Dental Mission to Belize, 2014

What an awesome team! We loved working with everyone!

This past November, East Berlin Smiles teamed up with International Health Outreach and traveled to Orange Walk Town, Belize for a dental mission.  Our entire staff at East Berlin Smiles went, including Dr. Cockley.  We had the privilege of learning new techniques for glass ionomer restorations and how to incorporate ozone therapy in our patient's treatment.  

Amber and Gina - the inseparable duo

This dental mission was unique in the fact that our goal was to treat each patient as comprehensively as possible. All patients received  ultrasonic scaling and several restorations (if needed) to get them back to dental health. Education was also a key part of our mission and we gave needed supplies like toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss. Our patients were then referred to their local dentist who partnered with us for their continued care.  We were able to treat 336 patients, 96 children, and saved over 5,000 teeth!

The people of Belize are amazing - So welcoming and friendly and appreciative of the treatment we provided. As of now, we plan to return in November of this year for another mission to a different district in Belize. If you ever get the chance to go on a dental mission - go! You won't regret it.  It's a great chance to  network with other amazing people in the dental field and to use your talents and skills to give back. 

Support Our Future Dental Assistants

Over the last two years, our dental office has had the privilege of working with various dental assisting schools in our area. Most of the programs require their students to extern in our office for about six weeks. This has given us the opportunity to help them become "seasoned" dental assistants before they apply for their first dental assisting position. 

Most of the students come to our office very intimidated by the dentist and are unsure of their abilities as assistants. Most of them have only learned about procedures in a classroom setting and worked on fellow students or typodonts. Many of you probably remember how you felt as a new assistant and how scary that first day was! Most of us would have loved to have had a competent assistant work side by side with us to "work out the kinks" and nerves before finding a job. 

Accepting dental assisting students into your office is a great way to help these future assistants see how a "real" dental office functions, interact with staff members and patients, understand the importance of infection control/procedures/materials/charting/lab work etc., prepare them for job interviews and what they should look for in a potential office.

Dental Assisting Divas and Jackie

Here are some photos of our last extern-Jackie and the fun we had with her in our office. She had a great sense of humor and made it through our "hazing process". We loved her so much we hated to see her go and wish her the best in her career.

  

February was Dental Health Month!

To celebrate Dental Health Month we traveled to Freedom Valley School in Gettysburg, PA to talk to the kids about the importance of caring for their teeth. We showed videos and taught them the proper way to brush and floss.The children also learned about plaque control and the process of how teeth decay. We demonstrated proper brushing and flossing techniques and used trash bags and silly string to show them how to remove the plaque on their teeth. 

Using silly string to show how plaque forms on teeth

Cavity Creep

 Cathy dressed as the Cavity Creep and we discussed how cavities form and how to prevent them.  The kids' loved the treat bags we left them filled with dental supplies.



Amber and Gina demonstrate how to floss

Show Someone You Care

We see patients daily in a professional setting and take care of the needs of their mouth, but do we take the time to listen to what's going on in their lives or see how they are feeling after they have had treatment in our office? Making a quick phone call during down-time or sending a card to a patient really makes them feel good and let's them know you care. 

Here are just a few ideas on how to take your patient care to the next level:

1. Make a call to a patient 2 days before a lengthy appointment-

• prepare them for what will take place
• ask them to wear comfortable clothing
• tell them to eat something before the appointment
• have them bring an I-Pod (if you do not provide one)

This call helps to put them at ease and not stress so much the night before.

   2. Call the same patient after that long appointment or the next

       day to see how they are feeling.

   3. After scaling/root planing-call patient to see how they are feeling and

       stress the need for the re-eval appointment and review oral hygiene

       instructions.

   4. If the patient has lost a loved one in death, had a baby, had surgery, etc.

      Send them a card signed by all the staff members.

   5. If the patient had to be referred out of the office for a root canal

      or extraction-call them 1-2 days later and see how they are feeling.

These are just a few ways to show your patients you care. Rather than viewing this as just another thing you have to try to fit into your busy day "share the love"-this is an activity that the whole staff can share in.  

Setting Up For Success

We recently sat down for a Q & A with our EFDA extern, Laine Watson.  Laine has been completing her 500 hours of  assisting and EFDA duties in our office since October of 2010, and will be finishing in January 2011.  It's been great having her as an extern at East Berlin Smiles.  We have seen her develop her assisting skills and increase her confidence through patient communication.  

Diva's: Laine, what attracted you to the dental field?

Laine: I think a person's smile is very important in the way they feel about themselves. So I want to help someone feel good about themselves.

Diva's: We agree. That is definitely a perk of dental assisting. Did you ever consider a career in dental hygiene? If so, why did you choose to become a dental assistant?

Laine: I initially considered going to school for hygiene but thought dental assisting would be a great opportunity to get the experience and knowledge of the dental field. In the future, I may go back to school for hygiene.

Diva's: We're not bias or anything, but we think you picked the right field! That is a great goal to have. Tell us more about your recent schooling.

Laine: My schooling was a full-time, 15 month EFDA program at Keystone Technical Institute in Harrisburg, PA. I learned all the basics of dental assisting like charting, chair side procedures, identifying different instruments and passing them.  Since it was an EFDA program, I also had training in placing and finishing amalgam and composite restorations. Everything I learned was very helpful, but I do wish there was a little more hands-on experience.

Diva's: Now that you are doing the extern portion of your training, how does the "real" office compare to what you did in school?

Laine: The "real" office is very different than school. First, I'm actually working on "real" patients not models which is a huge difference. Some of the materials used in Dr. Cockley's office are different from what we used in school and that makes procedure steps a little different from what I was taught. Digital x-ray sensors are placed differently in the patients mouth than traditional film.

Diva's: It certainly is easy to work without the distractions of a tongue and saliva! What has your extern experience been like?

Laine: My extern experience has been great! Everyone in the office is very knowledgeable and helpful. I have learned so much and I am very thankful to be at such a great office that is willing to work with me and explain things to me.

Diva's: What have you learned here that you will take with you and apply to your new job?

Laine: Everything that I have learned while on extern I will take with me and apply to my future career. You two are great at what you do-watching and listening to you interact with patients has taught me how to feel more comfortable talking and explaining things to patients.

Diva's: Thanks Laine. You are doing a great job. What would you like to see on our blog that may be helpful to other assistants?

Laine: I think it would be helpful for new assistants to read about what to expect in an office-knowing what to look for in a potential office, helpful interview tips, and what a doctor might expect from a brand new assistant. Tips on procedures and lab work would be nice, as well as tips that might make something easier or faster that you have figured out over your years assisting. Also, what doctors look for in a cover letter and resume that will make you stand out from the rest.

Diva's: Those are some great topic ideas and we will definitely include them in future posts. Now that you are almost finished your externship and are going to be looking for a job, what are some key things you will be looking for in an office?

Laine: I will be looking for a team that is very knowledgeable and that truly care about their patients. A practice that is up-to-date in procedures and equipment and that are consistent with continuing education.

Diva's: Thanks for sitting down with us. We know there are alot of assistants out there in your same position or someone who may be considering dental assisting as a career and your candid answers will be helpful to them.  

Fundraisers continued.....

Jewelry Party

Another fundraiser we organized was a jewelry party, held on a Friday evening in our office.  During down-time, we would make various styles of jewelry like necklaces and bracelets and even a few pieces of children's jewelry.  It's great to get your whole staff involved in making the pieces of jewelry, because each of us has our own taste and unique style - and so will your shoppers.  Turn your office into a boutique with decorations and creatively display what you've made.  Have all items priced ahead of time and send invitations to ladies in your practice, friends, and family members for a "girls night" of shopping and hors d'oeuvres.  Tell them to bring their friends and get ready for a fun time out.  Remember to be good hostesses-dress up for your party and have as many staff members participate as possible!

Golf Tournament

 Our golf tournament fundraiser definitely required the most planning, but it also turned out to be the most successful event-with the most donations raised for our dental mission.  We visited local businesses in our community with donation forms and freshly baked cookies in hand, and asked store managers and owners for their support.  For local businesses, we asked them for a gift certificate,  prize donation, or for a monetary donation to sponsor a hole. In turn, they would receive recognition and advertisement at that particular hole.

Of course, we let our patients know about our tournament and invited them to join us for a fun day of golf.  Within several months, we had all of our holes sponsored, and had some great prizes to give away to winners in several categories. 

Our staff and Amber's father catered the event (yes we made all the food!) and our golfers enjoyed a great meal after their day of golf.

We were all exhausted by the end of the day, but felt like a million bucks when we saw the fruits of our labor.

 

Fabulous Fundraisers

Whether you want to organize fundraisers for a small, local cause, or if you want to raise a large amount for a future dental mission - early planning is a must!  Fundraisers do require forethought and effort, but they are a great way to get your team members and your local community involved in accomplishing your goal. 



Tips for getting started:

*Identify how much money you need to raise

*Brainstorm as a team for what type of fundraisers would best fit into your local community

*Get friends, family, and your patients involved by  posting newspaper press releases, sending flyers in pt  bags, and most importantly, talking about it - let them see your excitement!


*Talk to your colleagues and your doctor's associates and specialists you have a close relationship with about making a donation

*Speak with different representatives regarding  product donations

Fundraisers we organized:

Yard Sale/Bake Sale

Have your staff donate unwanted items in good condition for the yard sale - there may even be items around your office that you aren't using. (Please get your doctor's permission first)  Bake up a storm!  We made items ranging from easy cereal bars to layered cakes.  Portion your baked goods in individual packaging.

If possible, hold your event when there is a community yard sale or other town event to get the most traffic. 

Dental Mission to Vietnam

One of our mission sites-a school yard

Is your practice already "standing out"? Are you proud of the services you offer and do you have close relationships with your patients?  If the answer is yes - that's great!  But how often do we really take the time to step outside our office and experience the community that we're a part of? 


Or, think even bigger and participate in a dental mission with your co-workers.  A dental mission can bring people from different backgrounds together to support a great cause. 


Whether you decide to start in your local community, or go international, giving back will benefit you and the members of your team in many ways.  One benefit is simply team building.  As you work together with a central purpose, it will bring you closer together as a team.  It's one thing to be with each other during a typical work day, but team building outside of the office causes you to let your guard down and get to know the people you work with in new ways. 

Another benefit of giving back is the obvious effect your efforts will have on those who are less fortunate.  There are so many things in our lives that we daily take for granted, and serving others together, truly gives you a new perspective and out-look on life. It will make you appreciate what you have even more.

Get your patients involved!  Tell them what you're planning and let them see you being active in your community.  Let's face it - some of our patients only think of us in our sterile work environment.  Have you ever had the experience of seeing one of them at your local grocery store?  You recognize them, and politely wave and say with a smile, "Hi Mr. so and so!" And they don't even recognize you!  Our patients need to see that "human" side.  And if you're already great at doing that, then view this as another great opportunity to stand out from the '"average Joe" and let them see your passion come to life through your compassion for others.  If you're planning to travel, let your patients know.  Ask them for their support and show them how they can get involved through fundraisers.  They will love supporting you and will cheer you on!

Gina assisting with extractions

Nine months ago,  for sixteen days, we traveled to Vietnam for our first dental mission with Operation Smile.  Six months prior, we started planning our trip.  We knew it sounded ambitious and that we would need to raise a lot of money to get there, but everyone on our staff agreed that we had to do it.  We were scared, nervous, and worried, but most of all - excited!  And that's what made it all happen.  We were united as a team and driven with one goal - get to Vietnam and provide free dentistry to impoverished children.  Don't get me wrong - it was a lot of work.  But with the help and support of our patients, colleagues, friends, family, and local community, we made it happen.  And you can too! Are we suggesting that everyone should plan a trip like this? - Not necessarily. 

Amber and Dr. Cockley providing restorative care 

But whether you start big or small, it all matters and it will all make a huge difference in some one's life.  In posts to come, we'll let you know exactly how we did it by sharing ideas for fundraisers and how to gain the support of your patients and your local community. 

Pamper Your Patients!

Does this sound familiar? You greet your next patient in the reception area with a big smile and a "Hello! How are you today?" - and you're greeted back with a, "I hate coming to the dentist -no offense," "I'd rather be at the gynecologist office," or "Awful! What do you expect? -I'm at the dentist."  

Doesn't that make you feel great?  Let's face it - there aren't too many people that look forward to their dental appointment.  We work in this environment every day and become immune to the sights, sounds, and smells.  We can easily forget what it's like for our patients until it's our turn to be one. 

Paraffin hand treatment station

Our job is to break down that barrier and create an environment where our patients have a relaxing, enjoyable experience.  Create that "new patient" experience for everyone - each time they enter your office.  There are many economical and affordable services that you can offer your patients to create a spa-like experience. Whether your patient is fearful, stressed, a busy mom or dad rushing in, or someone who's had a long work day - everyone loves to be pampered and they are going to love you for it!

We regularly offer our patients:

Anxiety-free dental appointment

*Heated, aromatherapy neck wraps  and eye/forehead pillow 

*Headphones

*Paraffin wax hand treatments

*Memory foam chair cushions with knee and lumbar pillows

*Scented aromatherapy candles

*Sunglasses, and blankets