Going Into Cosmetic Dentistry - Three Indispensable Qualities You Must Have
If you are a student at a dental school, and you are seriously considering going
into cosmetic dentistry as a specialization, you could find yourself wondering as to what, exactly, you will need - in terms of personal qualities.
In terms of technical schools, of course, you will have been told that you need a good general grasp of dentistry, as most of the problems you will be presented with encompass virtually all areas of dentistry. You will also have been told that there are some areas of dentistry in which you need quite advanced skills. These would be likes of orthodontics (seeing that a considerable percentage of your patients will be presenting with teeth alignment issues), prosthodontics (seeing that you will often be called to replace lost teeth as part of the cosmetic treatment) and dental pharmacology (to be able to help your patients with chemical-based teeth whitening). So your focus, knowing all this would now be on the other 'non-technical' qualities you need, as you go into cosmetic dentistry.
As it turns out, there are three qualities that you will find indispensable, if you have to go into cosmetic dentistry: good people skills, good aesthetic appreciation and empathy. We will explore each at some length.
Starting with people skills, it turns out that cosmetic dentistry is the one specialty where you simply cannot afford to be 'mechanical/robot-like.' You really have to connect with your patients here. Most of the cases you encounter will not just be cases that require your technical/surgical expertise as a dentist, but also cases that require a bit of counseling to resolve. A considerable number of the patients you meet on any given day will be people faced with what turn out to be self image issues, rather than dental issues per se. Some of your patients with genuine dental problems will also tend to feel as if they are being 'vain' by seeking the help of a cosmetic dentist: you need to employ your people skills, and reassure them that it is alright. As a cosmetic dentist (if you are to face the whole truth), you will not only be serving as a surgeon, but also a 'beautician.' A beautician -and this is a global thing - knows that they must have good people skills, as these often turn out to be just as important as their technical skills in dealing with their customers.
Strong appreciation for aesthetics is another thing that you really must have, as you go into cosmetic dentistry. Without this, you will never be able to understand what it is that your patients expect from you, and you will most likely end up a professional failure.
It is empathy that will allow you to see things from the viewpoint of your patients (rather than from the view of the surgeon you are). Some problems that the patients will be coming to you with, while seemingly small, and unworthy of professional attention, will turn out to be very troublesome issues in the lives of the patients. Without empathy (the ability to put oneself in other people's shoes), it becomes extremely difficult to survive in a field like cosmetic dentistry.
by: James Maloney
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