It was August 2001, the first time I stepped foot into a school in the United States. The year before I was in my native country of South Korea, which has a much different culture than that of the United States. In retrospect, it was during this time of transition that provided a foray into my discovery of dentistry. Not many months after my family and I moved to the U.S., I met a dentist who allowed me to shadow and perform basic dental duties such as replacing the rubber bands on patients ' braces, which he insisted would help my dexterity. Performing these tasks reminded me of my favorite childhood hobbies such as building miniature cars and robots. This experience gave me the opportunity to develop my dexterity with tools and sparked my …show more content…
I participated in a mission trip to Mongolia after my first year of undergraduate studies. One of my mission team members was a dentist and provided free dental extractions to people in the town we stayed. I volunteered to help clean dental equipment and assist the team member while she performed tooth extractions. Although the work was arduous, the relief of having diseased teeth removed was clearly visible on the faces of those who received the procedures. I was very sad to find out the people chose to get rid of their teeth rather than receiving a simple restoration procedure because they could not afford to see a dentist. The trip to Mongolia reassured me of my passion for dentistry. Moreover, my respect for the dentist 's willingness to utilize her ability to serve others ignited the desire within me to serve those in underserved …show more content…
Having grown up in an ethnically homogeneous nation, I was not accustomed to interacting with people with different color and culture. Serving people from diverse backgrounds, however, helped me to understand and to embrace their differences better. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to work closely with people from a different culture than my own because as a future dentist, it is crucial for me to develop empathy toward my patients in order for me to treat them with
Milder had terminal cancer. I was immediately distraught, wondering how Dr. Milder could operate his practice despite knowing his diagnosis. I gradually realized that it was Dr. Milder's commitment to the practice of dentistry that empowered him to serve others in the face of overwhelming personal adversity. Inspired by Dr. Milder’s optimism and persistence, I started participating in the San Diego County Dental Society initiatives he introduced me to, where I discovered how dentists came together to treat homeless veterans, raise funds for educational programs, and deliver oral hygiene supplies to underserved neighborhoods. I now aspire to follow in these proactive dentists’ footsteps and extend my reach beyond private practice by caring for individuals without adequate resources, promoting public knowledge of oral health, and mentoring future dentists. Although Dr. Milder will not watch my career develop, furthering his chain of compassion as a leader in the dental community will honor his legacy and produce a lifetime of fulfillment and
The career I have chosen for my future is to become a registered dental hygienist. It wasn’t until I actually learned what dental hygienists do that influenced my interest from medical to dentistry. The first honest reason I was gravitated to dental hygiene was because of the salary. I didn’t really know what Dental Hygienist actually did until I did some research.
It's important for any high school student to have an idea or plan of what they want to pursue in the near future. Most students want to go into the medical field, become a professional athlete, a lawyer, etc. Many talk about becoming a dentist, but not a dental assistant. Simply because they feel like it's not that big of a title of being a dental assistant as compared to a dentist. Little do they know dental assistants play a big role as well in the office. A dental assistant does many tasks and duties that help benefit the dentist and also the patients.
Did you know that the dental assisting profession has been projected to grow 18 percent during the years of 2014 through 2024, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations? And from there who knows, the sky's the limit. But what exactly does a dental assistant do?
A few weeks ago when I went to the dentist I asked my hygienist a bunch of questions while she was working on my teeth. She was telling me how she has always had a passion for teeth and she would never trade her job for any other. She started off as a dental assistant and decided to go back to school to become a dental hygienist. I asked her what her favorite parts of the job were, she said she has great benefits and that my dentist pays her as much as a doctor would make. Some of her favorite parts of working in a dental office is that she has close relationships with her coworkers because of the size of the facility. She likes working as a hygienist better than an assistant because she is pretty much her own boss and can do things the way she prefers to do them.
Dentistry as a profession over the years has evolved rapidly in light of new scientific evidence. Rapidly evolving science and technology have implemented changes within dentistry as evidenced by new standards and guidelines being produced by nationally recognised associations including National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in Scotland, in provision of new scientific evidence. The latest standards and guidelines produced, endorse everyday clinical practice through evidence based dentistry (REF). All dental professionals as part of continued professional development are expected to keep to date on relevant guidelines and knowledge related to their practice (REF). This is supported by the General Dental Council who state all clinicians must maintain their professional knowledge and competence throughout their working career (REF).
In conclusion, dental professionals need to recognise, understand, address and respect the issues that may arise within the diverse range of patients that they encounter. Being aware of the nature of the diversity of patients will help manage trans-cultural issues that may arise during the utilization of dental services and better accommodate individual patient needs and concerns while reducing health inequalities (CQC. 2010). However, it is extremely important to recognize that these are only possible barriers and are not fixed to all patients within ethnic groups.
I can remember being a little boy sitting at the piano in church, listening to the preacher talk of how Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, which symbolizes the idea that we are here to serve. That message profoundly resonated with me throughout life. It was not until I began accompanying my grandmother to her multiple dental visits that I was able to see how I could put this calling of service into action. I saw firsthand the significant positive impact my grandmother’s dentist was able to make in her life, which encouraged me to want to learn about the field of dentistry. I then started researching dental health and learning of the importance of oral healthcare and how it affects the entire body. I then began to learn of how patient access to proper dental care was limited because of several factors such as, financial barriers, transportation, and dental fear, especially in the underserved minority communities. Given the shortage of black dentists, I realized I could make a positive difference by being an inspiration to those in the community, as well as serve in a professional career that would provide needed healthcare to the community. This is when I began to develop such a strong passion for
My interest in the dental industry happen by total happenstance. As a successful cosmetologist, I wasn 't planning on being in this industry nor did I have any interest dentistry initially. By someone 's advice I decided to take a chance on it. Upon my visit to a ten week dental assisting program, I met with an admissions counselor. She, also a cosmetologist, mentioned that she noticed a lot cosmetologists transitioning over into dentistry. That sparked an interest in me to look into other more reputable schools. I thought about the two industries and how much they have in common. Things like dentistry being very skill-based and having an aspect of art. There is definitely a certain level of hand skills that you have to have, as well as working
A passion that I've always had is to genuinely care and help others. Whether that was lending a hand or even just helping my mom do the dishes. Being service oriented is a quality that I've always cherished. From a young age, I knew that when I grew up I wanted to have the opportunity to expand health care and have an impact on a person’s life, that is Dentistry. Although, there are many other health professions that also provide care, what drove me to choose Dentistry is its flexibility and your ability to be original, innovative and provide care the way you wish is best. The neighborhood I live in, which is in the Bronx motivates me to pursue Dentistry. Living in a community that is predominantly African American and Hispanics, allowed me to witness how poor the quality of dental care has been.
Through the activities I have participated in, I have seen the power that communication and strong bonds can have on others. As a hospice volunteer, I realized that one of the most important things a patient approaching end of life wants, is a companion who is willing to both listen and converse with them. In this role, I established close ties with my patients and supported them through a difficult time. I truly believe that the skills I learned as a hospice volunteer also applies to dentistry. While exploring dentistry, I have seen the impact dentists can have on their patients, just through the way they communicate with them. I witnessed an instance when a woman was so deeply afraid of a procedure; however, her dentist, Dr. Chen, demonstrated empathy. Using her words, she earned the patient’s trust and addressed her concerns. By being understanding, Dr. Chen effectively communicated with and calmed the patient. I aspire to become a dentist, like the ones I have shadowed, who value and demonstrate care and patience while treating their
I was inspired by the high-tech research dentistry when I read several articles about the American researches during my internship. After relocating to the States, I enjoyed learning the importance of organized dentistry and the positive impact of the dental technologies on the efficiency of a dentist and an overall patient experience, through my involvement as a dental assistant. It brings me joy, realizing that this job position has invigorated my clinical skills and significantly balanced the repertoire of my interpersonal skills. In addition, I work as a Research Technician at Houston Center for Biomaterials and Biomimetics, part of the UTH School of Dentistry complex. This opportunity semi-fulfilled my dream to work in a professional environment where my knowledge, as well as personality, bloomed
It is 8:40 p.m. of Tuesday night and I'm leaving the King Fahd General hospital driving home with John Mayer melodies bringing peaceful and relaxing vibes into the car compartments.
When I became a dental assistant, I was able to have the opportunity to truly develop relationships with my patients. One of the most rewarding feelings is being part of a child 's first dental experience because it gives me the ability to influence their attitude towards the dentist. Ever since I can remember, I loved going to the dentist. For that reason, I want my patients to share the same joy as I did. I saw that joy during one of the most memorable times of my collegiate career when I traveled abroad with Global Brigades to
1)Why do you want to be a Dental Assistant? I love people and that is why I want to become a Dental assistant. Being a huge people person and I'm always willing to learn, adapting is essential to this line of work and that is why I will be a perfect fit for the dental assistant program. Getting to know the patients and spending time with them is one of the reasons I am really looking forward to my future as a DA. I am an empathetic person and easily relate to others. This will really help me to be able to provide my patients with the best possible care. Originally I had planned on applying to Manhattan Area Technical College for their Dental Hygienist program. They require that all applicants have a minimum of forty hours experience shadowing