 1st but I don’t know if I’ll be done!”

Dr. Simpson and her dental school classmates and friends during a ladies night out in Boston.

At the time it all seemed so dire, and we were all so desperate to be done and start with real life.

Now that it’s over and some years have passed, I am able to look at that time fondly. None of my friends in school were married or had kids yet, so we were just “kids” out running the streets, and our only responsibility was to learn how to become a dentist. Our weekends were filled with HOURS of studying and lab work, followed by frenzied dancing (and drinking for those that drank – I didn’t) at bars and clubs to let our minds be free of the endless stressors of daily life as dental students.

I never would have thought I would be the one to say there are things about dental school that I miss. We were all in a rush for it to be over but looking back, those harried times studying and completing requirements and being with my friends, are some of the most special of my life.

Dr. Elizabeth Simpson is a New Dentist Now guest blogger. She grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 2010. Liz is a general dentist working full time for two Federally Qualified Health Centers in Anderson and Elwood, Indiana. She is a member of the American Dental Association Institute for Diversity in Leadership program and has started a toothbrushing program at an elementary school in Indianapolis. When she’s not working she enjoys reading, going to the movies, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

Editor’s note: This is the eighth article in a series exploring the business aspects of the dental profession, from starting a practice and marketing to hiring staff and finances.

Dr. Deshpande

A lot of us are thinking of buying a CEREC system in our brand-new office, hoping it make things efficient. We also consider getting the fanciest massage chairs for patients to use. You know what most patients really care about? Being attended to in time and being appreciated and cared for by our staff. Read below to read about two technologies that are already in every office but may not be used to their maximum advantage.

Phones

Did you know that many phone calls get missed by an average dental office? Did you know the most common time patients call to schedule appointments? Do you know what it costs for you as a practice owner to not know the above numbers?

Many practices spend a lot of money on marketing and getting the “right patient” in the door. Most patients will first check your online presence: your website and read your bio, then they check reviews, and finally, they’ll pick up the phone call and make an appointment. What if nobody picks up the phone on the other side? What if the patient leaves a message and does not even have it returned?

Guess what, by the time you figure out what happened, that patient called up another office and has an appointment on Monday.

What gets tracked, gets done. Consider having a phone tree — to have phones directed to the right person in your office — so the phone isn’t tied. Insurances, emergencies or billing, are three possible categories in a phone tree. Do you know which category will have the longest call?Invest in a software that allows you to record each phone conversation (check if your state allows it first), transcribe VM’s, and that helps you audit your front office member’s personality. It is so important to have someone cheerful and happy answer new patient calls.Make sure there is someone manning the phone at all times. Like most of our patients, I too, frequently make appointments for my chiropractor, personal physician and dentist during my lunch hour — 12-1 pm, on a weekday!Maybe you couldn’t pick up the phone. Fine. Ensure your scheduler reviews all VM’s at the start of the next day and gives everyone a call back. They should do the same for all no shows, or late cancels too.

Scheduling

Ever thought of your perfect day in dentistry? It actually does exist. Every dentist has a different way of doing things, and the great thing about this is that in most scheduling systems you can input your own specifications. I, for example, like to complete root canals, implants or fillings at the beginning of the day, extractions right before lunch, and new patient exams or child prophies at the end of the day. One of my pet peeves is a quadrant filling at the end of the day. Figure out what is your way of doing things and tell your front office how you’d like them to schedule for you. This is your office after all.Many business gurus agree that providers shouldn’t have unnecessary breaks in the day. While I agree with this thinking, it does not have to apply to everyone. Paint your own perfect day and try to make each day amazing.One of the front office managers I used to work with told me that the thing that annoys them the most is inconsistency and lack of instruction from the dentist. “Why don’t they just tell us how they like it? They only complain when it’s not done right.” Every single person in the office wants their dentist to succeed. In order for them to help you, you just need to give them more information.

Can you think of another important aspect of a practice? Team appreciation, bonus structures and outsourcing are other key elements. Join our New Dentist Business Club meetings where we go into detail in all of those. To join, email us at [email protected].

Dr. Sampada Deshpande is a general dentist based in San Francisco. A foreign trained dentist from India, Sampada earned her DDS from the University of Washington in 2018 and is a 2020-2021 UW-LEND fellow. Outside of clinical dentistry, she enjoys teaching at the New Dentist Business Club and improving access to technology in healthcare via her involvement in Samsotech. You can reach her directly at @dr.deshpande on Instagram or visit her website www.sampadadeshpandedds.com for more information.

Editor’s note: We know that finding the right practice can be overwhelming and time consuming. That’s why the ADA created ADA Practice Transitions (ADAPT), a service that matches you with practices that fit your practice approach and lifestyle. We provide customized resources to ensure you feel confident in your decisions and an ADA Advisor supports you during each step of the journey. Learn more at ADAPracticeTransitions.com.

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

As we prepare our hearts, minds, and bellies for the season of giving thanks, I found a symbolic comparison of those English immigrants and refugees to the journey dentists face. The definition of a pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons. In a sense, we are a 21st century pilgrim as we journey for a decade sacrificing our pleasures and time for the opportunity to earn our doctorate in dental medicine. The black robes we wore on graduation day is a legacy of the same cloth worn by clergy in the Middle Ages. The path to medicine is in fact a journey, a pilgrimage. A medical provider/pilgrim, who is entrusted to heal those in their care, is the merger of sacred and science.

Dr. Norlin

Those pilgrims of old could have stayed in their status quo, not rock the boat of the ruling English elite, or move to Holland that allowed the freedom of religion. Instead they wanted more, their hopes and dreams for something better than their present state. We could have gone down so many different paths, avenues, adventures, but for whatever reasons, opportunities, or influences the world of dentistry was the course we set for our sails.

Just like the pilgrims, we though the grass would be greener, life and work balance easier, and our mental/spiritual would blossom. Those that decided to make that journey to the new world were hit with the brutal reality of failing crops, freezing weather, faminous bellies and funerals of love ones. The dreams of dentistry can seem more like a nightmare with debt, saturation, lower insurance rates, competition, damage to your body, shrinking middle class, COVID-19 and ever more angry patients.

As the pilgrims came to fulfill their personal and spiritual beliefs they were also exposed to mental and spiritual trauma. While we might not be dying of the elements, disease, or malnutrition many of our spirits are crushed. Let’s be honest, Americans and especially the young medical and dental professionals are calling for help with burnout, anxiety, depression, and suicide rates that can be four times the rate of the general population and even twice as high as veterans and armed forces members. In August 2020, the ADA Health Policy Institute conducted a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on dentists under the age of 35. Responses showed that 87% reported experiencing anxiety, 76% reported financial problems and 55% reported experiencing depression. If you are hurting please reach out to someone, especially during this holiday season.

I am sure many of those pilgrims questioned and regretted why they left their familiar homes to a new place that they were told was the promise land. Instead they were tormented with destitute, despair, and death. The fulfillment and hope seemed to crumble into fables and lies. I know of some dentists seeking other jobs and careers outside of dentistry. After the sacrifice to get to this doctorate and new dentists want to leave shows the real challenges this profession faces.

In the autumn of 1621 AD, exactly 400 years ago, the first recorded Thanksgiving took place. After months of hardships and trials, that happy moment must have been a somber moment as well. There were family members whose laughs and smiles would never grace an earthly table, and the survivors still carrying the scars of physical and emotion trauma as they hope for the future.

Even in our best work days, holidays and weekends, we probably can remember those hard days as well, time spent away from loved ones with an ever demanding schedule, the pain in the arms and back, stresses of rising costs, and decreasing wages, the worry of a business or no show that constantly tugging at your mind or even just the mundane of trying to keep a tongue out of the MODBL prep on #18.

To earn a chair on the table of the family of dentistry, the pilgrimage is extensive, laborious, and challenging. It has its blessing, it has its curse. Some of us are excited and glad to be on this table, others may have our regrets and can’t wait to leave and others waiver somewhere in between. But take heart we are still pilgrims drawn to a sacred place seeking wellness to our soul, and each day’s a journey you decide to make. That is something to be thankful for.

*if you don’t have any dentist to talk to about the stresses of our profession, life stresses, etc please feel free to email me at [email protected].

Dr. Casey Norlin is a New Dentist Now guest blogger and went to Oregon Health and Science University. He comes from a rural background and lives in Oregon City, Oregon, with his beautiful wife. Casey works in public health, has been a volunteer firefighter/advanced EMT for Colton Rural Fire District, an assistant professor for OHSU SOD, and is an Army dentist for the ORANG 41st Infantry Brigade. As of now he still hasn’t decided what he wants to do when he “grows up.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://dentistintulum.com/?p=310

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

During the first years after I graduated from my first dental school in Iraq in 2009, I had never used to deal with practice statistics, surveys, and digital quality measures. As I moved to other countries where I worked or studied in the dental field, I also did not find many data-driven private practices where I worked at.

Dr. Al Sammarraie

However, after getting my second dental degree in California and starting my first job in community health care, which involves multiple practices that serve thousands of patients. My new role as a site dental director opened the door wide for me when it came to big data. I realized collecting and analyzing data can tremendously affect the quality of care we provide.

I believe that dentists today should count on incorporating data-driven goals in improving the quality of dental services. The data collected at various points of dental care can be essential for delivering timely and improved care. Clinics could work smarter to improve the quality of dental services while spurring innovation.

With many dental practices adopting electronic dental records (EDR), collecting data about your dental practice and patients are now easier.

When done right—and with the help of office managers and your dental team—data analysis can result in improved quality of dental services as well as practice workflow.

By collecting and analyzing your mass of data held in the EDR, you could help drive improvements in the following areas of your dental practice. Here are some examples on how big data can help:

Improve Population Health

Data can help you identify patients at a higher risk of developing chronic and severe oral diseases. You can then implore them to make an appointment and prevent the danger to the overall systemic health. This will not only improve their health but also reduce the cost of getting quality healthcare.

Reduce Missed Appointments

The EDR can be used to identify the people who are at the most risk of missing an appointment and the underlying reasons.

This ensures that you can follow up on the group and take other measures to understand their reason for failing to show up. Moreover, it ensures that you can maximize the time with the patients that willingly show up.

Real-Time Prevention of Oral Health Deterioration

Analyzing patient data in real-time alongside historical data allows you to identify potential issues that could otherwise get out of hand if not acted upon with urgency. With data analysis, you can take note of the inconsistencies in oral hygiene and prescribe the requisite remedies.

There is no doubt that big data is already affecting dentistry for the better. Data analysis will be vital in ensuring that you improve customer service delivery by working smarter.

Moreover, integrating new dental information with historical medical information for each patient will result in a better understanding of disease patterns. This ensures better preventive measures and improved quality of dental services.

When I started practicing data management and quality metrics, in the beginning, I thought it was easy to achieve a significant increase in any quality metric shortly if you only add more patients. After a while, I realized that things are not easy as they seem. Improving clinical performance and quality productivity needs a lot of work, chiefly understanding your weaknesses, strengths and working hard to invest everyone’s best towards the ultimate goal: caring for patients.

Data showed me trends in many practices that open my eyes to dig into root causes of wins or losses. For example, our sealant metrics met our quarterly defined goals. Still, when I brought all data together (patient ages, erupted, unerupted, partially erupted, or restored teeth, recall-due visits, schedule utilization, and availability). I found that we could do better and more than what we proposed. Such data-driven speculation was a reason for a pilot practice to modify our workflow. We revisited our results after 90 days. The results were outstanding; our metrics showed an 8% increase compared with last year or other clinics that did not establish the pilot workflow. Because of the data, we learned that we could do better than we thought before.

Other examples include treatment completion and cases like dentures or RCTs. With detailed data reports, we tracked our average starting and delivery days. We reviewed our workflow to find the best practices to ensure that our respective patients are getting the best quality treatment on time. Sometimes, a rapid jump in your metrics or a rapid drop indicates a training issue like wrong documentation, incorrect coding, etc. This will allow the clinicians or managers to identify areas of improvement and training.

Having a data-driven mentality, in my opinion, helps achieve quality and productivity at the same time. It will keep the team focus on our mission and be more engaged with the clinical aspect of dentistry.  For example, it’s important to understand why dentists care about preventive care, a recall system, continuity of care, and the various treatments.

Do not be afraid of numbers. They do not turn people into statistics; statistics turn patients into healthy people.

Do you think that EMR can be used to improve quality and productivity in solo practices? I would like to learn from your experience in that at private offices. Please DM me at muhalab.ns@gmail or LinkedIn

Editor’s note: For more information on electronic health records, visit the ADA FAQ Index web page.

Dr. Muhalab Al Sammarraie is a New Dentist Now guest blogger. He grew up in Baghdad before coming to the U.S. as a foreign-trained dentist. He obtained his D.D.S. with honors in 2019 and became a member of the A.D.A., California Dental Association, and the San Diego County Dental Society. While working towards his second degree, He accrued remarkable leadership experience working in public, private, and non-profit sectors. He led many departments and oversaw process improvement in education, social services, and community health. Dr. Al Sammarraie is currently a site dental director at AltaMed Health Services, the nation’s largest FQHC. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Al Sammarraie supports activist groups in Iraq that help war victims and displaced people find educational opportunities and medical care.

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

It has been a long but fulfilling 10 years of hard work in organized dentistry – or “dental-land,” as I like to affectionally call it.

Dr. Patel

I often talk about losing my community of colleagues and friends once dental school graduation happened, and how my work in the associations has brought me a new community. They are the support system I didn’t realize I needed, the mentors who have worked through countless personal and professional situations with me, and the friends who still stand by me, no matter what.

I am lucky.

My most favorite person, the one who I have always looked up to first (and the most), also happens to be my boss, my father. Through his eyes, with his wisdom, we have treated generations of patients in our hometown, Westchester County. It has, and continues to be, the best journey I have ever taken.

But what of the students, residents, and new dentists, who are our successors? I decided long ago that I was going to work hard to pay these blessings forward however I could. For me, its been my work with the new graduates, the members of the dental education community, and those trying to find their way, that has been the most rewarding.

Women, ethnic minorities, and new dentists (the American Dental Association defines new dentists as anyone who graduated less than 10 years ago from dental school), are flooding into the workforce in ever increasing numbers.

The American Student Dental Association, our counterparts in the dental education system, is full of driven, motivated, bright individuals, who lead their organization with conviction and fairness, and truly represent a diverse and inclusive body, reflective of its members.

What about us? The ADA and its tripartite – the state dental associations, and our local component dental societies, are made up of volunteer dentists who move through the ranks of leadership in various pathways to councils and committees. As the landscape of dentistry changes, are we, too, striving to be diverse and inclusive? Some would say yes.

The ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership teaches valuable leadership skills to a small group each year, culminating in a project that puts these skills to use. I am part of this year’s class. Collaborating with the others in my group, learning and growing, and hearing their insights, have been amongst the most invaluable takeaways for me. It also opened my eyes to the incredible discrimination that we, as younger members of our profession face.

Our House of Delegates is the voting body of our association and is 483 members strong. New dentists make up about 30% of active ADA membership but only occupy 5% of the delegate positions nationally. Yes, some states strive to work at filling the pipeline to leadership with a diverse range of doctors. Many of the most qualified amongst us are former ASDA leaders. However, there is a marked drop-off of former ASDA leaders staying involved in organized dentistry in similar capacities to what they were in dental school.

Why is this?

I can speak from my experience. I have been told I was too young. I have been told I was too inexperienced. I have also been told that new dentists will never be allowed in positions of leadership simply based on age.

For some, this may have put up an unsurmountable barrier. For me, it fueled my desire to fight back against these conscious (and unconscious) biases by working hard and providing real results in the work of the association.

To that end, the New York State Dental Association, my home state organization, passed a resolution in 2019 marking out a new dentist position on every state council. This is in alignment with the council system at the ADA. It was a hard-fought victory, and even on the floor of our House of Delegates, the same concerns were brought up.

After hours of emotionally draining testimony, a colleague of mine stood at the “pro” mic and simply said the following, which brought it home for all of us. Her words were “We are all dentists, aren’t we? We have the same degree. We are all humans.” As she stepped of the floor, there was a stunned silence in her wake. Her words rang true.

There is still much work to be done, together.  The statistics support this. Our leadership is not reflective of the changing landscape of dentistry, and if we are to secure the future of our profession, this must change. Change is hard, and change takes time. But I believe in us. And I believe that we can do better. Because, everyone matters.

Dr. Amrita R. Patel grew up in Chappaqua, New York, and graduated from the New York University College of Dentistry in 2011 before completing a general practice residency at the Nassau University Medical Center. Dr. Patel is a general dentist in private practice with her father, Dr. Rohit Z. Patel, in Westchester County, New York. She chaired the New York State Dental Association New Dentist Committee, is the International College of Dentists – USA Section Fellow Ambassador of Social Media, and currently serves the new dentists on the American Dental Association Council on Dental Benefit Plans for the 2020-21 term. She is also among the recipients of the 2021 ADA 10 Under 10 Awards.

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

Upon writing this post, I was asked, “What does a typical day look like for you?” I must humbly reply that a typical day does not exist for me. That is one of the reasons that I chose to partake in the profession of dentistry.

There are a multitude of factors that can contribute to a day in the dental office. One day, it could be a “ho-hum” day of basic hygiene recall exams. The next day could involve a complex series of restorations with subgingival margins, while the subsequent day could involve researching a peculiar fluctuant mass needing a biopsy. Sometimes, a mere morning can encompass all three scenarios before you sit down and have your first cup of coffee. My running joke with my colleagues over the years has been that everyone in the dental community should learn to have an appreciation for iced coffee — as it may be hot when you brew it, but will undoubtedly be cold by the time you consume it.

Jokes aside, it would be wise to take some notes from Edna Mode of Disney’s The Incredibles or Louis Pasteur of scientific fame, who both agree that luck favors the prepared. It is this very preparedness that has kept me in good stead from my dental experiences in both Washington and California. From being a restorative hygiene professor at Eastern Washington University to an insurance dental claims consultant to an active associate in private practice, I have worn many hats throughout my career. This has expanded my network to include all walks of dental life; be it student, 10+ year veteran, hygienist or even a contributor to the ADA New Dentist Now blog team!

How do I manage writing a witty, insightful article while maintaining my role as a dutiful husband, all after a tiring day’s work?

Time management.

Multitasking is the key to effectively and efficiently manage my time. For example,  balancing my finances. Does this constitute me sitting down, blocking out an hour to sit and plan out the debits and credits? No, if only I were so lucky to have that amount of time to accomplish this! What this means for me is that while I wait for the water to boil for a morning cup of coffee (still hoping I can get to try it piping hot), I will check bank accounts and emails concerning finances.

Furthermore, my balancing management approach does not stop in the morning. First and foremost, I am dedicated to treating the patient that is in front of me at my brick and mortar establishment, but, if there is a lull in the schedule, that presents the perfect opportunity to help consult and answer online questions through my work in teledentistry.

Interestingly enough, this mentality does not limit itself to only dental-based ideals, as it can facilitate an increased time with family and friends. This multitasking strategy has taught me that if I can complete errands such as getting my haircut or picking up dry-cleaning during my lunch hour, I will have more time to spend with my wife and family.

Another concept that I wholeheartedly support is to invest time and effort into endeavors now that will be fruitful in the future. I opt to engage in organized dentistry, in particular the advocacy side of dentistry. Ever since I became heavily involved with advocacy in 2017, I have learned that we as an organization have been lobbying hard to reform the Mccarran-Ferguson Act. This topic was a stalwart on our list of topics to discuss with officials almost every year.

Recently, we were fortunate to see that our lobbying succeeded and the bill was reformed! In short, by having the reformation, we loosened the grip that dental insurances had on the future reimbursements that they could provide. Our team’s constant discussions with Congressional members facilitated a momentous change to policy. By allocating time and effort now, we can have a better shot at having a better financial future.

It should be noted that with all the wonderful variety of options available to a dentist, we should not bite off more than we can chew, “Like this Camembert [cheese], I am at my most delicious when I’m not spread too thin.” This season 8 quote from the show Frasier exemplifies the need to not be so bogged down with activities that you cannot focus on what is at hand.

Remember, a patient’s emergency does not mean it’s your urgency. Far less the fact that it was most likely recurrent decay close to the pulp that needed a crown before and now needs both a root canal and a crown. But if there are five patients in the waiting room, chair two will not recline and chair five’s air-water just sprung a leak, take a deep breath and know that it’s OK to offer antibiotics and analgesics until you can properly devote appropriate attention to the case.

In summation, how can a little old dentist such as myself commit to so many roles and be productive? The author Paul J. Meyer put it best, “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”

Dr. Amir Kazim was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He completed his DDS at Howard University in 2014 and an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program in the subsequent year at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic in Spokane. During his time in Washington State, Dr. Kazim took on roles in many varying capacities such as working in Federally Qualified Health Centers, private practice as well as insurance audits and adjunct professor of restorative dentistry. To this end, Dr. Kazim played an integral role in bringing the merits of teledentistry to Washington by being one of the founding members of their established task force. While keeping busy with dental–related issues, Dr. Kazim enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures and foods. Having recently moved to California, Dr. Kazim is excited to continue his efforts into this exciting new aspect of dentistry. He is a member of the ADA, the California Dental Association and the Harbor Dental Society.

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

Something feels oddly familiar.

Sitting in my neighborhood coffee shop with my laptop open, staring at a course syllabus as it ominously lays out what my life will look like for the next several months. Coffee, flash cards, and wild Friday nights are in my future. And if I’m lucky, I’ll get the pleasure of writing a research paper or two while I’m at it. I can only hope as I start my endo residency.

Dr. Vaughn

I haven’t “studied” in six years. I haven’t even thought about studying. It’s been so long since I’ve studied that I’m not even sure I still know how to do it effectively. But still here I am, a student once more, and residency promises to be very much one of those sink or swim scenarios.

Luckily, I haven’t forgotten everything that I learned in dental school. There’s a few lessons I’m bringing with me this time that I’ve picked up along the way. Maybe you’ve heard these a few times before. Maybe you haven’t. But I think all of us, from brand new dental students to those who’ve been out a while, could use a refresher.  Here’s four important lessons that I learned in dental school and in my years practicing as a general dentist.

1. Get your money’s worth.

Every day you walk into your dental school, it’s like showing up to an 8-hour CE course for which you have paid top dollar. It’s tempting to coast. Many of us are guilty of trying to get through our programs by putting as little effort in as possible.

“D stands for Degree,” right?

But what I’ve learned is that dental school is filled with opportunities to learn more than the bare minimum. Some of the most impressive people in our profession work in dental education. And what I’ve found out is that many of the expensive, top-notch CE courses you take as a practicing dentist are taught by, you guessed it, dental school faculty. Take advantage of your environment. You’ve already paid for it.

2. Listen well

Having been a part-time faculty a few times myself, I’ve found one of the most desirable qualities in a student is the ability to listen well. Are you teachable? Can you take constructive criticism? Are you willing to own that “student” mentality?

Will you agree with all of your attendings? No.

Do you have to agree? Of course not.

But no one ever starts a sentence hoping that you’ll finish it for them. Not every teacher is waiting for your perfectly crafted rebuttal of why you did what you did. Oftentimes, listening is the most powerful tool we have. You will find that this translates well out in practice. Make an effort to actively listen to what your patients have to say, and you’ll have a group of raving fans who trust you wholeheartedly.

3. Hand skills rarely matter

Look through the Google reviews of any dental office in your community and you know what you won’t see? Any mention whatsoever about the occlusal composite staining of the Class I secondary grooves. No 5-Star review on the distoincisal angle of your biomimetically placed resin composite. Not even a single word about that buttery smooth crown margin that you spent an extra 15 minutes polishing for your Instagram photo.

Of course, our hand skills do actually matter (to a degree). But my point is that to the patient, what is often more important (and rarely taught in dental school) are the soft skills required to be a successful practitioner. If I could go back to dental school, I’d spend much more time honing that skill set. Because if you can effectively communicate with your patients, and if you can make a great first impression and win their trust, dentistry becomes a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable.

4. Don’t sleep on business and finance.

From my very first day in dental school, I was told that we wouldn’t learn a single thing about how to run a business, but oddly enough it was essential to our success as a dentist. After hearing that, do you think I made a single effort to learn about business and finance as a dental student? (See lesson #1. Hint: I did not)

Like so many of us, I chose the path of least resistance. I didn’t even look at my student loans until six months after finishing my GPR. I didn’t read a single article on practice management until two years into practice.

What a huge mistake. Such a huge mistake in fact, that now I spend much of my time talking to dental students about how to manage their student debt and avoid common mistakes that are made every single day. Mistakes that can set your career back years, and could ultimately affect the decisions you’re able to make for you and your family.

So don’t do what I did. Don’t do what so many of us in this profession continue to do. Start early. Take control of your student loans. Spend time learning about how they work, how to save and budget, and even how to invest.

Tap into the vast list of resources on practice management and how to run a business. Books, podcasts, blogs, and even YouTube. Ask your part-time faculty how they run their private practices. Take advantage of the ADA Success program and have an experienced dentist come to your school and talk about these topics (I’d be more than happy to visit and tell you everything I know).

Dental school was honestly some of the best years of my life. And although it was very difficult and challenging at times, the memories will last me a lifetime. I want to wish all future dentists the best of luck in this new school year. Cherish these moments and always make an effort to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you. Cheers!

Dr. Joe Vaughn is a general dentist who graduated from the University of Alabama and currently practices in Seattle, Washington. He works both as an associate in a private practice as well as in a public health clinic. Dr. Vaughn currently serves in roles with both the Seattle King County Dental Society and the Washington State Dental Association. He is passionate about organized dentistry, writing, and talking with other dentists about the many issues we are facing in our profession today. He welcomes any and all of your questions/comments and can be reached at [email protected]

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

The barriers for dentists to easily move across state lines, aka “portability”/”reciprocity,” has been a sore issue for the dental profession for many years. Dr. Jonathan Nash, who served as the American Student Dental Association chair of dental licensure reform in 1971, strongly believes that if the profession can summon the will to pursue an anti-trust initiative on a nationwide basis, it has a reasonable chance to topple this archaic and egregious barrier in one fell swoop.

Dr. Nash, the founder and chairman of the National Council for Improvement of Dental Licensure 1969-73, examines the state of dental licensure reform today and makes a case for bolder solutions to achieve meaningful reform.

Read the full editorial in the New Dentist News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://dentistintulum.com/?p=289

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

Editor’s note: This is the ninth article in a series exploring the business aspects of the dental profession, from starting a practice and marketing to hiring staff and finances.

Dr. Deshpande

If we don’t talk about leadership in a dental office, we aren’t really discussing anything valuable, are we? Because, what is a practice without a great leader? It’s a failure.

Contrary to what most people think, leaders aren’t born, they are made. Some of it comes with experience, other times it is learned. My personal goal is to one day become the most compassionate leader possible, to both my work family and my home family. Fulfilling this big hairy audacious goal means committing every day to reflecting, pivoting and learning.

Here are some of the best advice on leadership that I’ve received from my role models:

1. Based on John Maxwell’s book, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: “failure of a subordinate, is failure of the leader.” Always remember that true leadership begins with the doctor (not the office manager) and that you need to set the tone of the level of excellence and hard work you expect in your office.

2. According to Justin Short, author of the Lifestyle Dentist podcast, “Most of the time people will set goals of a top 10 practice. However, if you have a team of average or below average how will you achieve those goals?”  Consider carefully who you are hiring to be on your team of winners. Will this person help you reach your office goals? If not, why are you even hiring them? Wait for the right person.

3. True measurement of leadership is influence. “We must learn to inspire and motivate people, not manage people.” Think about how you motivate your team and your patients to take actions? Do they quickly follow your advice and treatment plans?

4. According to Guy Raz, author of How I Built This podcast by NPR, “an important aspect of leadership is reflection.” Make it a habit to spend some time journaling, meditating and reflecting on your day. Could some conversations have gone better? Where could you have done better?

5. What gets appreciated, gets repeated. Make it a habit to thank people and mention what you are thanking them for. “I appreciate your leadership in following up with patient S and getting them scheduled! That was very important to me!”

6. From Kim Scott’s book, Radical Candor, “be quick and firm in your reprimands.” Praise lavishly in public, reprimand quickly in private.

7. Communicate regularly with your team, sit down with them and ask for feedback. Sometimes, they are able to see problems before even you can spot them. They also have better solutions. Involve them in the decision making and leadership process. Use their talents to come up with a better system!

8. Make it a habit to read more books on leadership and mindset, listen to podcasts on entrepreneurship, and building authentic relationships within your community.

9. The most important thing we all can do is help others. We are lucky to be in a profession that has plenty of opportunity for us to give back. Are you helping your team members, patients, friends and community members achieve their goals? What more can you do for them?

10, “Find a mentor, hire a coach, and don’t stop investing in yourself.” This is something my dad, one of my biggest role models, told me in 2020 when I was sitting on the couch in the middle of global pandemic, and forced out of employment. I followed his advice and feel like a different person today. If we are not constantly iterating and improving who we are people and leaders, how can we expect that from our employees?

Let’s become role models worth looking up to!

Dr. Sampada Deshpande is a general dentist based in San Francisco. A foreign trained dentist from India, Sampada earned her DDS from the University of Washington in 2018 and is a 2020-2021 UW-LEND fellow. Outside of clinical dentistry, she enjoys teaching at the New Dentist Business Club and improving access to technology in healthcare via her involvement in Samsotech. You can reach her directly at @dr.deshpande on Instagram or visit her website www.sampadadeshpandedds.com for more information.

Editor’s note: We know that finding the right practice can be overwhelming and time consuming. That’s why the ADA created ADA Practice Transitions (ADAPT), a service that matches you with practices that fit your practice approach and lifestyle. We provide customized resources to ensure you feel confident in your decisions and an ADA Advisor supports you during each step of the journey. Learn more at ADAPracticeTransitions.com.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://dentistintulum.com/?p=288

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com

While studying for my DATs about a decade ago, I remember being frustrated with the PAT section of the exam. Why would I ever need to know which asymmetrical and strange shape would fit into which hole? How would this be relevant to the practice of dentistry? As I passed time by working on a 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle during a 12-hour overnight call shift at my GPR, I had a moment of clarity.

Dr. Khan

I am an imaginative person by nature. I have always found creative tasks like coloring, embroidering, or crocheting not only enjoyable but relaxing. However, my true passion lies in creating order out of chaos – my chaos of choice being jigsaw puzzles.

The first commercial jigsaw puzzle was made in 1762 by London-based mapmaker John Spilsbury, who mounted a map onto a wood basing and then cut around the borders of individual countries with a scroll saw. Throughout their early years, the primary goal of jigsaw puzzles was to help children learn geography. The invention of the “tredle jigsaw” tool in the early 19th century allowed for the creation of more intricate piece shapes and faster production.

During the Great Depression the popularity of jigsaw puzzles exponentially increased and allowed families a way to spend time with one another through problem solving while distracting themselves from daily hardships. More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic jigsaw puzzles offered a quiet, inexpensive escape from the ever changing world during a global pandemic.

Oral health is multifactorial and only after a comprehensive medical, social and dietary history are we able to get the full picture of a patient’s oral health. Similar to a jigsaw puzzle, it is only after putting together the pieces that you are able to see the entire picture; in the case of dentistry, as a provider you can now tailor treatment and oral health recommendations to the specific patient. Moreover, jigsaw puzzles challenge our perceptual ability, color matching and pattern recognition and matching – a dentist’s dream! Puzzling allows me to achieve creative meditation and mindfulness through the marriage of the left and right sides of our brain.

I reaffirmed my love for puzzles in March 2020 when “elective dental procedures” were canceled in New York State. Our clinic schedule switched to weekly shifts covering emergency patients. I was anxious not only about the consequences of a global pandemic but also the impact it would have on my didactic and clinical education during my pediatric dental residency. Organized dentistry rose to the occasion and I was inundated with hours of online CE that allowed me to strengthen my clinical acumen. Yet, my hands remained fidgety. I wanted to create. But at the same time, I wanted to seek mindfulness. I found my nirvana through jigsaw puzzles. My hands were occupied with actively searching for the next piece while my mind was laser focused on the final picture.

Puzzling, much like many dental procedures, creates a unique sense of accomplishment. A little moment of success that only happens because of my efforts and achievements. The final picture of puzzles has evolved from antiquated landscapes to modern and vibrant pictures-capes depicting a wide variety of exciting and unique illustrations.

My favorite puzzle is the Clemens Habicht, 1000 Colors puzzle where each individual picture has been engineered to be its own distinct hue. While completing this puzzle I was transported back to my dental school days of trying to rearrange the VITA Classic Shade Guide by shade or brightness. When I encountered a roadblock with the hues of green I turned to an esthetic dentistry tip by photographing the pieces in black & white to aid in distinguishing them with no luck. Soon enough, the puzzle was complete – almost too fast. It remained on my kitchen table for a week after it was completed and put a smile on my face whenever I walked past it. Once that allure faded, I quickly disassembled and started on my new adventure: a 1,000-piece puzzle of a world map composed of flowers has since been framed and is hanging in my living room.

A year and a half later, we are still in a pandemic and the uncertainty of things becoming a constant, much like puzzles as my favorite mindfulness hobby. In the face of uncertainty in our lives, working on a puzzle is grounding while being nostalgic to a life unencumbered by the burdens of technology. I always have a puzzle in progress in the corner of my apartment as a reminder that no matter how small – each step forward brings you closer and closer to the end goal.

Furthermore, puzzling requires singular attention and can be an avenue to center yourself in the disarray of colors, patterns and shapes. More than ever, mental health is the cornerstone of a successful dentist and I encourage everyone to find a hobby that is the missing piece to their overall happiness and wellness.

Dr. Sarah Khan is a New Dentist Now guest blogger. She grew up in Long Island, New York and graduated Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine in 2016. While in dental school, she concurrently completed a Master’s in Public Health. She went on to complete her GPR at NY Presbyterian/Weill Cornell in 2017 and subsequently worked in Philadelphia, PA for two years. In the summer of 2019 she started her pediatric dentistry residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about health advocacy and is always looking to get involved with organized dentistry on a local, state and national level. In her free time she loves to travel with her husband, complete 2000+ piece jigsaw puzzles and laugh.  

Wendell Curtis

dentistintulum.com