During dental school, we benefit from an interconnected community of experienced dentistry. But once we graduate, who do we turn to? How do new graduates find a new community? The answer: networking.
Creating a community of smiles
During middle school, I participated in my neighborhood’s Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program in the San Francisco Bay Area. The program was designed to encourage younger individuals to take charge of their moral and intellectual growth, while contributing to the well-being of society at the same time.
Ideas for increasing advocacy from Alabama ASDA
November is ASDA’s Advocacy Month, which means that chapters across the country are busy planning and executing plenty of lunch and learns and ADPAC drives. It is events like these where students learn about issues important in dentistry and how they can become more involved, spreading awareness about the issues that impact dentistry the most.
Educate your patients about community water fluoridation
Although three out of four Americans on a public water supply benefit from fluoridation, the misinformation about fluoridation is far too prevalent. Therefore, science-based decision making is critical for educating our communities.
Florida Mission of Mercy: The importance of grassroots advocacy
As a fourth-year dental student at the University of Florida (UF), I’ve served patients across the state and found that dental caries was the most common condition I saw. This is no surprise, though, since it is the most prevalent of all oral diseases around the world, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.
The upside of the countryside
When you’ve grown up in a town with a population totaling 9,074 people, wanting to become a dentist at the age of 12 might seem a bit far-fetched. What I didn’t realize at the time was how a rural hometown would benefit me in the process of becoming a dentist as well as when I return home to practice after graduation.
The dentists that have become my mentors are a husband and wife team, and they have known my family and me since I was in preschool. They have invested their attention in me for years and shown me the ropes of a dental practice. Since they both grew up in my little hometown, they knew exactly the position I would be in going into school. They also told me how financially beneficial it could be to come back and work in my hometown after graduation.
How close to live to your practice
The time has come. You’ve fulfilled your dreams of becoming a dentist! People will start referring to you as Dr. (insert your name), and that may take a little getting used to. But like most new accomplishments, this one comes with a set of new challenges to sort through. One thing to consider when buying or establishing a dental practice of your own is where to live in proximity to your practice. Here are a few pros and cons to consider when making the decision.