Pursuing my passion for cosmetic dentistry.
The growth of cosmetic dentistry has been phenomenal in recent years. This increased demand can be attributed to a number of factors, including social media, influential celebrities, and a general increase in patient awareness of the various procedures that can be offered. Cosmetic dentistry can be defined as “modifications or treatments intended to restore or improve a person's appearance” (Morley et al, 1999). The provision of such treatment is linked to the increased demand for facial aesthetics and other cosmetic procedures. Another possible reason is the advancement in minimally invasive and painless dentistry, which has opened up a larger group of eligible patients. To put it simply, dentistry is no longer as scary as it used to be!
After graduating from dental school, I quickly realised that I still had a lot to learn. Cosmetic dentistry is not something that is covered extensively at undergraduate level. As a result, I discovered a whole new field that I felt was worth exploring further. What interested me most was the technical and artistic side involved in cosmetic treatments. For the past two years, I have been fortunate to work at the prestigious Harley Street Dental Studio (HSDS). This has given me the opportunity to deal with more complex cases, which in turn has accelerated my development in this field. I would like to share some of my experiences and advice with you and hope that I can inspire other passionate dentists to follow a similar career path.
Attend as many courses and lectures as possible!
One thing is for sure… postgraduate education has kept me deep in the overdraft since I graduated in 2011. As soon as I think I’m done, another lecture or course comes along and I can’t seem to resist. Whether it’s a composites course from the renowned Newton Fahl or a degree in implantology, I assure you that nothing in dentistry comes cheap. However, I have very few regrets! Without participating in these courses, it would not have been possible to provide dental work that meets the standards a high-class dental office like Harley Street Dental Studio.
As a Dental Foundation Trainer for the deanery of London, I find that almost all new dentists struggle with treatment planning. An office like HSDS is very different from a general dental office. Most patients come in for a specific consultation. For most assessments you are required to deal with many different aspects of dentistry, for which at least moderate knowledge of each specialty is important. For this reason, it is worth taking courses in as many areas as possible to ensure you are up to date. Now, of course, there is no denying the role of experience! However, You can shorten the time it takes to learn different skills by seeing the successes and failures of others.
Courses and conferences serve a secondary purpose. They are one of the only times you will have the opportunity to meet and network with dentists outside of your daily circle of friends and colleagues. This allows you to expand your network andLearn from other people who think the same way.
To save money, try to identify the latest trends in dentistry. Imagine the dentistry of the future and continue to improve in these areas. Current hot topics include, for example, digital dentistry and bonding with composite materials. Practices like HSDS are rapidly investing in new state-of-the-art 3D scanners and are gearing their marketing towards growing trends. It’s important to stay up to date with this movement. There’s little point in taking a course on full dentures when you could use the same money to take a course on digital scanning.
This quickly brings me to…It's not what you know that matters, it's who you know!
To succeed, it is vital to network with other colleagues, technicians and dentists. My first job on Harley Street was through a recommendation. Whereas my current job on Harley Street came about because I kept in touch with the right people. My advice would be to surround yourself with people you would like to imitate. This could be by staying in touch with former classmates, attending dental events and conferences, or meeting people through social media.
Social Media and marketing – If you don't have an Instagram account, you don't exist...?
I say this with caution, as I know there are many successful dentists who have never posted on Instagram! Personally, I have been working on my Instagram page for several years. If you have an account, you know how difficult it is to grow your following. I myself am still trying to master this field. Social media gurus, such as Michael Water, they proved thatThat's how powerful this marketing tool can be., but social mediait requires a lot of commitment. Posting online comes less naturally to me, but I've had to embrace this culture nonetheless (although I could post a little more often).
Just last week I saw two new patients, both of whom had already researched me on Google and came across my Instagram page. When I asked him to check my Instagram activity, he replied: “I already did and that’s why I decided to come see you.” There is no doubt, Instagram has become a form of online portfolio. I routinely ask patients at consultation appointments to follow me and look at my work, it's a great way to get a patient to get to know you before they come back for their next dental appointment.
Marketing is a skill that is rarely covered in dental school and it is something I was introduced to while working on Harley Street. There is no doubt that Good marketing can make a company grow, but without a good product, experienced professionals, and a team ethos, progress will be small. Successful dental practices rely on effective marketing. When have you ever gone beyond the first few Google searches? If you have a particular field that you are passionate about, you should consider talking to your employer about the possibility of having a page about it on your website.. Most of the patients I see at HSDS have browsed the image gallery on our website and are aware of the services we offer. If your practice does not have a website, I highly recommend creating one of your own. I recently spoke with one of the leading dental website designers who informed me that they have seen an increase in interest from associate dentists.
In addition to all of the above, we’ve found that employers are now looking for dentists who are tech-savvy and have a social media presence. After all, what employer wouldn’t want a little free marketing and an extra online presence?
Here it ismy top features for anyone starting out:
- Spend a few weeks or months gathering a number of cases to post
- Try to maintain a fairly steady stream of posts
- # A LOT!
- Consider hiring someone to manage your account
- Take a photography course
It’s important to make the most of free marketing and be opportunistic where possible. I remember when the Enlighten team came to HSDS to shoot some footage for their promotional content. I was desperate to get in on the action! I walked into the office where they were filming and to my delight, they asked if I wanted to get involved. Since that initial meeting, I’ve had the pleasure of having other marketing and blogging opportunities for the company.
As a young dentist, don't be afraid to practice dentistry!
As a dentist practicing in the UK, I am fully aware of the risk of litigation, particularly when performing elective cosmetic procedures. However, we cannot ignore the emerging desire for whiter, more even teeth, which is why “ethical cosmetic dentistry” is a hot topic. Now I must emphasize that you should always practice within the limits of your clinical competence. However, sometimes you will inevitably have to venture slightly beyond your comfort zone in order to excel. This is NOT a crime! I found mentoring to be particularly helpful. I remember enlisting the services of a mentor when I had my first anterior implant placed. The level of confidence this gave me surpassed any lecture or course and really helped me on my path to having more dental implants placed.
There is no better feeling than exceeding your own expectations. I will never forget my first case of ten-unit veneers. I had been treating the patient for several years and had established a very good relationship. I had seen her often for emergency dental work, to repair broken teeth and fillings, but unfortunately, the dental work on her teeth had been done over several years by a number of dentists and, frankly, each tooth seemed to be a different color. After attending the one-year course at Advanced Dental Seminars Aesthetic and Restorative, I was full of confidence! I advised the patient that removing all of her old, stained, and leaking fillings, as well as her broken teeth, and fixing them with a set of porcelain teeth would not only improve her smile, but would also drastically improve her dental health.
The patient went away to think about it. Two days later, she contacted me and said she wanted to go ahead and do it before her wedding, which was in a few weeks. To make matters worse, Christmas was approaching, which meant there was no room for error. Redoing the work would have meant the teeth wouldn't be ready in time for the big day.
After a series of sleepless nights, the case was completed to perfection. There was no better feeling than receiving a thank you email from the patient and seeing the wedding photos.
Dentistry is a constantly evolving profession. With technological advances and platforms like Facebook and Instagram, the younger generation of dentists must always be on top of their game to stay ahead of the competition and stand out.
reference
Morley, J., 1999. The role of cosmetic dentistry in restoring a youthful appearance. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 130(8), pp.1166-1172.
Source: enlightensmiles.com
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