It was after my first year of dental school that I was asked to participate in Crown Council. With a direct question like that, and with a title like Crown Council, I felt like I should have known exactly what Crown Council was. Yet, at that stage of my dental school career, I barely knew how to cement a crown, nevertheless know what this “Crown Council” was.

The question was posed by Dr. Guy Gross, a successful general dentist in Salina, Kansas, and a great mentor of mine. He went on to explain that Crown Council is an international association of leading dental teams dedicated to seeking out and sharing “best practices” in order to improve the quality of care in every area of dentistry. This organization supports both individual and team growth by directing practices to focus on patient services, clinical care, and practice organization. Dentists and their teams have the opportunity to participate in Crown Council through their membership, an annual conference, and an online membership network. The purpose of the Crown Council is to help dental professionals and the members of their teams build a Culture of Success in their professional and personal lives.

When speaking of Crown Council, Dr. Gross had an energy that made me want to learn more about this organization. His explanation was quite thorough, but he did forget to mention one thing—the membership is by invite only. After receiving that invitation and experiencing Crown Council’s Annual Event, I felt like I had been crowned by The Crown Council itself. It is with the generous donation of Crown Council and Dr. Guy Gross’s clinic, New Horizons Dental Care, that I have been able to attend the last two Crown Council Annual Events.

Through the two Annual Events I attended, it was clear there were a couple themes that really resonated within the conference setting. The first theme was Walk like a 10. Crown Council supports their dental teams in ways that make their individual members feel confident, like a “10”. As teams were entering into the conference ballrooms, there were Crown Council representatives greeting everyone by name. This was absolutely a first for me to see in a conference. The representatives checked in with everyone to see how they could help them grow individually and/or as a part of their team.

The second theme works hand-in-fhand with the first theme: all dental teams were there to support each other’s dental practices. In fact, there were multiple times throughout the annual event designated for dentists to work in groups to exchange ideas and answer questions on how to become better providers and team members. Being able to sit in on these mastermind conversations allowed me to envision how much each participating member’s team would grow with these new ideas.

The third theme that was evident in Crown Council was to support the surrounding community. Crown Council is the home of Smiles for Life, a charity program that provides funding to hundreds of children’s charities around the world. The campaign has raised over $36,000,000 over the past 18 years and is the largest campaign of its type in dentistry. One aspect of this charity, supported by many Crown Council dentists, is “Whiten Your Smile and Help a Child”. This program encourages dentists to offer bleaching procedures to interested patients, with 100% of proceeds go to benefit children. Another activity at last year’s Annual Event was stuffing, dressing, and labeling 700 teddy bears, all of which were donated to Primary’s Children Hospital in Salt Lake City.

So what exactly is Crown Council? I like to think of it as an organization that supports you, your team and your community. Lecturers at the annual events focus on motivation, happiness, and health. Crown Council doesn’t exactly focus on clinical skills, but rather it seeks to improve clinical work by being a better individual within the team setting. For example, one day of Annual Session had speakers talking about marketing, reducing stress, healthy eating, proper posture, finances, and making a culture of success. Additionally, their online network allows teams to watch video series, including Skill of the Week and Mentor of the Month. Following these videos allows teams to become stronger and work better together.

My membership to an organization that supports the growth of my future team and the community is something I hope to maintain for the entirety of my dental career. I encourage all students that are interested in a post-graduate support team to look into Crown Council today. I’d be delighted to help recommend you.

Thank you Crown Council and New Horizons Dental Care for an amazing opportunity!

At some point, you might have heard the saying, “It’s not who you know, but what you know.”  This advice typically refers to networking with others in an effort to learn from professionals in your industry, exchange useful ideas, and perhaps find your dream job.  

Meeting new people is not only advantageous from a career standpoint; these new relationships may evolve into valuable, lasting friendships that enrich your life professionally and personally.  You might even lock eyes from across the room with a dashing young man (or woman) at a professional function and end up marrying them (well that happened to me, at least).

Despite the positive effects of networking, many people are apprehensive to do so.  Admittedly, the word “networking” may be a turnoff; it sparks various negative connotations of forced, awkward interactions at scheduled happy hours or meet & greets.  Instead of thinking about networking from this perspective, I suggest disposing of that notion altogether and focusing on making new lifelong relationships with people. Below are some tips to keep in mind to start forming meaningful and genuine connections with dentists, fellow students, and other professionals.

1. Start with the right mindset

To successfully form professional relationships with people, you must be in the right mindset and have the right intentions.   Be sincere with your interactions and get to know people, listening to their stories. I have witnessed too many people networking with the blatant intention of getting a “dream job” or some other self-serving purpose.  This superficial mindset is obvious to most people and is a huge turnoff. Instead, get to know other people for the sake of getting to know them.  This alone is worth the effort of networking.  If other professional opportunities arise from knowing these new people, then that is just icing on the cake!

2. Put yourself out there

In order to get to know people, especially in a significant way, you must break outside your comfort zone.  This means occasionally foregoing your normal routine to go to events where you might connect with new people.

Situations that might be conducive to meeting new people include organized dentistry events (e.g. CDA, MDDS, dental fraternity study clubs/networking events, etc.) or even striking up a conversation with an interesting guest speaker for a class.  Personally, I have made some great professional and personal connections at college alumni events, social gatherings, and even coffee shops.

Also, keep in mind that some of the best connections you may make are non-dentists!

3. Keep in Touch

After meeting new people, always keep in touch.  The method of keeping in touch depends on the person, their age, and their position.  For some people, a LinkedIn request may be enough.  However, to form a significant relationship with someone, as with any relationship, both parties must work to maintain the relationship.  This includes periodic emails, phone calls, or even coffee dates.  Just like anything in life, you will get more meaning out of any situation if you put a more sincere and genuine effort into it.

Again, this goes into changing your mindset about networking—you must truly appreciate the value of forming new, meaningful relationships for professional and personal reasons.  Then, you must develop the discipline and willingness to incorporate meeting new people and keeping in consistent contact with them throughout your career.

4. Pay it Forward

If you choose to embrace the concept of networking and putting yourself out there, never do it for selfish reasons.  The whole point of making a new connection is to develop a reciprocal, fulfilling relationship with another human being.  This is always true for any type of relationship.  With that said, always do your best to also help others along their professional and personal journey, and your efforts will surely be reciprocated in some way.

As you go through life, virtually every encounter you have is “networking”; try to keep an open mind with every encounter—you never know how it can enhance your life and how you may enhance the lives of others.

I grew up being interested in serving my country because both of my grandfathers had done so.  My only dilemma was how I could accomplish that. While applying to dental school, I realized that I could be a dentist, serve my country, and have my schooling paid for. All of my ducks were nicely lined up and I began my journey to become a dentist. Now let’s dive deeper into my decision to serve.

My life in dental school is much easier thanks to my military commitment. The full ride scholarship is welcomed, especially during a time when dental schools are charging 4 year tuitions that equate to a full mortgage. You graduate with a foundation but no house to show for it. My fellow militia and I also receive a monthly living allowance that can be fairly generous if you live within normal means. Oh, and cross your T’s and dot your I’s at the right time and you may qualify for a large signing bonus!

I know what you are thinking, “With all of these benefits, there must be a catch, right?”. Well yes there is…kind of. A military lifestyle is not for everyone. A 4-year scholarship requires a 4 year pay pack while living in about 2-3 different locations. As an officer, it is expected that you will move about every 2 years, and you might not have much say in where you will be going next. This nomadic lifestyle can be stressful on a family, and difficult for a spouse with their own career. If you do not like taking orders, clearly, the military is not for you. Many people choose dentistry for the autonomy. Autonomy does not mix with the military for obvious reasons.

Besides financial benefits, there are many other great reasons to choose the military route. Every day you are serving individuals who are sacrificing their lives for this country. This is an intangible gratification. You can travel and have the opportunity to live almost anywhere in the world. You have 4 years to focus on improving your dental skills. Another overseen aspect is that your patients are not limited by finances and are able to receive the best possible care. This will not apply to the civilian side, but will allow dentists to hone many new skills.

Now lets do some rough math. Out-of-state tuition is roughly $75k a year, roughly $300k at the end plus about $50k in interest at an average rate of 7%. For the military, you can add on an income of $25k a year while in dental school. That is a total scholarship value of $450k. Now the field evens out because the military salary will range from $80-95k. As compared to the average new dentist making $90-130k a year minus debt payments. I did a full break down but I will spare you the minutia. After paying off some of the debt, both parties make out pretty even after 4 years post graduation.

I view my scholarship as a tool to advance my career. I know that it will be hard on my future family and moving around will be cumbersome. There will be days when I envy my civilian counterparts as I float along on a ship in the middle of the ocean. There will be plenty of hardships and unfortunate circumstances. I like to live life with an open mind. I know that this experience will help my career and my family to grow. I will gain experience working with specialists of all kinds and have unique experiences that only a military dentist can have (helicopter rides, aircraft carriers, etc.)

I was given some advice years ago, “Do not choose the military scholarship for the money. Choose to serve your country and the finances are a perk.” I think this sums things up nicely. The money looks really nice in order to avoid the student loan debt, but there are many costs of every day life as a military dentist. I like to put it this way: You have to pay someone either way, it just depends on how you want to pay it. The traditional student is paying monetary debt. The military student is paying with their time. If you want to serve your country and do dentistry, the scholarship is a good choice for you.

The Rocky Mountain Dental Convention was in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center over the January 18^th-20^th weekend.  For students, this is a great event to see what the wide world of dentistry holds outside of the confines of school.  It’s also a healthy venture for our education because we can see ideas and materials outside of the normal scope taught at school.  At the vendor fair, I came across a new product that I was interested in learning more about.  I want to share some of the things I learned about the product, Activa, and about the importance of researching dental materials.

The Pulpdent station was one of the first booths at which I stopped.  The sales rep claimed their new product Activa is the first truly new restorative material to hit dentistry in 30 years.  Obviously, this claim piqued my interest.  Activa has been clinically available since 2012, and has been researched for 15 years, according to the product website.  Much of the research on Activa has been carried out at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

Activa is described as a bioactive, ionic resin restorative material.  On the handout I received, the listed components are a patented bioactive ionic resin, a patented rubberized resin, and a reactive ionomer glass. The strength profile is considered to be compared to composite restorations, but with the fluoride ionic release capabilities of glass ionomer.  In compressive and tensile strength tests, Activa equals the specifically mentioned Filtek composite system.  It is also a moisture-friendly restorative material, which is desirable since the mouth is a naturally moist environment.  Activa light cures and self cures, and is amenable to bulk fill as light can cure an increment up to 4mm thick!  It comes in shades A1, A2, A3, and A4 at the present time.  Lastly, it is radiopaque in radiographs.  This is desirable so dentists can find restorations in new patients or patients receiving treatment.  The radiopacitiy is comparable to 1.5 mm of aluminum.

The sales rep talked most about Activa being a bioactive restorative material.  In layman’s terms, Activa reproduces the natural chemistry of the tooth by allowing ion exchange.  Another reason this is important is that the bioactivity makes a solid interface between the restoration and the tooth surface.  The sales rep made it clear that there is no clinical margin when using Activa as a restoration.  This works by laying down apatite-like material using the oral cavity’s natural phosphate source in saliva.  This means the material has bonded to the tooth in an integrative fashion.

After hearing some of this information from the sales representative and doing some research on my own, I thought, “What is a second year dental student to do with this information?  Do I conclude that my practice will only use Activa once I’m in charge of stocking my shelves?”  The research to date is very appealing, but there’s not much long term data as the product has only been clinically available for 2 years.  The clinical results seem to be unique and exciting, but to me, it’s hard to describe a combination of resin and ionomer as a stand-alone, groundbreaking product.

I found that my trip to the RMDC Vendor Fair was an educating one.  It has introduced me to a part of dentistry that will be a profound part of my practice management once I am choosing my own products.  Innovation drives dentistry into the future, and Activa and similar products may have a strong hand in that future.  On the other hand, prudence and patience are paramount to patient safety.  Not to mention our bottom line can be shaken when patients come back into our office with our restoration in their hand.  I highly recommend that every student spend a little time researching new products.  Not only does it keep our research abilities sharp when not doing research of our own, but it allows us to be competent consumers.

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine the days before dental school- before the navy blue scrubs, the “conscious incompetence”, the juggling of patients and their demands [“I can only come every other Tuesday… and only in the mornings… oh, and can I come at 9:45 instead of 9?”].

In this sort of tunnel vision, I forget the days when I wanted nothing more than to know the direction my future was headed in Operation: Getting Into Dental School. Where would I live for the next four years? What would I do if I didn’t get in? What the HECK am I doing?

Untangling the confusing web of dental school requirements: prerequisite classes, letters of recommendation, writing a personal statement, studying for the DAT, interviewing…is enough to make my head spin, even to this day.

Although I didn’t decide I wanted to go to dental school until the semester before I graduated from college, the few resources that I took advantage of through my pre-health advisor and club were invaluable. I still have a copy of my mock interview on a DVD tucked away in a drawer in my desk [I’m not sure why I haven’t thoroughly disposed of it-few things are worse than watching yourself on camera].

Somehow I managed to finagle my way into a couple of dental school acceptances, and here I am today, three years later. During my first year, I began volunteering at the ASDA Pre-Dental Committee events and absolutely fell in love. There is no better motivation than to be surrounded by groups of eager pre-dental students dying to be in your shoes, picking your brain, and looking up to you as the All Knowing dental student. For the next two years I filled the role as the ASDA Pre-Dental Chair and continued planning events- wax nights, mock interviews, personal statement reviews, simulation clinic activities…anything and everything that could help these “baby dentists” grow and flourish in their quest to dental school admittance.

Seeing familiar faces in the incoming classes, getting email updates “I got in to dental school!!”, and following the paths of students that I have met during my own “Pre-dental” journey in dental school has been one of the most rewarding.

Bottom line:  You never know who you can inspire. Or who can inspire you.

So I got a cavity in dental school…

Yes... I got a cavity in dental school. The place where you learn all about what causes cavities, what can be done to prevent cavities, and what happens if cavities go uncontrolled. How ironic.

Believe me, I was just as surprised as you. I floss more than the average human being (granted, zero is a pretty easy number to beat), I have an electric toothbrush, and I have what most people would describe as a catastrophic amount of material regarding dental hygiene and the etiology of caries. I am fully aware of what is going on in the cesspool otherwise known as our oral cavity, yet somehow I still got a cavity.

At first I was a little in denial, like there’s no way. I floss… Just ask my sister. I floss A LOT. Like I’ve flossed an on-a-hot-bus-in-Costa-Rica level of flossing. I’ve flossed a finish-a-whole-pack-of-40-yards-of-floss level of flossing. And yet that doesn’t change the fact that I have a cavity.

Next came shame, as we all probably know all too well. How can I expect my patients, who don’t care about what exact bacterial configuration causes caries, to prevent cavities when apparently I cannot prevent them for myself? Also, bacteria. Gross.

Finally, I realized that it’s just a cavity. I’m not dying, and I’m not the 2007 version of Britney Spears. There are certainly worse things in the world than a little cavity, and after studying who knows how many semesters of pathology, I of all people should know that.

I know, you’re probably thinking, “Thanks for the dramatic portrayal of your afternoon but what’s your point?!” My point is that these kind of thoughts, or versions of thoughts, are rattling through our patient’s heads as we tell them our diagnosis. In our minds, we think, “Sweet I’ll finally get to do a molar crown prep!” In their minds they are thinking, “Shoot, how am I going to pay for this?  How did I let this happen?  Is it going to hurt?  When am I going to find the time? …And why is she smiling?”

Being the patient once in a while is not only good for your health but also good for your attitude. We need to remember what it feels like to receive not-so-great news and what information we need to hear to cope with it. Above all, it is humbling. We need to look past our Big Doctor heads full of incredible amounts of knowledge, and remember that we are humans treating humans. After all, that is why we got in this business in the first place.

The Rocky Mountain Dental Convention is the largest continuing education event in this region! But what does that mean for a dental student? You get one full Friday off of school -- yippee a ski day! Joking.  It’s “expected” that we attend the event, and to be honest, I firmly believe we should.  

RMDC provides, in my personal opinion, the ultimate learning experience. You have the opportunity to attend classes on topics that most suit your fancy. These topics can range anywhere from oral cancer to selling treatment plans to your patients. It’s a great way to start getting involved with dentistry on a different level and without a textbook. In addition to classes, the exhibition hall once again provides unique insight into our career.  There are many vendors eager to suck you into learning about their product, and why not? We all will be our own business owners someday and it’s important to be researched and educated about our purchases.  On a side note - there are tons of product samples, lots of free candy, and even an exhibitor selling full body massage chairs… at least sit down and check them out!

The RMDC also offers a myriad of social events, which is the best part if you ask me! Most of us went into the dental profession because we love being around people, and the social events at RMDC are a great way to network. Here we get free holdovers, drinks, and a place to mingle with other professionals in our field. This year, there was a twist implemented, in which you had to talk to certain people with tickets in order to get a free drink. Sure we couldn’t be as lazy as we originally intended, but it was a great way to branch out of our social clique and meet new people. Whether you’re outgoing or more on the shy side, having an opportunity like this gives us all a scapegoat to strike up new conversations. If we recognize a face, remember a name, or just want something to discuss, we now have something very distinct we can mention to allow us to approach that “stranger”.  Personally, I know that remembering names is not my strong suit, but now I have confidence and a topic I can use to approach someone and ask if they attended RMDC.  BOOM! Conversation initiated. Network opportunity engaged.

So, whether you’re a first or second year dental student eager to learn anything and everything about dentistry, a fourth year needing to network and plan your future hopes and dreams, or you’re a third year student who gets excited to see different colors of bite registration, The Rocky Mountain Dental Convention is a great experience for us all.

Over the past year, ASDA has had increasing involvement with the Comitis Shelter, a shelter near campus that houses individuals and families. Since beginning our involvement with the shelter, I’ve been surprised to learn more about the causes of homelessness and the statistics of those that are affected. For example, did you know there are over 14,000 homeless children in Colorado? As the holidays approach, giving back to our local community becomes increasingly important and your help can truly make a difference for a family in need. One of the most crucial steps to helping is to become educated about individuals experiencing homelessness and to deconstruct misperceptions. During our first time volunteering at Comitis, I met a veteran currently undergoing chemotherapy at the Anschutz campus. Because of the intensive treatment, he’s unable to work and is residing at the shelter with his two young daughters. This gentleman, among others, represents one of the real reasons that a majority of these individuals are homeless. Sickness happens. Job loss happens. Death happens. Divorce happens. Sometimes people experience tough times.

My mentor, Dr. Bruce, inspired me years ago to take on a giving attitude as a dental student and eventual practitioner. In addition to running a successful practice, Dr. Bruce and his wife volunteer at a local shelter once a week to provide dental care to those in need. His goal is to provide emotional and spiritual guidance in addition to dental care to enable people to live a better life. I’ve witnessed the personal transformations and success stories of those that Dr. Bruce has worked with and have been inspired to continue this act of giving now, and throughout my career.

How can we, as students, make a difference in the lives of others? In addition to providing dental education, there are several ways we can give back. Below are 5 ways you can help from justgive.org this holiday season and throughout the year. Visit https://www.justgive.org/donations/help-homeless.jsp for a full list of ideas for involvement!

1. Volunteer at a shelter - Shelters thrive on the work of volunteers, from those who sign people in, to those who serve meals, to others who counsel the homeless on where to get social services. For the homeless, a shelter can be as little as a place to sleep out of the rain, or as much as a step toward self-sufficiency.
2. Tutor homeless children - A tutor can make all the difference. Just having adult attention can spur children to do their best. Many programs exist in shelters, transitional housing programs, and schools that require interested volunteers. Or begin you own tutor volunteer corps at your local shelter. It takes nothing more than a little time.
3. Donate clothing - Next time you do your spring or fall cleaning, keep an eye out for those clothes that you no longer wear. If these items are in good shape, gather them together and donate them to organizations that provide housing for the homeless.
4. Donate toys – Children living in shelters have few possessions --if any-- including toys. Homeless parents have more urgent demands on what little money they have, such as food and clothing. So often these children have nothing to play with and little to occupy their time. You can donate toys, books, and games to family shelters to distribute to homeless children. For Christmas or Chanukah, ask your friends and co-workers to buy and wrap gifts for homeless children.
5. Teach about the homeless - If you do volunteer work with the homeless, you can become an enthusiast and extend your enthusiasm to others. You can infect others with your own sense of devotion by writing letters to the editor of your local paper.

This year, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside so many good hearted and compassionate individuals dedicated to making a positive difference in our community. During our school wide warm clothing donation drive for our local shelter, hundreds of students and faculty donated warm clothing and helped spread the word to local organizations. The DS1 students even raised enough money to purchase nearly 30 coats for the shelter! Colorado winters are rough and it was great to see so many students work together to help keep people warm this winter.

It’s the season of giving and now is the perfect time to give back and help families in need. Check out this website to learn more about facts and statistics of those experiencing homelessness and email me if you’d like to get involved! http://closetohomeco.org/learn/about-homelessness/

Kimberly.engols@ucdenver.edu