Dentaltown May 2022 - 51

Office Visit
Where do you see yourself
in the next decade?
I'd like to get into teaching in some
capacity. I've volunteered at the University
of Alabama at Birmingham dental school
and enjoyed interacting with the students.
The business aspects of the dental education
system are insufficient and need a broader
approach. New grads should know the basics
of insurance contracts and what that entails
when they are walking across that stage. So
many young dentists work in DSOs because
they don't feel prepared to run a business.
It is absolutely necessary for all dentists to
understand insurance, payroll, accounts
receivable and basic accounting, but it isn't
being taught in most dental schools. I'd love
to be able to teach part time in addition to
practicing dentistry.
How do you use Instagram
and TikTok to connect to your
current and new patients?
It comes down to my passion for
teaching. I grew up in a dental family,
so I always had a pretty solid exposure to
dental topics. I love the nature of short
videos to explain a quick topic in dentistry.
If I can educate one person on why they
might be getting headaches or why flossing
is important, it is a good day. Not everyone
has a dentist, but nearly everyone has
questions about dentistry that can be
answered in 30-second videos.
What is your favorite
patient story?
It started before he even sat in the chair!
While I was in dental school, I attended a
party and struck up a conversation with a
stranger who asked me what degree I was
pursuing. This turned into a two-hour deep
dive into his dental history and all the work
he thought he needed. The next week, he was
in my dental chair at Boston University and
we started working on his extensive treatment
plan. Over the course of the next two years,
I did two root canals, 15 fillings, six crowns
and two extractions, and we became close
friends. That chance interaction at a party is
potentially the single most important patient
I ever met. He attended my wedding, has
traveled to Alabama to visit and is a part of
my Dungeons & Dragons group that meets
weekly. I strongly believe that dental-phobic
people should meet their dentist over a beer
at a house party!
What do you enjoy most
about dentistry?
I love the relationships I am forming
with my patients. I have owned this practice
for only two years so my patients feel like
new friends, but friends that I will know
for a lifetime. I love seeing toddlers who are
hesitant to get into the dental chair turn into
confident kindergartners looking forward to
their new toothbrush and balloon!
What do you enjoy doing
in your spare time?
I have a baby under the age of 1, so the
majority of my time outside of work is spent
catching up on sleep. Twice a week after
work, I go to yoga and Zumba classes at a
gym that provides on-site child care. My
husband and I are also part of a Dungeons
& Dragons campaign that meets weekly. n
dentaltown.com \\ MAY 2022 51
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Dentaltown May 2022

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