Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

‘For me, the secret of maintaining my enthusiasm for dentistry was to be constantly looking for new things to do’ 11FeatureDecember 12-18, 2011United Kingdom Edition taining my enthusiasm for dentistry was to be constantly looking for new things to do, things that would make my job that little bit more interesting. Any job, after years of doing the same thing day in, day out, has a tendency to become monoto- nous and unappealing. Working for even half a day per week at the local dental school, helping to teach undergraduates, helped to break the monotony. Re-ig- niting my interest in children’s dentistry by studying for a Mas- ters, and learning new skills as a manager, both helped retain my interest in my roles as a dentist and a practice owner. Writing about management, even before I had come up with the idea of writing a book, sustained my in- terest in my practice. I became heavily involved with manage- ment, becoming an active a member of the Chartered Insti- tute of Management, the Char- tered Institute of Marketing, and I was even the Secretary of the North East Region Committee of the Institute of Management Consultancy. I knew I could do the dentistry; I just wanted to know how to make my prac- tice better. My expert witness work al- lowed me to develop as a clini- cian and as a writer, but it was also indirectly one of the cata- lysts that helped improve my practice. Expert witness work also led to me writing the book How to be an effective expert witness. People say that variety is thespiceoflife.I’llvouchforthat. Away from dentistry, I have “re-trained” as an arts graduate, which broadens the range of jobs I could apply for, that is, if along the way I had not become a full time writer. I have only touched on a very small number of career options; don’t forget that you can consult an appropriate career guidance service for impartial advice. When the idea for these ar- ticles first came up it soon be- came apparent that they could very easily become words of doom and gloom for a profes- sion that was already under pressure. The dental press is, af- ter all, there to promote all that is good about dentistry and not to be merchants of despair – at least I hope it is. What I have tried to do is be realistic. There are dentists who seriously want to leave the profession; there are also dentists who have no choice other than to leave the profes- sion. In the first instance, before you turn your back on dentistry, in the belief that the grass is al- ways greener on the other side, stop and look at what it is that is driving you away, and ask your- self, “Can I change things?” This may be taking too simplistic a view; however, I believe that it lies at the heart of the mat- ter. If you have no choice about leaving dentistry, then once you have come to terms with your enforced career change, don’t fall into the mind-set of believing that dentistry is the only thing you can ever do; you are not a one-trick pony! There are many jobs out there that you will be able to do, some that are at first not too obvious, all of which you should explore and investigate before making that leap. DT For effective infection control, the UltraClean II Washer Disinfector Dryer helps you protect your patients, your staff and your reputation. Patient safety rests in your hands • Fully compliant to EN 15883 and HTM2030 – the recommended ‘best practice’ standard • High load capacity and only 30p per cycle for fast, cost-effective cleaning • Optional data logger or printer for easy, recordable data capture – essential for compliance • Automated process using the special clip trays supplied helps eliminate sharps injuries Designed as the first step in an integrated decontamination process, the UltraClean II prepares your hand pieces better than many other methods. Fast, efficient and very thorough, it washes, cleans, disinfects and dries – leaving instruments spotless and ready for sterilization. INTEGRATED DECONTAMINATION SOLUTIONS INTEGRATED DECONTAMINATION SOLUTIONS • Automated process using the special Prestige Medical – the first company with a series of solutions to ensure you stay on the right side of compliance with legislation. Products include decontamination cabinetry and furniture, washer disinfectors, autoclaves and sterilizers, data recorders and printers. We can also provide advice on the latest guidelines. For more information Tel: 01254 844 103 E: sales@prestigemedical.co.uk www.prestigemedical.co.uk