Thursday, January 9, 2014

A Career in Dentistry?....

One of our patients is a grade 12 student at Donald A. Wilson Secondary School.  As part of a French project she is required to research a profession in which she is interested in, as you might have guessed the profession she chose is dentistry.  She presented us with few questions regarding our profession for her dentist, Dr. Librach, to answer. Here is what he said...



1.      What is the most difficult part of your career? Explain.

The most difficult part of dentistry is keeping up with technology.  The practice of dentistry has changed so much since I graduated in 1987.  Although the principles of good dentistry have not changed, the methodology advances have changed dramatically and will do so exponentially in the coming years.  At Dentistry on Dundas we continue to invest in the latest technology that gives our patients the highest quality dentistry.  With that commitment comes a responsibility to stay on top of the latest developments and to chose for our patients those technologies that will offer them the greatest benefit.   It can be a daunting task but, on the other hand, it continues to make dentistry an exciting profession.

2.      What is the best part of your career? Explain.

Working with great people. Firstly, our staff at Dentistry on Dundas are some of the best people I have ever met.  They are compassionate, competent and fun to work with.  They are as important to my practice as having the best equipment and knowledge.  They are an integral part of what attracts patients to our practice.  Secondly, our patients, many who have been with us since our start in 1989, make this career second to none.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I do not feel blessed that these people have put their confidence in me and our staff.  The interactions with our patients makes me excited to come to work every day.

3.      How competitive was the job market when you started working versus today? 

Quite a change has occurred over the last 27 years.  There are definitely more options for patients when it comes to who they see for their dental care.  When I graduated dental offices were fewer especially in the Durham region.  In addition, denturists (those that only make dental prosthesis like false teeth) are licensed to practice in Ontario.  Finally, Dental Hygienists  are now able to practice independent of the supervision of a licensed dentist.   That being said, I welcome the competition.  It keeps your business sharp and challenges you to be the best in your field.  At Dentistry on Dundas we continue to be successful in a very competitive market by offering our patients great dentistry in a comforting atmosphere.

4.      What advice would you give to someone starting out in orthodontics?

There are so many facets of dentistry that you should keep an open mind when entering dental school.  Orthodontics is a great profession but so is Endodontics (root canal therapy), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ( jaw surgery and complicated extractions), Oral Radiology, Periodontics (implants, gum surgery & care), Paedodontics (oral care for children), Oral Anaesthesiology (dentistry while asleep) and Prosthodontics (the restoration of complicated oral cavity collapse).

And lets not forget General Dentistry that allows you to perform any, some or all of these disciplines as you expand your knowledge in these fields. In addition, comprehensive treatment planning requires multiple disciplines.  At Dentistry on Dundas we have specialists in most of these fields that work as a team “quarterbacked” by a treatment plan set out by the General Practitioner.  Having said that, Orthodontics is a great specialty in dentistry and I would only encourage some one to continue to follow that path if that is where their interests lie.  Any path you chose you should always keep in mind that you serve the patient.  The rewards of this profession will come on its own if you treat your patients with respect, compassion, empathy and keep their best interests a focal point.

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