Loving one’s work comes from a collection of favorable factors. People who enjoy and thrive in their jobs have several things in common. They’re proud to work there; they fulfill expectations, make a real impact and feel recognized. They enjoy relationships with their coworkers, follow their passion, and strive for excellence rather than the impossible goal of perfection.
The U.S. News & World Report listed dentistry as No. 2 in their 100 Best Jobs of 2018, for the fourth consecutive year.
And it makes sense. Dentistry is often compared to art – it requires skill and technical ability that is unique. Dentistry is focused on maintaining proper oral health but is also aesthetically focused. Dentistry restores teeth and makes smiles beautiful, transforming confidence and improving the quality of life.
This career yields rewards and challenges along with opportunities to help people and make communities healthier.
Dentists’ 5 Favorite Things
1. Serving the Patient Community
Ethical, professional dentists are committed to providing a comfortable, relaxing environment and atmosphere, and a painless experience for adult and pediatric patients. They want to change people’s appearances and dispel those fearful perceptions that going to the dentist is a visit to hell.
They put the patient first, engender and maintain trust, and build two-way appreciation and respect. Winning for them is helping somebody feel better about his or herself through a restored smile. They help educate people on oral health, and how it affects overall health.
2. The Perfect Patient
The dentist’s goal is to restore oral health and transform the lives of patients. He provides preventive care, restorative procedures, alleviates pain or corrects dentofacial abnormalities for aesthetic purposes. Satisfaction, privilege, and joy are achieved by helping to transform a patient’s life by restoring oral health.
The dentist’s favorite patient is one who respects and keeps appointments, is punctual, and doesn’t pull a no-show or cancels at the last minute.
The perfect patient is willing and cooperative. He understands the dentist’s opinion, diagnoses, and prescribed procedures. He owns his problems, keeps on top of them, and gets procedures done on schedule before they become emergencies or result in irreparable tooth loss or gum decay. He is cooperative during the procedure and follows all instructions, allowing the dentist to easily and quickly complete the procedure in as painless and efficient a way as possible.
3. Shaping Oral Health Care
By continuously engaging in education and research, dental practitioners and educators have the ability to shape the professional role of the dentist.
An up-to-date dentist constantly educates himself and uses the most advanced techniques, technologies, equipment, and materials. He applies cutting-edge scientific discoveries and new oral health developments to resolve a variety of oral health issues. He thus advances his own skills and the profession as a whole.
4. The Perfect Dental Practice
Committed to comprehensive patient care and long-term results, a dentist perhaps best enjoys the daily tasks of thorough dental examinations of the teeth, gums, bite and oral cancer screenings.
The professional dentist takes pride in establishing, maintaining and advancing a state-of-the-art dental practice where the offices, staff, and teams display great teamwork, synergy, and flow.
They are honest in their dealings with patients, other healthcare staff, and insurance companies and will not indulge in fraud of any kind. They will never use cheap equipment, inferior or overseas laboratories, or outdated techniques. They will not compromise especially in the important area of sterilization to save money. They will pay the minutest attention to hygiene, using disposable supplies where possible and thoroughly and scientifically sterilize instruments. They will not delegate procedures and work to their assistants if they are not certified for it.
5. Teamwork
Although viewed as a “lone practitioner” profession, dentistry is very team-oriented. Committed dentists enjoy and devote some of their time to training dental students and dental assistants to help them progress in their careers.
A successful dentist is patient, understanding, detail-oriented, passionate, and positive, with an excellent chairside manner. And he teaches his students to be the same.
A good dentist is a comprehensive caretaker for your oral health. The state of your body is interrelated with that of your teeth and gums, so it’s always important to tell your dentist what’s going on with your body. Dr. Steven Hagerman and his staff provide friendly and caring dentistry in the Minneapolis – St. Paul area. For cleanings, general dentistry, and cosmetic procedures call (651) 646-2392 for an appointment today.
