The last blog post that I wrote was about the ethics of dental volunteering. At the time, I may have been on the side that says that most of these dental volunteering programs abroad are unethical simply for the fact that there are no long-term solutions in place in case one of the patients needs follow up.  Well, over the summer and fall of this past year, I went to Africa with a small nonprofit organization and experienced firsthand what it was like to treat and give care to some people who don’t regularly or rarely ever get it. This experience changed my thinking about how I felt about dental volunteering programs.

Over the summer of 2016, I decided to go to some small villages in Cameroon called Nkookomb and Ibong. Both of those villages are small and are within 20 miles of each other. They have a combined population of about 1000 people. There’s only one medical center(Presbyterian medical center) within a fifty mile radius. This medical center has no doctors. A nurse is the one who oversees everything in the village. As far as dentists go, there is only one dentist or dental center within a 150 mile radius. So obviously dental care is sorely needed. I volunteered with a small not for profit organization to teach the nurse at the medical center, how to teach her patients about the importance of oral health. Donated some toothbrushes and toothpastes and taught them how to brush and floss.

Overall, the experience was one of the best experiences that I have ever had. The reason my mind was changed about the whole ethical issues of dental volunteering, is because I noticed that all the people living in this area didn’t have a single toothbrush or anything. I asked them how they usually took care of their oral care, the majority replied that they never brush or had any dental care. They don’t believe dental health is important. The few who said they brush occasionally, said they used a stick and salt to brush their teeth. I asked them why they use salt and why not use toothpaste? The answer they gave me was that toothpaste is too expensive and they have other issues that could be resolved with their money and the reason they use salt is because it is grainy enough to brush or scratch the surface of the teeth. What I realized was that as much as I didn’t think it was ethical to do any dentistry work on a person if they don’t have a way to follow up in case of emergency, it’s better to at least do something to take care of their immediate needs. As long as it meets the standard of care that is expected of us dentists, I think it is good to help people who need dental care. 

Over the past year in clinic, there have been several instances when I was asked by patients which toothpaste, toothbrush, or dental gizmo I would recommend. At first, I was caught off guard. I, myself a dental student, don’t even know what toothpaste I’m using half of the time (I usually use whatever is at home or on sale). Over time, these questions became more common and required me to have a better answer for my patients. Pre-clinic and classes do an adequate job of preparing us for clinic, but some parts, like patient recommendations, are left out.

The most common question I have been asked has been the use of a power toothbrush versus a manual one, followed by the use of an automated flosser over traditional flossing. Having used only a manual toothbrush and traditional floss, I never knew how to answer these questions. I usually went one of two ways: Either share my oral hygiene routine with the patient or repeat what I have heard other student dentists tell their patients.

Recently, Waterpik and Sonicare both conducted lunch and learns at Midwestern University School of Dentistry. This was a great opportunity to learn about the two products, and to be more aware of all the different dental products available to us. As dental students, we have ample resources to help guide us in performing clinical procedures. In this case, I realized that lunch and learns conducted by ethical manufacturers present valuable opportunities to learn about other important parts of our lives as dental caregivers. There are also ample resources available online, such as evidence-based articles, reviews, and websites such as THENEXTDDS, to support us as future practitioners.

Throughout our career, we will face many challenges. It’s important to realize that we have multiple resources available to supplement our classroom learning and put to use chairside. The more we use these resources and become better educated on dental products, consumables, and at-home treatments, the more knowledgeable we then become to suggest products that are tailor-made for each patient. 

    I am proud to be a future dentist. I love the field that I have chosen, and cannot wait to work alongside the many amazing men and woman currently practicing dentistry around the world. Knowing that I am about to join a strong, smart, well-respected profession inspires me to work harder and continue to bring honor to the field. Unfortunately, not all clinicians contribute fully toward the growth of the profession, and I believe we should do our best to fix this. By building excitement for the field of dentistry and contributing to dental education, I think we can recruit the best students and continue to expand the dental field in a positive way.

    One way we can build excitement for our scope of practice is by hosting simulation days at colleges that help students see what goes on in a dental school. These can give students hands-on experience that they may otherwise never encounter. Almost all students that are interested in dentistry shadow at operating dental offices, but very few get the chance to actually operate a handpiece before they enter school. During a “simulation clinic day,” prospective students can get the chance to truly be a dental student for the day. They could hear advice from current students, ask questions, and get acquainted with a school they may attend in the future. These events can really inspire students and give them something to strive for throughout their undergraduate careers.

    Along with simulation days, I feel that it is very important for current practicing dentists to promote excitement toward their field. By venturing out into schools and raising awareness for dental health, we can get students thinking about the impact they can have as a future dentist. Another way we can promote our profession is by attending events such as career fairs and other health-related symposiums. Involvement in our communities and schools are great ways to raise interest in dentistry.

    Although it is not widely promoted, I should stress the impact you can have by contributing to dental education. We can have first-hand involvement in molding and shaping the future of our profession. This may be the best way to ensure that we continue to have wonderful clinicians practicing and also create passion for the field. I know I have gained so much love and excitement for my future job by engaging in conversations; learning from and observing my outstanding faculty. By sharing your love for dentistry with current dental students, you can really have an impact on how they practice in the future.

    There are so many ways we can share our love of dentistry with the world, and I believe that in order to keep this profession great we should pass our knowledge along to those after us. Supporting and participating in community events, putting on simulation days, and getting involved in dental education are just a few ways we can keep this passion for dentistry growing.