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Provisionalization of Immediate Implants With Screw-Retained Crowns

It’s been a while since I’ve written, and even longer since I posted a technique / case presentation article. One of my long-time patients had a 3-unit bridge (#12 – 13 – 14) fail due to unrestorable recurrent caries under … Continue reading →

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How to get volunteer opportunities as a foreign-trained dentist

So you are a foreign-trained dentist who completed your Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) evaluation, received your DENTPIN, passed NBDE parts I and II, got a 100-plus score in TOEFL, and now you think you are all set for CAAPID. Before this part of the process, though, you need to get dental experience in the United States. Whether it’s working as a dental assistant, observing, shadowing or volunteering at a dental clinic, you need to be a competitive applicant for the advanced standing program for foreign-trained dentists. Dental schools value this experience as evidence of commitment to the profession, and a desire to learn and innovate. Here are some ways to get volunteer dental experience in the United States.

1. Community health and not-for-profit clinics: Look up the community dental clinics near you and reach out to them. This way, you not only learn about dentistry but also the “heart” aspect of the profession. When I first moved to the United States, one of the first opportunities I got was at CommunityHealth in Chicago, serving the uninsured adults in the city.

2. Dental schools: You can look for preceptorship/observer opportunities at dental schools. These experiences are highly valued by universities, and it can help you become a better candidate for international dentist programs. You also can reach out to professors at dental schools of your interest to get involved in their research.

3. Private dental clinics: Reach out to private dentists and ask them if you can observe or assist them. Using this method, I was able to get many opportunities to shadow general dentists and dental specialists as well.

4. AMOpportunities: This company partners with U.S. physicians, hospitals and institutions to create clinical rotations such as electives, clerkships, observerships and externships for international medical and dental students and graduates. Physicians take trainees wherever they see patients, including their affiliated hospitals, research sites and clinics. This could be a good opportunity for those who find it difficult to get observership opportunities.

5. Mission of Mercy: This is a great opportunity to get involved in a state-wide dental event and give back to the community. It could also be a good opportunity to network with dentists in your state and beyond. When I took part in the Michigan Mission of Mercy, I was overwhelmed to witness the large scale at which it operates. It’s a completely different experience to volunteer at such a large state dental event where hundreds of volunteers collaborate to deliver oral health care to more than 1,000 patients in just two days.

My volunteer, shadowing and research experiences in the United States helped me gain better insight on oral health care delivery specific to the country. These experiences also helped me become a well-informed candidate for dental school, which helped me submit a competitive application. I believe that the key to getting U.S. dental experience is to reach out and ask. More often than not, dentists will welcome you to shadow them.

~Dr. Ruchi Gupta, international dentist

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Why dental students get better rates with CommonBond

How CommonBond beats the Federal Grad PLUS loan

At CommonBond, we’ve been supporting students with better student loans for years. We have deep experience working with investors to build programs that offer great rates to students based on their strong prospects. We started with refinance and MBA loans, and we’re thrilled to now offer a new in-school option for dental students.

We heard from ASDA, current dental students and their financial aid officers that there was a need for another option to cover the cost of dental school. We’ve also worked with thousands of doctors and dentists in our refinance business, so we knew the challenges they face in paying for school and wanted to help lower the cost.

A gap in the market

Many students are familiar with the Federal Grad PLUS loan. What most don’t realize, however, is that the federal government offers the same interest rate to all graduate students, regardless of the student’s course of study or future earning potential. The current Federal Grad PLUS loan carries a 7.6% interest rate and 4.25% origination fee. Dental students are not your average student – so a one-size-fits-all loan didn’t seem right.

Dental students are a high-achieving, accomplished group. We recognize how competitive it is to get into dental school, the high rates of graduation, employment and strong earning potential. A dental career is a smart investment for you, and we believe it’s a smart investment for us because we understand the great prospects dental students have.

How CommonBond is different

CommonBond is a new kind of student loan company. We look at each borrower as an individual and use technology to offer dynamic pricing that’s personalized to your unique situation. In addition, while we were creating this new product, we worked with ASDA to build our student loan specifically for dental students. We thought there should be a better option that reflects the great prospects dental students have.

CommonBond’s dental loan interest rates start at 5.56%, and only carry a 2% origination fee.* A student that takes a 10-year fully deferred loan with CommonBond could save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.** We’re excited to partner with the next generation of dentists and help today’s dental students invest in their future.

Your CommonBond loan is ready: Get started today.

~ Pete Wylie, VP of Student Lending at CommonBond

*Interest rates are subject to change and origination fee is subject to state law restrictions.

**Based on a $50,000 loan amount

This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.

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Use your smartphone for a smart financial start

Most dental students know what it’s like to live on a budget. After graduation, money will stay tight when student loans come due. Before long, a new dentist will want to buy a practice, buy a house or start a family. As your dental career begins, your financial planning skills will be just as critical as your treatment planning skills. Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone — your greatest ally is already in your pocket. Here are four financial resources you can access from your smartphone:

The White Coat Investor (Website)

While not dental-specific, this website covers an array of relevant topics tailored to doctors. From smart investing to debt management, insurance questions and more, The White Coat Investor is a tremendous starting point on your financial journey. And it doesn’t end at the website; check out the book and the podcast as well. The best wisdom I gained from White Coat Investor was about healthy debt-to-income ratios and simple approaches to retirement savings.

Credit Karma (App, Website)

There’s no quicker way to sink your financial ship than trashing your credit. Know where you stand with Credit Karma. Federal law guarantees everyone a free annual credit report, but Credit Karma goes beyond with free score calculation in real time. What’s more, you’ll gain some credit wisdom. Do you really understand how your creditworthiness is calculated? Credit Karma explains the factors affecting your credit score and which factors matter most. Learn this sooner, not later.

Mint (App, Website)

Mint is a powerful and popular tool for budgeting and saving. You can’t achieve financial control if you don’t know where your money goes. A few months of data is all it takes to quickly open your eyes to spending habits. Set monthly spending goals and track every transaction, or better yet, automate as much as you can by connecting your accounts and cards.

The Dave Ramsey Show (Podcast, Website) and EveryDollar (App, Website)

Dave Ramsey is a financial celebrity, known for multiple books and the nationally syndicated “The Dave Ramsey Show.” People who call in to the show receive a healthy dose of tough love in Dave’s signature fashion. While some may not agree with all of his hard-line views, it’s easy to appreciate his pep talks for attacking student debt with “gazelle-like intensity.” In the same vein as Dave’s show and books is Dave’s budgeting app, EveryDollar. You might find it to be a simpler, more welcoming alternative to Mint.

For the future

Robinhood (App, Website): Fee-free stock trades on a user-friendly platform.

Personal Capital (App, Website): A comprehensive dashboard for monitoring all aspects of your personal finances, including spending and savings goals, net worth tracking and investment analytics.

~ Dr. Ryan Dulde, Marquette ’11, General Dentist

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Top 3 career needs for new dentists

There are many factors to consider when determining how and where you’ll practice after graduation. No matter which career path you chose, it is important that you find personal fulfillment and professional growth. There are typically three things new clinicians will need in order to be able to progress and succeed in their career.

1. Ability to advance clinical skills. Dental school is a great launching pad for discovering what type of dentist you would like to become. It’s where you find what procedures you excel at and what you need to work on. After graduation, new dentists are eager to learn beyond what was taught in dental school. They have the drive to advance their skill set to take on more patients and perform more complex and challenging procedures. To do that, having access to high-quality continuing education is a must. New supported dentists at Heartland Dental who take around 200 hours of CE within their first year after starting in an office are more successful, have more confidence and can serve a broader patient base.

2. Clinical autonomy. New dentists have expressed to us that when there is no clinical autonomy in an office, it makes it hard for them to feel passionate about dentistry. Not being able to perform specific procedures to your patient base can become frustrating and stifling for you as a dentist. As a doctor-led organization, Heartland Dental-supported dentists have full control over their treatment planning and patient care. This provides more opportunities to help more patients and do the dentistry you love.

3. High and steady compensation. With the average dental student debt rounding about $400,000 these days, it’s vital for a new dentist to find a job that offers a lucrative compensation package. This makes it easier not only to pay off student loans but also to have a comfortable living. Understanding an employer’s compensation model is vital to the future success you may have with them. Dentists who embrace our model have more freedom and the ability to increase their earnings potential during their career.

Heartland Dental continues to focus on these top three needs in order to offer excellent careers for thriving dentists. If you are interested in exploring career opportunities with us, visit jobs.heartland.com to view opportunities near you and to speak with a recruiter about your career needs today.

~Heartland Dental

This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.

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My path to private practice after serving in the Army

Summer 2016 was a turning point in my dental career. I finished my fifth year in the Army and had one more year to serve on active duty to fulfill my commitment for dental school and my residency program. During dental school, I thought it would be simple to serve my time and leave the military, but as the day of decision approached, it was far from easy. I loved life in the Army and the great privilege it is to serve, but I knew that it would be difficult for my wife and five kids to constantly move every three to five years.

Practice ownership scared me. In my process of searching for practice opportunities, I talked to many dentists who expressed the highs and lows of private practice. A friend of mine told me, “Rich, things are going well now, but a year ago, I felt like I just wanted to go out into a cold winter night and never be seen again.” Conversations like this made me apprehensive to take the plunge into practice ownership.

In September 2016, I made the decision to stay in the Army. Two weeks later, my friend from dental school called me out of the blue and asked what my plans were. I informed him of my decision to stay in the Army and explained my reasons (security, retirement, health benefits). He encouraged me to come out to Washington, meet with his business partner and explore the potential of working with them.

My wife and I went to Seattle in mid-September and met with Dr. Adam Cramer, who owns multiple practices and is the CEO of Atlas Dental Group. Dr. Cramer explained his vision and purpose for creating Atlas Dental Group, which was to “[preserve] the integrity of private practice while leveraging the benefits of the cooperative group.” He explained that each practice within the group was unique. Each office is managed and owned by a different dentist, with Dr. Cramer being the only person having partial ownership in all offices. Also, each office has an assigned clinical director who oversees the daily operations within the practice.

This opportunity was appealing to me for several reasons. First, it allowed me to have immediate ownership in an office. Second, I wouldn’t have to run the day-to-day operations of the practice alone. The Atlas team has staff that helps with HR, training office managers, IT support, analysis of the practice finances, hygiene support and leadership development. Finally, it gave me an opportunity to have the mentorship and support I would need on my path to becoming a better clinician and practice owner.

Some may look at this model and automatically think it’s a DSO, and by a strict definition, they are probably right. However, I’m in charge of the daily operations of my practice (hiring, supply ordering, marketing, team training, etc.). When I get stuck with a clinical or staff problem, I contact Dr. Cramer, and he coaches me through it. If I ever have questions about how to resolve a front-desk problem, I contact Traci, who is in charge of training and supporting our front-office team. If there is an IT issue, I talk to Rich, who leads IT for Atlas. There is a support component, but at the end of the day, I am the one who decides how to implement the advice I get from it.

July 1, 2017, was my final day on active duty as an Army dental officer, and our family moved to Port Angeles, Washington. There have been bumps in the road such as delays in obtaining the practice loan, staff turnover, etc. I have had to make some tough decisions since we took over the practice, and it has been a blessing to have a great team to guide and encourage me. My practice situation is not the typical route that most people take, but it has helped me make the transition from military to private practice, which I had always planned on since dental school.

~ Dr. Richard Carlile, Virginia ’11, Eleven Eleven Dental

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8 tips for DAT success

There is no magic formula for getting a high score on the Dental Admission Test (DAT), but there are things you can do to set yourself up for success. The following tips are intended to help you fully prepare for the DAT so that you can feel relaxed and confident on test day.

1. Review the test specifications. The Candidate Guide includes an in-depth breakdown of all the subjects covered on the test. You should review the specifications to make sure that you know what you will be expected to know when taking the test.

2. Identify your areas of strength and weakness. Based on the test specification, decide where you are strong and where you are weak. Doing so should help inform your study plan.

3. Consult with faculty and advisors. If you are in school, consult with faculty who know you well and your prehealth advisor if your program has one. Ask them for preparation advice and tips on finding helpful resources.

4. Make a plan. Based on your review of the test specifications, your assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, and your consultation with faculty and advisors, devise a study plan. Students who have scored well on the DAT have shared that they studied for 10-12 weeks prior to their exam for four to eight hours a day. Figure out what you will study and in what order. This is where a third-party study course can be helpful if you struggle to set or stick to a schedule.

5. Know the rules. As you prepare for the test, be sure to familiarize yourself with the DAT website and the DAT Guide. You will be expected to abide by the rules outlined in the guide. If you violate a rule, even inadvertently, it could result in your scores being voided and a retest penalty could be assessed.

6. Give yourself time. Be honest with yourself about how much you will be able to study per day and per week. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to prepare. If you make a realistic plan and are meeting all of your study goals, it will help you build confidence and reduce anxiety as your test date approaches. The reverse also is true; if you are not meeting your study goals, you may begin to feel overwhelmed and forced to cram. That could raise your anxiety level and negatively impact your performance on the test.

7. Be prepared. Make sure that you have studied all necessary subjects and familiarized yourself with both the rules of the test and the procedures you will follow at the test center. You want to do everything you can to make sure that you feel confident and relaxed when you take the test.

8. Study differently if you retake the test. If you do not attain your desired score on your first attempt, unless you felt unprepared in one or more subject areas, studying in the same way is unlikely to change your score. Think of it this way: The DAT is designed to be an accurate measure of your ability level. In order to raise your score, you need to raise your ability level.

The ADA does not endorse any third-party study courses or materials. This is not to say that those courses or materials would not be helpful, but the information they provide has not been vetted by the ADA and may not be accurate. Be sure to read through the Candidate Guide available on www.ada.org/dat to familiarize yourself with the rules governing the DAT. Contact the Department of Testing Services (DTS) at [email protected] or 800-232-1694 with any questions.

~American Dental Association

This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.

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Using innovative marketing strategies in dentistry

Have you ever searched or shopped for a product online and then opened Instagram or Facebook? You probably saw an advertisement from that company after you did. How was it able to target you so quickly, and what does this have to do with your future dental practice? The answer is remarketing, a form of online advertising that allows you to place ads in front of people who recently visited your website.

According to Jordan Glickman, founder of North Carolina-based Impremis Marketing, in the past, most dentists did not market their practices. If they did, they would use traditional advertising tools such as phonebook entries, billboards or fliers. However, there has been a shift toward digital marketing practices for dentists, which can target specific populations and use minimal labor to acquire new prospects, qualify them and schedule them for their first appointment — all without interacting with a human.

Implementing these high-level marketing strategies does require a certain level of tech savvy, so if that’s an area in which you don’t have a skill set, there are a number of agencies that can help you. To get started, one of the first steps in using this type of marketing is to map out a customer journey funnel, which takes the “customer” — your patient — from being unaware of your business through the “journey” of becoming a long-term patient. You want to get in front of both warm and cold audiences that are your target market. Both audiences should be narrowed down by their age, location, income and occupation. According to Glickman, this is more effective than solely handing out fliers or using billboards because you’re putting your message right in front of the patient population you want to reach.

Finish reading this article in the April issue of Contour magazine.

~Annce Shah Kadri, Boston ’22

Did you know that you could sign up to receive an email whenever the digital issue of Contour is available? Log in to your profile, select “My ASDA” and update your publications preferences.

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Saying ‘no’ as a path to time management

Whether you are a dental student, an experienced practitioner or someone just entering practice, time management is an important skill that can help alleviate stress. In a new episode of the Beyond the Mouth podcast from the ADA Center for Professional Success, Dr. Erinne Kennedy discusses her solutions to dealing with stress as a student and a new dentist. Early in her educational career, she began to feel overwhelmed by all the projects she was taking on.

“I was a senior in dental school, and I was on a flight back to Ft. Lauderdale with my mom,” Dr. Kennedy says. “I remember just crying and saying ‘I can’t do this; I can’t keep up.’ That’s when I first realized that 1) I probably felt a little burnt out, 2) I probably needed some help and some resources, and 3) I started to learn to say no.”

However, Dr. Kennedy advises that simply saying no may not remain an effective approach for long. Although she was able to initially reduce her workload and her stress levels, within just a few months, she had increased her involvement in additional initiatives.

“Saying yes is probably my greatest strength and my greatest weakness at the same time,” she explains. “But when you say yes all the time, all of a sudden you realize you’re the president of three different organizations, and you have to sit back and ask yourself: Am I making an impact when my time is so divided? I’ve found that sometimes you can make the most impact when you start pruning things.”

Over time, Dr. Kennedy found that she could most effectively manage her time by thinking of her life in terms of “seasons.” In a particular season, she may dedicate herself to research, in another she may dedicate her time to travel and working with students.

“Balance is an illusion and if you’re striving for balance, you’re always going to be frustrated,” she says. “Balance is all about being faithful to that season of life, and you just have to learn to respect the season that you’re in.”

She also finds that journaling and adhering to her schedule have helped her maintain perspective and keep her from taking on too much.

“I have a five-year journal,” she explains. “I write six lines each day about my mood, a book I read, a famous quote, anything. And I can look back over the five years and see my progress. I see that things I thought were a big deal were maybe not such a big deal, and things that seemed insignificant built up over time and turned into a huge blessing.”

Dr. Kennedy also says that she keeps a planner. “If you don’t learn to plan your day and assign time to things and be punctual, it’s easy to not make time for exercise, eating right or other things that are important. My planner helps me set my priorities in a good way.”

Dr. Kennedy’s comments were lightly edited and drawn from Beyond the Mouth, a new podcast series from the ADA Center for Professional Success. Beyond the Mouth is available at ADA.org/BeyondtheMouth and through most major podcast distribution channels.

~ADA Center for Professional Success

This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.

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Why you should get involved in advocacy

I remember my first Advocacy Academy, hosted by the Arizona Dental Association (AzDA). I was nervous about participating in my first ASDA legislative event. I had never considered myself interested in politics before dental school; in fact, the topic made me uneasy. So why did I get up on a Saturday morning to come to this event?

As I sat there for an hour or so intently listening to our lobbyist explain several pieces of dental legislation, as well as the strategy behind AzDA’s stance for each one, I realized I was not the only one entranced by this process. I looked around the room and my fellow dental students from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health and Midwestern-Arizona also were honed in on our speaker.

And that’s when I realized why I was here with my peers: because we are passionate and we care. It didn’t matter that this was my first time at a legislative event. There is a place for everyone in advocacy. 

Attending Advocacy Academy during my D1 year provided answers to the questions I had about legislation related to our profession. These realizations have helped me form my own voice as a dental student and gave me hope that I can be a lifelong advocate for my profession. Here’s my take on three commonly asked questions around advocacy:

What is an advocate? An advocate is anyone who supports a cause. Everyone has something they care about. If you can think of a time when you voiced your opinion about what you believe is right or fair, then you have the voice of an advocate.

Why should I care about legislation? Politics may seem like the last thing on your mind while in dental school, but the truth is that laws govern everything we can do as dentists. So if there is legislation that we feel does not align with the values of dentistry, it is up to us to speak up about it to protect our profession and our patients.

Can I really make a difference? Absolutely! One part of advocacy is connecting with others to find a compromise for the benefit of the greater community. You could be that one person who can relate to someone in Congress and explain how important an issue is. Try stepping out of your comfort zone to see how big of an impact you can make.

My advocacy experiences so far have encouraged me to attend the 2019 ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day. Legislation is just one way dental students can show their passion, but it also is one of the most effective ways to make positive change for our futures.

Still not sure where to get started with advocacy? Here are a few things you can do:

Learn more from national ASDA: ASDA’s website has all the information you need to know about the issues for which we advocate, our legislative priorities and how to get involved at the chapter and national level.

Reach out to your legislative coordinator: ASDA’s Council on Advocacy launches grassroots initiatives in support of dental students and the profession and works to establish a legacy of action-oriented advocacy on behalf of our members’ patients and the practice of dentistry.

Sign up for Engage: Engage is ASDA’s action alert system that informs members about critical issues and allows you to participate in the discussion and processes that impact your life as a dental student and your future career as a dentist.

Listen to Tooth Talk: This biweekly podcast is presented by the American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC) and includes interviews with ADA staff and other experts on dental legislation, organized dentistry and more.

~ Christine Nguyen, Arizona ’21, Chapter Legislative Liaison

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What to expect during residency

Being a resident has its highs and lows. I love being a resident — so much so, I became a pediatric dental resident after completing a one-year GPR. Completing a residency allows you to grow clinically, improve clinical thinking skills, and further develop critical interprofessional and communication skills. However, it isn’t for everyone. If you are on the fence or potentially considering residency, here are some things to keep in mind.

Know what’s expected of you.

Once you agree to be a resident, it is a contractual agreement. Each program has its own manual that outlines the policies and responsibilities of their residents. They are typically reviewed with you on the first day, and you’re expected to review them on your own as well. Before your start date, you’ll sign the policy and agree to your responsibilities. The manual also may include the disciplinary actions that will be taken if you don’t follow the rules, such as suspensions or expulsions.

Once you start your residency, don’t expect to be treated like a dental student. You are now a trained professional, and they are expecting you to be that. Therefore, preparedness is key. In most advanced programs, you may see more advanced cases and medically compromised patients. Without proper preparation, you could potentially hinder patient care, which is a big no-no in a residency. Plus, adequate preparedness will lead to a less stressful experience and establish confidence between you and your attendings.

For example, knowing your patient’s chart, past medical history and consults completed, as well as providing routine follow-up care are pertinent to delivering optimal patient care. Also, some programs may meet weekly for rounds for inpatients who require dental clearance for procedures and patients who require sedation. Residents are responsible for presenting patients to attendings to ensure that each patient is prepared for the treatment in both a clinical and an OR setting.

Read more in the April issue of Contour magazine.

~Dr. LaJoi E. Wiggins, East Carolina ’17, Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Dental Resident ’20

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How to land your dream job

Preparing for a successful career in dentistry requires intentionality. Those dentists who want to accelerate their path to success are proactive and take the interview process seriously. To help navigate these challenging waters, we’ve identified the top five tips to start planning for your dream job.

Define your perfect fit.

Visualize what your perfect fit looks like. Know what you want and write it down. Make a prioritized list. What factors are most important to you when looking at an opportunity? Where do you want to practice? How do you want to practice? How much do you want to earn? Many candidates go into a job search without considering these essential factors. By narrowing your search to focus on opportunities that meet those criteria, you are much more likely to find your perfect fit.

Determine the best time to start looking.

And that time is now. Whether you are a D1 or a D4, there are things you can do today to set yourself up for that dream job. According to a 2016 study by LinkedIn, 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking. Dentistry is a small world, and the best jobs often come down to who you know. By networking early and often, you can make contacts that can help you identify and secure the best and lesser known opportunities. Many practice owners will plan years in advance for the growth of their practice. Leverage your network to become a part of their plans.

Stand out in your interview.

Tell them your story. You already have many of the qualifications they are seeking. Your best chance of getting the job is by being memorable. Let them see your passion for dentistry. Tell a brief story about why you chose dentistry. Saying, “I want to help people” may be true, but it isn’t memorable. Instead, tell a 30-60 second story about an experience that showed you what it felt like to impact someone’s life. Don’t be afraid to show a little vulnerability. This is how you’ll be memorable. Remember that connection is key. Connect with the interviewer and their team, and you will stand out from the rest.

Be informed about how you want to be compensated.

Do your research and know your market. Knowing what you want and are capable of earning is half the battle. You can find average dentist salary ranges on websites of the ADA, state or county dental associations, or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Know what it will take to meet your minimum financial obligations. This will help you define a range that is both reasonable and obtainable.

It’s also important to know how you will be compensated. Is it salary, collections or production-based? If it is based on collections or production, understand precisely what it would take to meet your goals and be sure the opportunity can support that. It can be easy to get stuck on percentages while overlooking the actual production opportunity. If you are offered 30 percent of production at a practice with lower production opportunity versus 24 percent production at a practice with high production opportunity, the lower percentage may yield a higher outcome. Also, be sure to ask questions about who covers lab and supply fees, as well as availability of health benefits, 401(k), malpractice insurance, continuing education and other potential benefits.

Follow up after the interview.

Be sure to ask for the next steps before you leave. Agree upon a date that you will follow up if you haven’t heard from them first. Then, take the time to send a handwritten thank-you note to your interviewer and anyone else you interacted with during the process. Be sure to include something personal about your experience with them. Few people take the time to do this, and it will help you stand out. Hopefully you will land the job, but if not, don’t be afraid to ask for some feedback. This may help you fine-tune something that will help you land the next opportunity.

It’s never too early to prepare for your dream job. The key to feeling more confident and achieving success is intentional preparation. By using these five tips, you can start taking important steps to plan for your job search and stand out among the competition.

~Mindy Giffin, Senior Manager of University Relations for Pacific Dental Services®

This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.

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Look before you leap: Lobby Day 2019

Cherry blossoms aren’t the only things popping up in D.C. this spring. Nearly 1,000 dental students and dentists will travel from all corners of the country to visit the Hill to advocate for the dental profession.

Whether you’re a student that has attended the ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day in the past or this is your first leap into lobbying on the Hill, here are four fast facts you should know before you head to D.C. April 14–16.

1. Be familiar with the issues.

Lobby day attendees will advocate on three issues: dental student debt principles, repeal of McCarran-Ferguson and the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. To learn more about each:

Read the issue sheets — These present a high-level summary of each topic and provide talking points to help attendees speak with one unified voice. It’s a good idea to be familiar with the issue sheets as you’ll leave a copy behind with congresspeople after you meet with them.  

Participate in the issue calls taking place April 1–4 — These informative conference calls are facilitated by the American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC) and will walk attendees through each issue. Registration for your state’s call is shared in the lobby day attendee emails that are sent every Tuesday. Contact Peter Aiello, ADPAC grassroots manager, with questions about the issue calls.

Watch the “Feel at Home on the Hill” webinar recording — The ASDA Council on Advocacy wants to help you know what to expect during the 2019 ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day meeting and your congressional appointments. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to hear from ASDA’s advocacy experts.

2. Draft your personal story.

On average, dental students will graduate with about $300,000 in student loan debt. This doesn’t even consider the additional debt nearly 50 percent of dental students will incur when they go into postdoctoral programs, according to the American Dental Education Association. While these statistics are powerful, stories have a strong impact because congresspeople are inundated with facts and statistics on a daily basis. Make sure you stand out by telling your story.

When thinking about how student debt will affect you and your fellow students, consider the amount of debt you will have and what that means for your future. Talk about where and how you want to practice when you graduate and the influence student debt will play in that decision.

3. Prepare to be a professional.

Making a positive impression on the congressperson or staffer you meet on Capitol Hill is important to building a lasting relationship. Here are some ways you can prepare to succeed at your meetings:

Do your research — Make sure you know your congressperson’s voting record on the issues for which you’ll be advocating. This will help you craft appropriate talking points for your meeting.

Bring business cards — Not only will they aid your relationships with congresspeople, they will help you keep in touch with the dentists and dental students you meet from around the country.

Make the most of lobby day training sessions — You will be provided a full day of training on Monday leading up to your congressional appointments on Tuesday. Show up on time, participate and ask questions during these sessions to become a lobbying expert.

4. Life after Lobby Day.

Advocacy efforts are most effective when they are year-round. After you leave Capitol Hill, it’s vital for you to keep the momentum alive and to take your enthusiasm back to your chapter. Here are three easy ways to be engaged after lobby day comes to a close:

Message your congresspeople in support of the REDI Act. ASDA’s action alert system, Engage, has a pre-filled email that you can easily modify and send to your legislators.

Lead a lobby day recap lunch and learn to share your experience with your fellow dental student members.

Participate in the Advocacy Certificate Program. By attending lobby day, you are one point closer to becoming an ASDA certificate holder and receiving a custom ASDA advocacy lapel pin.

If you have any questions for ASDA staff before leaping into the 2019 ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day, contact Keely O’Sullivan Kurtz, ASDA’s manager of advocacy and policy.

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Four fundamental ways to launch your career

As a future dentist, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of dental student life. From crazy schedules to staying up late to study and treating your patients in between, it can be challenging to carve out time to focus on cultivating the career you want after graduation. In the webinar “How to Launch Your Career!” Heartland Dental supported doctor, Jacob Berger, has compiled four fundamental ways that helped him launch his career before and after graduation.

4. Hustle

If you think you’re hustling now, wait until your career takes off. It’s important to get clear on your goals and intentions of becoming the dental provider you want to be. How does your ideal job look? What type of impact do you want to have on your community? What attitude will you show your patients every day? How you envision your future will feed your hustle to finish dental school. Your answers build the framework that will keep you on track to accomplish your goals. Work smarter, not harder.

3. Learn

You’ve probably heard the phrase “you’ll never stop learning after you graduate,” and that’s the truth. If you think life post-graduation lets you go into autopilot, readjust your perspective a bit. Use this time in dental school to develop those skills that will help you grow into the provider you want to become. Get a mentor, brush up on some of your clinical skills, read books, find a new hobby — whatever makes you feel the most complete.

2. Involvement

Involvement in a student organization can influence your dental school experience, but it’s not for everyone. Getting involved doesn’t always mean community service, but it does mean allocating your time with intention. Whether you enjoy attending events, mentoring, taking extra courses, networking with your peers or just being present where you are. Being intentional about where and how you spend your time can create opportunities you might have missed.

1. Launch

So, now you’re hustling, learning and getting involved, but what about leadership? It’s easy to get caught up in perfecting your clinical skills, causing you to neglect improving and understanding your leadership style. “Launch: A Heartland Dental Leadership Summit” is an excellent example of one of the many development opportunities available for you as a future leader. Launch is an all-expenses-paid leadership conference that is exclusive to dental students graduating in 2020 and 2021. Heartland Dental’s two-day summit is filled with educational resources that will help you take your leadership skills to the next level and propel your dental career after graduation.

To learn more about Launch and how to apply, visit heartland.com/launch.

Want to hear more about these four fundamentals? View the recording of our webinar “How to LAUNCH Your Career!” with Dr. Jacob Berger today.

~Heartland Dental

This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.

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Make the most of your travel budget

My family hosted students from Italy, China, Ukraine and Thailand from short periods up to a year when I was in high school. I told myself, “One day, you will visit them.” I started my undergrad program, and it was clear that studying abroad was not an option, but again I told myself, “One day, you will travel.” Three years later, dental school started, but this time I said, “Enough is enough. Today is ‘one day,’ and I am traveling.” I just needed to figure out how to do it on a budget.

Since then, I have been to 16 countries. I’ve hiked into the heart of a dormant Icelandic volcano, watched the French national football final, and saw my favorite musical in the West End of London. I hope by sharing my tips for traveling on a budget, I’ll inspire your next adventure.

Start with your flight. The best practice: Monitor and be patient. The Hopper app tracks flights to and from everywhere, providing real-time updates on flight costs. Hopper does not always have the cheapest flights, but it gives an estimate for the lowest cost you will find. Start watching nine months out, then compare the prices on Hopper to Skyscanner.com and Kayak.com. One of the three will offer the estimated fee. If you are going to multiple cities, compare each airport as well as train accessibility. It might be cheaper to do a round trip from the same city, but see how much the trains are to get back there from your final city. Final flight note: Consider off-season travel for better access to tourist attractions and cheaper flights.

For additional tips, finish reading in the March issue of Contour magazine.

~Ryan Twaddle, Marquette ’19, 2018-19 ASDA Speaker of the House

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Why every dentist-in-training needs disability income insurance

While you are in dental school, it’s common to think that you don’t need to worry about things such as insurance because you’re still in training. Some might think that insurance can be dealt with once “real life” kicks in, yet there are some compelling reasons for securing disability income insurance while you are still in school.

Risk management

You probably haven’t thought of your profession as risky, but the work you have chosen is highly specialized and in the event that something happens to you, whether on or off the job, you could see your career come to a quick end — or at least a significant slowdown.

A minor hand injury may not impact the average businessperson. A dentist, however, could see months or years of income fall away. So while dentistry as a profession is not risky per se, the risks that the individual practitioner is exposed to can put their ability to earn an income at risk. For this reason alone, it’s important to try to mitigate it.

Protect your investment

Many students feel because they are not currently earning much money, they do not have anything valuable to protect, but this is not true. It could be argued that, in some ways, a dental student or anybody in training is probably worth more at this point in time than they will be at any time in the future, simply because all their earning time is ahead of them.

At this point, your earning is locked potential. Consider that potential an investment, and the investment is you. Disability income insurance allows you to protect your future insurability, even if it’s in the form of securing some minimum level of coverage with an option that may allow you to increase your coverage in the future as your income increases, without having to worry about any changes in health.

Protect yourself from debt obligations

Many disability income policies offer student loan protection riders. A rider is optional coverage that you may be able to secure at an additional cost. If you’ve borrowed money to fund your education, it’s probably not a bad idea for you to look into student loan protection riders, which may help pay all or a portion of your monthly student loan payments if you are totally disabled.

Many federal loans forgive or discharge loans in the event of a disability, but if you read the find print, you’ll discover that their definition of disability may be somewhat restrictive. Accordingly, considering the purchase of a student loan protection rider may be worthwhile.

While malpractice insurance (or professional liability insurance) is a completely separate product from disability income insurance, it’s often presented as the “other insurance” dentists in training should familiarize themselves with and secure early on in their careers.

If you currently are in training and are concerned about your risk exposure, there are a few reasons to secure malpractice insurance while you are still in school. Most schools will ensure that you are covered for malpractice while in training under the auspices of their program. One possible exception may be in the event of an externship. If you are participating in an externship, make certain that the coverage through your dental school provides coverage. If it does not, you will need to purchase separate coverage. In addition, you will need your own coverage when taking your board exams. This information should help further your education on your risk exposure and guide you along your path.

~Jamie L. Fehrs, MBA, Financial Services Associate, Treloar & Heisel, Inc. [email protected]

This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.

Treloar & Heisel and Treloar & Heisel Risk Management are divisions of Treloar & Heisel, Inc. Insurance products offered through Treloar & Heisel, Inc. For advice on the discussed topics, please review with your licensed advisor. 19-019

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What a career in human resources taught me about dentistry

As a dental student, we’re often not confronted with the importance of experience in business settings. My work history as a human resources professional gave me firsthand insight into the key leadership and management skills that I can use as a practicing dentist.

In 2009, I graduated as a dentist in Iraq. Shortly thereafter, the country became engulfed in chaos and terrorism that impacted all aspects of life. A year later, I applied for a human resources position in an international development organization as an alternative to practicing dentistry. At this time, medical professionals and teachers were targeted communities since these two populations had the greatest influence in educating people and standing against violence. After one life-threatening year of residency, I made the decision to work in another field as a means of survival.

It was at this time that I discovered my interest in many new areas such as public speaking, leadership, critical thinking, people management, negotiation and emotional intelligence. I realized that these skills could also transfer to my career as a dentist. I continued to grow in the HR industry, eventually becoming the HR manager of my organization, but I decided to leave Iraq for the United States in 2013.

I began a new chapter of my journey in San Diego, California, where I started the reaccreditation process to practice dentistry in the United States. It was impossible to study without working, but I was unsure of whether I should work as a dental assistant or rely on my HR management experience. I ended up working in leadership and health care management while fulfilling the requirements to be accepted into an IDP program. I also started a Masters of Public Health program, but four months before graduation, I received a letter of acceptance into an IDP program in Mexico. I decided to hold my MPH position, resign from my job as a supervisor and head to Mexico in 2017 to begin my two-year IDP program.

During the years I worked in HR and management, I learned a lot about how important it is for dentists to possess strong leadership skills. In San Diego, I worked in a dental clinic and then a large community clinic, and I witnessed how difficult it is to manage staff problems, to select the right candidate, manage patient complaints and other issues that require strong leaders. I was able to help practices by setting workplace values, hiring the right people, mentoring and leading performance improvement planning. After a few months of applying these changes, the results were undeniable: Practice productivity was at its highest, staff turnover dropped and patient satisfaction rates were high. In the end, patients were satisfied with the level of professionalism they experienced as well as the result of the procedures they received.

In our dental practices today, we have many team members we have to lead: front office staff, benefits coordinators and office managers, dental assistants and hygienists. As a result of my HR training and experience, I will be able to apply the lessons I learned to get the best from my dental team. Creating and sharing your vision, effective listening, accepting and encouraging new ideas, and then supporting your staff to implement them will only empower your team. In addition, your appreciation and recognition will motivate them to keep doing a good job. Leading by example, positively engaging with your staff, and setting and evaluating goals will help ensure you maintain a prosperous dental practice.

~Mohlab Al Sammarraie, International Student, Universidad de La Salle Bajío, Mexico ’19