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According to studies, being a dentist can be a very hazardous occupation. Practicing dentistry has certain health risks. There are some important ways to approach the profession that help the dentist to stay healthy.
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As a dentist, do you find you asking yourself, "What's next? Is this all there is?"
You need a new plan to take you where you want to go. Think about where you are going - give it a thought. And then put energy and effort to what your plan will be.
You need a new plan to take you where you want to go. Think about where you are going - give it a thought. And then put energy and effort to what your plan will be.
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Making the right, simple, tiny little decisions will greatly improve your life. This is true, whether you're a dentist, or in any other business or profession.
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A dentist may see herself or himself as an excellent technician. But dentistry -- and running a dental practice -- involves a lot more than patient care. What is your dream? Where are you going in your life and career? It's time to decide what is worth pursuing.
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I grew up loving to read. As much as I loved "Nancy Drew" books, and aspired to be capable as she was, I voraciously read "Sue Barton, Student Nurse" and "Cherry Ames, Student Nurse" books. My course was set. I would be a nurse.
Oh, how I wanted to be like the nurses in the books, my starched white uniform swishing as I walked purposefully to and from patient care, my heart full!
And nursing was, indeed, a joyous, romantic, incredible experience, as I practiced for about 10 years, the last four while in dental school.
On the first day of dental school at the University of Kentucky, I remember asking God to let me live long enough to become a dentist and be able to provide dental care to patients. I couldn’t wait. Again, heart full.
Interspersed were the days of difficulties, doing dental procedures for the first time - or even the 20th time - and being scared, worried, unsure, just like in nursing.
And there were the days when I was overwhelmed with what I “had to do.” Somethings I wished I didn’t “have to do.” Just like in nursing, in raising children, in life.
Yet, how many people would so love to have the opportunity to do what I’ve gotten to do? How many would be so thrilled to be a dentist, to be a nurse?
“Replace the phrase ‘I have to’ with ‘I get to’ whenever you catch yourself starting to complain. So many activities we complain about are things others wish they had the chance to do."
~ Marc & Angel
In your gratitude for your life, thank God for the opportunities!
In gratitude for you and the opportunity to share with you,
Oh, how I wanted to be like the nurses in the books, my starched white uniform swishing as I walked purposefully to and from patient care, my heart full!
And nursing was, indeed, a joyous, romantic, incredible experience, as I practiced for about 10 years, the last four while in dental school.
On the first day of dental school at the University of Kentucky, I remember asking God to let me live long enough to become a dentist and be able to provide dental care to patients. I couldn’t wait. Again, heart full.
Interspersed were the days of difficulties, doing dental procedures for the first time - or even the 20th time - and being scared, worried, unsure, just like in nursing.
And there were the days when I was overwhelmed with what I “had to do.” Somethings I wished I didn’t “have to do.” Just like in nursing, in raising children, in life.
Yet, how many people would so love to have the opportunity to do what I’ve gotten to do? How many would be so thrilled to be a dentist, to be a nurse?
“Replace the phrase ‘I have to’ with ‘I get to’ whenever you catch yourself starting to complain. So many activities we complain about are things others wish they had the chance to do."
~ Marc & Angel
In your gratitude for your life, thank God for the opportunities!
In gratitude for you and the opportunity to share with you,
Nursing school class graduation photo. Dr Chris is back row, second from the left.
Dr Chris Baker as a teenaged candy striper back in her hometown of Houston.
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An important concept embodied by a certain quote from Thomas Jefferson is pertinent for 21st Century dentists.
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The ability to make choices is powerful. A choice, like all other actions, has consequences. For the dental practice, whether it thrives or not is determined by the right choices. There are important approaches as to how dental practice owners can make wise choices.
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So how does a Texas girl and Past President of the American Orthodontic Society find herself practicing orthodontics in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates? It's been a wonderful journey.
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Do others in your practice community embrace Early Treatment?
How do you perceive Pediatric Dentistry’s attitude toward Early Treatment?
How has membership in the AOS been helpful to you?
What sparked your interest in Early Treatment?
Which educators have influenced you?
Orthodontics is one of the areas of dentistry in which formal residency programs offer the dentist the luxurious opportunity to spend time focused singularly on the area of moving teeth into better positions.
And, like the other specialty areas -- pediatric dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery -- orthodontics is one area in the purview of the generalists, the GP and the pediatric dentist.
The American Orthodontic Society and other organizations have dedicated themselves to providing the same kind of education for the generalist that can be obtained in an orthodontics specialty residency, complete with ongoing continuing educational opportunities to continue to grow and develop mastery in the area.
Pediatric Dentistry residencies are fascinating stand-outs in the specialty areas of dentistry because the pediatric dentist is a generalist, a gate-keeper. The Pediatric Dentist provides comprehensive care to the child patient, just as the General Practitioner does to his patients.
The generalist is licensed to and should provide care in any and all areas of his education and his competence, including preventive and restorative care as well as endodontic, periodontic, surgical, and orthodontic care. Yet the Pediatric Dentist is often reluctant to provide “other-” specialty care, after his experience in his own “specialty” residency.
Somehow the dentist who completes the Pediatric Dental residency often comes to believe that they should provide, and should be comfortable in providing preventive and restorative care, the hallmarks of their residency training, and refer other specialty care.
We have seen the GP dentist who finds himself in a community where his patients need specialty care, often without adequate specialists available, be the lead in educating himself in such specialty care. The GP’s have been our knights in shining armor. The GP’s have looked for - and found - the educational opportunities they need, and brought the resulting competencies to their patients.
The Pediatric specialty community is an amazing resource for the child patients, their parents, and the GP’s, and I am proud of my specialty as its members broaden their interest and involvement in the area of orthodontic and craniofacial orthopedic treatment, bringing in their extraordinary working knowledge of growth and development, child patient management and their successes in transforming lives of these patients.
And, like the other specialty areas -- pediatric dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery -- orthodontics is one area in the purview of the generalists, the GP and the pediatric dentist.
The American Orthodontic Society and other organizations have dedicated themselves to providing the same kind of education for the generalist that can be obtained in an orthodontics specialty residency, complete with ongoing continuing educational opportunities to continue to grow and develop mastery in the area.
Pediatric Dentistry residencies are fascinating stand-outs in the specialty areas of dentistry because the pediatric dentist is a generalist, a gate-keeper. The Pediatric Dentist provides comprehensive care to the child patient, just as the General Practitioner does to his patients.
The generalist is licensed to and should provide care in any and all areas of his education and his competence, including preventive and restorative care as well as endodontic, periodontic, surgical, and orthodontic care. Yet the Pediatric Dentist is often reluctant to provide “other-” specialty care, after his experience in his own “specialty” residency.
Somehow the dentist who completes the Pediatric Dental residency often comes to believe that they should provide, and should be comfortable in providing preventive and restorative care, the hallmarks of their residency training, and refer other specialty care.
We have seen the GP dentist who finds himself in a community where his patients need specialty care, often without adequate specialists available, be the lead in educating himself in such specialty care. The GP’s have been our knights in shining armor. The GP’s have looked for - and found - the educational opportunities they need, and brought the resulting competencies to their patients.
The Pediatric specialty community is an amazing resource for the child patients, their parents, and the GP’s, and I am proud of my specialty as its members broaden their interest and involvement in the area of orthodontic and craniofacial orthopedic treatment, bringing in their extraordinary working knowledge of growth and development, child patient management and their successes in transforming lives of these patients.
From the time I graduated from dental school at the University of Kentucky, I was fascinated by the possibilities of orthodontics for the dental patient. And, following my residency in Pediatrics at U of Connecticut, I was offered a year-long fellowship in the orthodontic department there, by Dr Sam Weinstein.
While at UConn, I learned from Dr Charlie Burstone, Dr Lou Norton, Dr Ravi Nanda. I was still fascinated - and fortunate. Dr Lenny Carapezza was an invited speaker on several occasions, and shared his passion for orthodontics in the practice of pediatric dentistry.
Dr Walter Doyle was the world’s first dual specialist in Pediatric Dentistry (then Pedodontics - Indiana University) and Orthodontics (Boston University), boarded by examination in both specialities. I had the magnificent fortune to join Dr Doyle in his practice.
Educationally, I could not be more privileged. And that is why I am passionate about teaching interested pediatric dentists and GP’s what I have been so fortunate to learn and practice.
We dentists are a funny bunch. The dentists in one’s community often are insulated and unaware - perhaps wary - of their geographically close colleagues. Yet, as we extend out into the world - for me, all over the United States, and to Dubai, UAE and Greece, we find colleagues hungry to learn and practice at a new transformative level. What a privilege and honor it is to share with our colleagues!
While at UConn, I learned from Dr Charlie Burstone, Dr Lou Norton, Dr Ravi Nanda. I was still fascinated - and fortunate. Dr Lenny Carapezza was an invited speaker on several occasions, and shared his passion for orthodontics in the practice of pediatric dentistry.
Dr Walter Doyle was the world’s first dual specialist in Pediatric Dentistry (then Pedodontics - Indiana University) and Orthodontics (Boston University), boarded by examination in both specialities. I had the magnificent fortune to join Dr Doyle in his practice.
Educationally, I could not be more privileged. And that is why I am passionate about teaching interested pediatric dentists and GP’s what I have been so fortunate to learn and practice.
We dentists are a funny bunch. The dentists in one’s community often are insulated and unaware - perhaps wary - of their geographically close colleagues. Yet, as we extend out into the world - for me, all over the United States, and to Dubai, UAE and Greece, we find colleagues hungry to learn and practice at a new transformative level. What a privilege and honor it is to share with our colleagues!
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For the dentist, having a trusted partner -- like a spouse -- helping run their dental practice can make their lives easier, happier and more profitable.
