Dental Tribune U.S.Edition No.3, 2016

Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | March 2016 a10 INDUSTRY NEWS Left, Dr. Arun Srinivasan on a dental mission to Honduras. Photo provided by Aspen Dental By Aspen Dental Staff At Aspen Dental practices, we are bringing quality care to communities that need it most. From small towns to city suburbs, and everywhere in be- tween. This past Nov. 5, Aspen Dental cli- nicians and seven team members trav- eled to Honduras to provide free dental care to more than 500 people in desper- ate need. Here is Dr. Arun Srinivasan’s account: “We were, quite literally, on a mission, knowing only a small portion of the population has access to health services, including dental care. “Working out of makeshift ‘dental of- fices’ in Plan Grande, San Jose and Yoro – and with the help of our great partner, Honduras Hope – we treated Hondurans ranging in age from 5 to 75. It was heart- breaking to see the condition of the teeth and mouths that we saw, especially in the young people, but it was so reward- ing to give many Hondurans at least a fighting chance for a healthier future. “The children were so strong as most had never seen a dentist. A 7-year-old girl came to our clinic – alone. She need- ed to have extractions. She started cry- ing inconsolably, not knowing what was ahead. I tried calming her down and suggested she sit off to the side for a few minutes. I fully expected her to leave, but she came back to our makeshift den- Creating smiles for Honduras HINMAN BOOTH No. 501 so she’d feel better during her treatment. “Teaching the kids the correct way of brushing their teeth and the importance of oral health was such a rewarding ex- perience. The children of Plan Grande were so excited to get toothpaste and toothbrushes. It was such a simple thing, but it meant so much to them. “We overcame challenging working conditions – no running water, no elec- tricity — long hours and a five-hour hike up a mountain. None of those chal- tal chair about 10 minutes later, tears still streaming down her face, and she let us do what we had to do. Unforget- table. Those kinds of stories repeated themselves every day. “There was a boy, around 9 or 10, who lived in the mountaintop village of San Jose. One of our hygienists did his clean- ing and said the boy had carious lesions in his front teeth. She brought him over for fillings. Unfortunately, the cavity in one of his teeth was into the pulp. Once the boy realized he needed his front tooth pulled he started bawling. Our hy- gienist felt terrible, but she realized that it couldn’t have come at a better time because we were there to help, before an infection or pain set in, while he had ac- cess to dental care. The next day he was around the clinic and you could see in his face that he was so appreciative of our help. He gave our hygienist, Tiffany, a big hug. I don’t think she’ll ever forget it. “A little girl in Yoro just loved hanging out with us in the clinic – this time it was a converted beauty salon. The team gave her a fun sticker and she never wanted to leave our side. We took pictures with her and she wanted to hold our phones so she could pretend to take more. She couldn’t get enough of us and hung out at the clinic for the two days we were there. “One of our dental assistants said a young girl simply asked to hold her hand lenges deterred us. We came to Hondu- ras on a mission, with a job to do, and we achieved our goals. This mission strong- ly reinforced the overwhelming need for the care we provide. To restore a healthy smile and relieve a patient from pain is a reward you can’t describe. Whether we are traveling to a third-world country or working in our Aspen Dental practices in the United States, one thing is clear: We are always on a mission to give people a healthier mouth.” Running a successful dental practice calls on not just your expertise in den- tistry but also on your leadership abili- ties. Being an effective leader will help you focus your staff and your part- ners on creating and maintaining the kind of dental practice that you can be proud of. The following eight areas of focus can help practice owners and other dental professionals develop and strengthen leadership skills: 1Promote creativity. When employ- ees are encouraged to express their creativity, they stretch their limits.1 Foster this by setting staff goals and supporting employees as they work to- ward those achievements. 2Display your passion. If employ- ees see that you care about your work and your practice, they’ll be more likely to care too.2 Let your passion inspire others, and they, in turn, will inspire you. 3Listen. If you don’t know what’s happening in your practice or among your workers, you can’t fix problems or address concerns. Ask questions, check in on staff members in different areas of your practice and find out what’s going on. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to reach your workers and address their needs.3 4Be honest. If things have gone wrong or are less than perfect in your practice, own up to it and look for ways to improve. Effec- tive leaders don’t deny weaknesses and mistakes; they learn from them.4 5Communicate. People who work with you need to know what di- rection things are headed. Be sure Eight ways you can improve your leadership skills today leader means continuing to grow and change so you can take your practice with you on the journey. ÿ References 1. www.psychology.about.com/od/leader ship/tp/become-a-better-leader.htm 2. Ibid. 3. www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/12/ lead ership-skils.asp 4. www.makeithappennow.org/advice/ how-to-develop-your-leadership-skills- and-tech niques/ 5. www.psychology.about.com/od/leader ship/tp/become-a-better-leader.htm Any third-party trademarks refer- enced in this article are owned by and are the registered trademarks of their respective third-party owners. There is no affiliation, sponsorship or endorse- ment relationship between PNC or its affiliates and any such third party. (Source: PNC Financial Services Group) Being a good dentist doesn’t make you a good leader — skills do employees are informed about chang- es and developments in the practice, particularly those that affect them. 6 Be a role model. If you’re asking people to work longer hours, don’t clock out early. If you want staff to abide by a new workflow prac- tice, be sure you’re taking part.5 Build trust by practicing what you preach, and employees may be increasingly re- ceptive to your leadership. 7Be positive. People will likely be more agreeable if they feel your guidance will lead to something good. Be confident about the direction your practice is taking. 8 Be open. Every day you have the opportunity to learn something new, either from your surround- ings, what you read, what you observe or the people you work with. Being a

Dental Tribune U.S.Edition No.3, 2016

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