Recent dental grad wins essay contest
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| G. Royce Nicola |
The California Dental Association/ TDIC sponsored an essay contest for California dental students. The theme was, "More Recent Graduates Would Join the ADA/CDA if They Offered These Things."
Dr. Nicola is a deferred mission appointee to Guam SDA Clinic, which is sponsored by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He and his wife Lori Nicola, SN"00, will serve a six-year term, starting this month. Lori will be working at the clinic or hospital.
Dr. Nicola is no stranger to mission service. He was born and lived in Pakistan for six years, while his father, Quint Nicola, SD'69, (now assistant professor of ODRP) served as a missionary at the Adventist dental clinic in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
More recent graduates would join the ADA/CDA if they
offered these things:
by G. Royce Nicola, SD'00
All the hype is over, the Y2K bug curled up and died before its time,
and now we are actually moving quickly toward the real millennium celebration
in 2001. What has changed in organized dentistry? Are we automatically
21st century dentists because we own a 2001 membership card from the CDA?
What theory, technology, and techniques must a 21st century dentist utilize
in order to provide an optimum level of care to his/her patients?
The answers to these questions should be available at your local dental
society, or at least at the state level. As a new graduate, I believe
that more recent graduates would join the ADA and the CDA if membership
offered a preceptorship program, a 6-month working residency program,
a dental technology model office, new dental material evaluation programs,
and insurance billing training programs for office staff and dentists.
Is my wish list too long? I don't think it is!
As all dentists know, practice makes better. I don't think any dentist
believes they are perfect yet, but certainly those with years of experience
have an edge on new graduates. When I open my first practice I would really
appreciate someone who has done this once or twice before, explaining
the process to me. I would also enjoy a preceptor in my area, someone
who has experience in the area and is willing to answer questions I may
have as I begin practice. I believe the local dental societies are usually
the best places to meet and learn from other practicing dentists in an
area, but the CDA and ADA should not be excluded from the process. With
a list of dentists who have practiced in an area for 8-10 years and are
willing to spend some time with new dentists, this program could foster
professional relationships and encourage cooperation among local dentists.
Another idea that I have for new graduates who feel ready to work, but
not on their own, is the 6-month working residency program. Many graduates
spend 6 months to a year in an informal working residency program, working
as associates or employees of local dentists before launching their own
practices. This process has been described as a useful way to build experience
and knowledge, but often not a positive experience overall. I believe
with the sanction of the ADA and a database of pre-screened dentists looking
for temporary help, the local or state dental association could provide
new graduates with valuable experience and practical methods for practice
in a positive, non-threatening environment. Dentists who accept the help
would gain motivated, energetic temporary associates willing to learn,
work hard, and share new techniques they bring from dental school.
Recent advances in computer technology, dental imaging, office management,
computer charting and billing programs have left many dentists unaware
or unable to spend the time necessary to compare systems, features, and
prices for the newest technology available. I believe the California Dental
Association should be at the forefront of new technology development and
testing, and a model office should be established where the latest dental
technology can be showcased. This model office should be set up for portability
between the CDA headquarters and the yearly conventions in Anaheim and
San Francisco. Manufacturers who wish to participate in this model office
must furnish working equipment that can be tested by dentists visiting
the office. As dentists test the equipment, they will offer valuable feedback
to the manufacturers regarding ergonomics, functionality, and utility
of the technology. This feedback should be available to other dentists
to aid in purchase decisions, and can be used by manufacturers to improve
the equipment as well.
In addition to new equipment technology, dental materials are improving
rapidly as well. The California Dental Association can be a leader in
this area by linking manufacturers to a network of clinicians willing
to participate in trials of new materials, and able to provide positive
and negative feedback to the manufacturers. This network of clinicians
should be linked by the latest internet technology to allow them to compare
notes on performance of new materials, submit test results for comparison
in the CDA Journal, and provide direct feedback to the companies involved
with marketing new materials. This process will benefit dentists by providing
a source of unbiased clinical test results, facilitate clinical testing
for manufacturers, and once again place the CDA on the forefront of new
dental technology.
Another area in which I believe the CDA should be a leader is the education
of dentists and their staff in ethical, effective methods of dealing with
third-party reimbursement for dental treatment. Recent graduates will
benefit most from this type of instruction, but many practicing dentists
and their staff can benefit from practical courses on insurance billing.
By leading the way in this area the CDA can directly increase the efficiency
and ethics of third-party reimbursement.
Perhaps my ideas are lofty and idealistic; maybe I can't see the flaws
yet, but I believe that all dentists can benefit from participation in
organized dentistry. Membership has its privileges, they say, but taking
an active role in our profession is the only way we will preserve our
privileges, improve our prospects, and ensure our success.
All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University.
All rights reserved. Revised
February 28, 2001
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