Why I find dentistry is a rewarding career choice

I have had the pleasure of working in the dental field for 17+ years. To me it is such a rewarding career in so ways. There are many aspects of the dental office. The diversity makes for a great career because you can choose so many different jobs in this field.

You could become a dentist, hygienist, dental assistant, sterilization assistant, office manager, scheduling coordinator, lab tech. Some people in the the dental field often go on to be teachers or lecture at dental conventions in their areas of expertise. 

When I was in high school one of my best friends father was a dentist and offered me a job sterilizing after school. I tried a few other jobs after high school but dentistry was always in the back of my mind. I just knew that was where I wanted to be. I decided to go through the dental assisting program at our local community college and have been in the field ever since. 

After graduating from the assisting program I assisted for a few years and decided that I really loved the interactions of the front office .

 I find that the relationships with the patients at the front desk is one of my favorite parts of being in dentistry. The fact that you can bond with them from the first phone call is rewarding in itself. To be able to put people at ease about their visit to our office if they are having high anxiety is one of my favorites. Just to know that you can make a difference in someone's life even in a small way is a wonderful feeling. 

I have seen so many changes in peoples lives through dentistry. I have met people who have not been into the dentist in 20 years start coming in on a regular basis because of the work they have had done changes the way they feel about themselves.

Shelley 

 Front office for Dr. Calvin Kim and Dr. John Cho

The Benefits Of Cosmetic Dentistry

   Cosmetic dentistry is the field of dentistry that generally refers to the appearance and sometimes overall health of teeth. There are several procedures that fall under cosmetic dentistry such as straightening, bleaching, crowns, veneers, implants. Some of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry can be life changing for people.
   Social benefits are (in my opinion)  one of the most rewarding to witness. Often times people that are ashamed or embarrassed by their smile have no social life at all is. This can lead to social anxiety to the point that someone would not want to advance in a career or even have a career.  It is amazing to watch someone leave your dental office smiling after completion of a cosmetic procedure.  Just by changing someones smile you  can boost their confidence level to the point of having relationships with people again.
   There are also health benefits related to cosmetic dentistry. Dental hygiene usually becomes very important to someone who has invested in their smile. Some headaches, earaches, and jaw pain can also be resolved by changing bite relations and straightening teeth. Some cosmetic procedures could also lead to nutritional health if a patient has had a limited diet due to tooth pain, and chewing abilities.

-Shelley,  Front office for Dr. kim & Dr. Cho

"Baby" Teeth Are Important

Oral health in toddlers and children is more important than some people think. Good oral hygiene of primary (or baby) teeth effects the outcome of adult teeth and creates good habits at an early age. Some people seem to think that sugary or acidic juices and milk at bed time are okay because they are just dealing with "baby" teeth. Primary or "baby" teeth are important because they help guide the permanent teeth into place. Decay can also be transferred from tooth to tooth if they are touching each other. Which means that decay can be transferred from primary tooth to permanent tooth during the eruption process. Untreated decay can also lead to an abscessed tooth on primary teeth just like adults can get! Your child can have servere dental pain and need to have a procedure done called a pulpotomy, a pulpotomy is like a baby root canal! A good rule of thumb is to give your child juice or milk (milk even contains sugar!) with meals but limit them to water throughout the rest of the day and always brush your childs teeth after their last sugary drink for the day!

We all know the brushing rules such as small amounts of flouridated toothpaste if your child is under the age of three and trying to prevent them from swallowing any flouridated toothpastes, but did you know that you should also use small circular motions with a toothbrush on your children just like you do to your own teeth? Letting them brush themselves and using a back and forth scrubbing motion could be detremintal to their gums. It's always a good idea to help them brush until they perfect their own fine motor skills. A good suggestion that I've heard is to let your child brush his or her own teeth followed by a thorough cleaning from Mom or Dad afterwards until your child is old enough to write in cursive (food for thought). We also suggest that you start seeing your dentist for regular check ups when your child is around age 2!! See you soon! :)

-Angie, Dental Assistant for Dr. Kim and Dr. Cho at Chehalis Family Dental

     

Hello, 

     

     I am Shelley and I work in the front office for Dr. Kim. I would just like to take this opportunity to explain to you my goals for our high fear dental patients. I can not tell you how rewarding it is when  you can transform someone from being in fear of the dentist to loving the experience.

      My goal for our patients is that they would look forward to coming in to our office. 

I know that I get excited to have my teeth cleaned as much as I do say a pedicure or hair appointment. It would be my wish that our patients could enjoy the dental experience as much as I do.

Believe it or not there was a time when I did not feel this way. 

     When someone has a bad dental experience it can put a deep rooted fear into you that may be hard to overcome. It could actually be as simple as your parents telling you their own fears. No matter what the cause of your fear is, it can be traumatizing. The key is to finding the right dentist and office that fits your needs. 

      I know that when I took that step into looking for a dentist I wanted to make sure that I was treated with kindness and respect from the first phone call. That is why it is important when I speak with someone on the phone I try to make sure they know what they are saying is important. Its powerful for them to  know that I am listening to their needs and trying to help them choose the right treatment path for them. It could mean they just need to come in for a consultation. When I found that office that listened to my concerns and fears I knew that was where I wanted to go.

      Just getting the patient with dental fears into the office is a major accomplishment, but once they are there it is time to treat them with the kindness and patience that they may have been lacking elsewhere. Once this relationship is established, then it should turn into a lifelong relationship. I usually can't wait to hear what the staff has been up to in the last 6 months. 

     

Hi,

My name is Tawni. I am a Dental Assistant here at Olympia Family Dental, working for both Dr. Kim and Dr. Cho. Being able to wake up each and every morning, sincerely grateful for the people I am surrounded by here, knowing we are helping others, and putting smiles on our patients faces, is truly a rewarding feeling. I work with such amazing people. Everyone is our office is so giving, caring and genuinely understanding. I couldn't be happier with where I am! I am excited to see each and every one of you too, should you choose to come visit us!

Most important person on the dental team!

One of the things that I enjoy most about my job as a dentist is the great staff that I get to work with.  Over the course of 14 years, I've realized that staff can make me or break me!  Some staff make me look forward to coming to work and some make me want to stay in my office.  Currently, I have the best staff that I have ever had throughout my career.  I believe a great dental visit requires an exceptional team from the front desk all the way to the dental assistant working chairside in the back office.  Often times, people may think that the dentist is the most important person in the dental team and this could not be further from the truth.  The most important person in any dental team is the front desk receptionist who answers the calls and is the first person a patient will meet.  This front desk person makes the first impression for the office and can make the difference between whether a patient decides to come in for a visit or go somewhere else.  Without a great front desk, the dentist may not even be able to meet the patient, and for this reason they are the most important member of the team.  However, a truly exceptional dental office doesn't have just a great front desk, but from front to back, the patient has a truly exceptional experience.  That includes a fantastic hygienist who can guage the situation and depending on the patient, give them the treatment best suited for their needs.  Assertive and kind dental assistants are just as important as they will be spending the most amount of time with the patients and getting to know them.   I try and teach my dental associates, that when a patient sees me as their dentist.  My goal is not that the patients will say "yeah, I like my dentist, he's nice".  I want my patients to say, "WOW, he is amazing"!  We want to give each of our patients the "WOW" experience.  If your familiar with the online shoe company Zappos, then you know how they grew so quickly.  Their goal was to deliver the "wow" experience to each of their customers.  Because I value my staff and appreciate what each of them has to offer, I have opened up our office blog site to my staff for them to share their thoughts and perspectives about their experiences or working in the dental field.   Hope you enjoy what they have to share!  Wishing you a great weekend!!

How to find a new dentist?

Often times over the years, I have had patients that have had to move out of town and would be needing to find a new dentist.  So I thought that I would share about what I consider to be a good method for finding a new dentist.  Often times, people will ask their friends and family and that is how they find their local dentist.  However, one may be new in town and not have much of a network of new friends.  Now before I tell you what I consider to be a good method of finding a new dentist.  I will tell you what I would be looking for in a new dentist for my children.  I would want a dentist that has at least a few years of experience.  I would want one that is gentle with his hands (ie- painless shots) and has good chairside manners.  I would want a dentist that practices with the utmost integrity and doesn't come across as a pushy salesperson.

So how would I find this dentist, I would call the local orthodontist.  The local orthodontist sees patients coming in from many of the local dental offices.  The local orthodontist will usually personally know all of the local dentists, they will have the opportunity to see the work of the local dentists when they look in the patients mouths.  They will often hear feedback from the patients about their dentist.  Personally, I've never met an orthodontist that I didn't like and I find them all to be very kind and helpful. So if you called with this request, I'm sure they would be glad to help you!

 I recall a good friend of mine who is an anesthesiologist tell me one time, that if you are needing surgery and you want to know who a good surgeon is, then you should ask the anesthesiologist.  Afterall the
anesthesiologist interacts with all the different surgeons as well as observes their work as they are monitoring the patient.  I think the same would apply in this situation of finding a great local dentist.  By the way, I will tell my patients, don't stop until you find a dentist that you like, because their are plenty of great dentists out there.  Sometimes it can just be chemistry, and sometimes it can just be a preference for a certain type of personality that works, however- because there are plenty of great dentists out there that do great dentistry, most everybody should be able to find a dentist that they love!