What does it mean to be a dentist?

A little over a month ago I left working full time at a Federally Qualified Health Center. I have spent the last six years of my career working in public health, and the first three years were a couple of short stents working in mobile dentistry visiting nursing homes, a couple of different private practices, “Medicaid offices” and… Read More »

Business side of dentistry: 7 things to consider for when opening your first practice

Editor’s note: This is the 12th article in a series exploring the business aspects of the dental profession, from starting a practice and marketing to hiring staff and finances. Decided to do a start up? Here’s a few pointers that may make you a little more successful in this venture: 1. A thorough demographic analysis. Although, I’ve seen… Read More »

Something to be thankful for

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… Read More »

Connecting the dots

I remember watching Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement address as a dental school applicant who was hopeful (and a bit scared) about her future. In it, he spoke of three lessons he wanted to impart on the graduating class that year. The first, the one that resonated the most with me then, and continues to echo down the… Read More »

The medicine and dentistry divide in cancer care

We have a problem. There is a troubling gap between the medical and dental communities when it comes to cancer care. As a result, health care providers and their patients alike experience a great deal of frustration regarding the lack of dental care available to patients with cancer. In my training, I met a middle-aged man who had… Read More »

Business side of dentistry: When to do a startup?

Editor’s note: This is the 11th article in a series exploring the business aspects of the dental profession, from starting a practice and marketing to hiring staff and finances. Doing a startup may seem exciting, but as I’m going through it myself currently, I can say it is one scary endeavor. Probably scarier than anything else I’ve ever… Read More »