DeW Life Summer 2020

Summer 2020

Celebrating Women in Dentistry Angela Martinez and Heather Colicchio

My Unconventional Path to Serving as President of the Chicago Dental Society Dr. Terri Tiersky

How Do You Know You’ve Arrived, If You Don’t Have a Clear Vision?

Kristin Pelletier

I Don’t Want It to Be Me Anne Rice

Building Racial Equity In Our Businesses Jasmin Haley

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Summer 2020 Editor and Publisher Anne M. Duffy, RDH Associate Publisher Rebecca Paciorek Assistant Editors Michael Duffy JoAnn Schutte Susan Beatty Creative Consultant Beth Linesch Design and Layout Brian Rummel Production [CURAtive] James B. Kennedy Reilly Williams Summer Contributors Dr. Cheryl Brunelle Heather Colicchio Dr. Gina Dorfman Jasmin Haley Angela Martinez Paige Mead Kristin Pelletier Anne Rice Cheryl Shafer Dr. Terri Tiersky Social Media Blue Dot Digital Marketing Web Management My Dental Agency Charter Sponsors A-dec Editorial Office 12233 Pine Valley Club Dr Charlotte, NC 28277 704-953-0261 Fax 704-847-3315 anneduffy@dew.life Send materials to: DeW Life Magazine 8334 Pineville Matthews Rd Ste. 103-201 Charlotte, NC 28226 Guidelines go to dew.life

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Crest Mary Fisher-Day Inspired Hygiene Patterson D5 Patterson Fuse Shofu Advisory Board Emeritus Linda Miles Advisors to the Board Victoria Peterson Katherine Eitel-Belt Board Dr. Meghna Dassani Chris Duval Vanessa Emerson Dr. Hazel Glasper Jasmin Haley Janice Hurley Suzanne Kump Tonya Lanthier Dr. Laura Mach JoAn Majors Rachel Mele Lorie Streeter Rachel Wall Junior Board Dr. Shakila Angadi Christie Bailey Dr. Erinne Kennedy Minal Sampat

This is a special edition of DeW Life Magazine, one that comes at a time when we are confronted with a global pandemic, a financial crisis and the crucial fight for racial justice. How we deal with these historic events will define us as we move forward. Through it all, we must never stop caring, learning to love each other and accepting each other as human beings. We must be strong, we must be safe, and - most importantly - we must be better human beings.

We DeWs will not go backwards. And I am proud that we are building a community that stands with Black Women and Women of Color. We will continue to do small things with great love to make our profession and the world a better place. Let it begin with us. We will DeW it together because together we DeW. To that point, I would encourage you to head to www.dew.life to read Jasmin Haley’s cover story from earlier this year where she discusses inclusion in our business and how to better ourselves through synergy with your colleagues, even if they are also your competitors. As Minal Sampat said in her previous DeW essay, “The secret to success isn’t to stand out; it’s to stand with.”

Jasmin weighs back in towards the back of this issue with a wonderfully insightful piece on building racial equality in your practice. Are you willing to have tough conversations? Are you willing to invest in marginalized communities? It’s a reality check I think we all need.

Our prominent cover DeWs, Heather Colicchio and Angela Martinez, are also committed to celebrating women in our profession, especially our office managers, who are critical during the pandemic. Heather saw a need to bring out the best in office managers and created AADOM to do something about it.

We thank you, Heather!

Our friendships, collaborations and cheerleading are essential to keep this momentum going. I hope you reach out to our authors and thank them for their contributions. And please note our sponsors, who champion our movement of raising all women in dentistry. I hope you reciprocate by supporting their business.

Finally, please accept our invitation to celebrate the third anniversary of DeW Life. Get fired up and ready to go! We are offering three free months of digital access to our fabulous community. It’s easy to sign up on our website, and all are welcome to inspire, highlight, empower and connect. There are 1 million women in dentistry, so please invite your friends and colleagues to DeW Life with us.

Go forward and keep DeWing you!

Love and peace,

Anne M. Duffy Editor/Publisher “You may say I‘m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one!”

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SUMMER 2020

Contents 6

10

Celebrating Women in Dentistry Angela Martinez and Heather Colicchio

My Unconventional Path to Serving as President of the Chicago Dental Society Dr. Terri Tiersky, DDS, JD

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30

16

Working the Life-Work Balance and Living Your Best Life

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How Do You Know You’ve Arrived, If You Don’t Have a Clear Vision?

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I Don’t Want It To Be Me

26

Breathing New Life inTO My Career

30

Living your Values

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Building Racial Equity In Our Businesses

36

My Date with silence

Dr. Gina Dorfman, DDS

Kristin Pelletier

Anne Rice, RDH, BS, FAAOSH, CDP

Cheryl Shafer, RDH, BS, COM

Dr. CHeryl Brunelle, DDS

Jasmin Haley, RDH, MSDH, CDA

Paige Mead

DeWers WWW

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DeW Dish

12

Success

16

Living Your Strengths

22

Reflection

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DeWERS

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN DENTISTRY By Angela Martinez & Heather Colicchio (AADOM)

A

ngela:

Eleanor Roosevelt was credited as saying, “A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” It’s not hard to find famous quotes about the strength and resiliency of women, but I like this one because it seems very relevant today. Because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the vast majority of us have gone through a unique challenge, personally and professionally. Many of us found ourselves at home keeping busy with new crafts or old projects still on the to-do list, working remotely or helping kids with their online classes and homework (not to mention keeping them from saying, “I’m bored” a million times a day). These past months it has taken a lot – a lot of strength, creativity, positivity and community (even at a social distance). But as always, there is healing, mentally and physically. When I think of all the women in dentistry I know, from the time I worked in a practice to my current role at CareCredit, I could probably share hundreds of stories on the strength and resiliency of females in dentistry.

Heather: I agree. When we’re in situations we cannot control, it’s important to focus on what we can. For example, we responded to Coronavirus (COVID-19) with the AADOM

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Cares Program to provide relevant and timely resources and education to dental managers to help them through the pandemic. As part of the program, AADOM offered free membership to ensure everyone who wanted to have access to the resources was able to. This was one thing we knew we could control and the results have been amazing – we now have more than 10,000 members who are growing, learning and sharing their experiences with one another. The stories I have heard over the past months coming from office managers across the country showed me just how powerful the dental team is in taking care of patients, their teams, their communities and themselves.

One of our members, Beverly W., shared, “It is a great time for the leaders of the practice (managers and owners) to show their teams their human side while serving in their communities. Early on, before many stay-at-home orders were initiated, we received word that our nurses and healthcare professionals did not have access to vending machines that would often be used to sustain them through the extralong shifts they were having to endure. Something so simple as missing a “snack break” sparked an idea.

We immediately dove into outreach, and with the help of our community and our patients, in just over 24 hours we were able to collect and deliver drinks and

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healthy snacks for 447 nurses and healthcare workers to last them just over 3 weeks!” Another member, Dana W., struggled with how to tell her team the practice was closing and that they would be laid off for an indefinite amount of time. She said, “Although I understood we had little choice, I didn’t know if my team would understand.

I wiped away my tears and went inside to call the team together and deliver the news. There were more tears from everyone. But surprisingly, they were tears of support. As the doctor let a tear fall down his cheek, he apologized that he wasn’t able to take better care of them through this pandemic. They nodded their heads with understanding. They agreed in unison that we would all get through this and come back strong. Then the most touching thing happened: as we adjourned the meeting, one team member asked if anyone wanted to stay in the room for prayer. Everyone stayed. Everyone. I will cherish that moment forever."

Angela: Okay, I just teared up. Those are amazing stories and yet not really surprising at all. What’s somewhat surprising is how often we don’t take the time to recognize the strength we have or to recognize the strength and resiliency we see in others. It is so important, particularly when it’s been a tough day, to remember and focus on what we contribute personally and professionally. We tend to celebrate the big successes, but our days are really made up of a lot of small successes. A few tips here on how to take time out of the day to celebrate successes – big and small. You have to take the time and make the effort.

For example, during the morning huddles, have everyone share one small thing they did that helped someone else or made them happy. Focus on the simple things, like letting a driver in the lane ahead of you or leaving an encouraging note on your teenager’s bedroom door.

When you share, it inspires others and gives the ideas they can do themselves. Or at the end of the day before everyone transitions to home life, take a moment to talk about the good things that happened, and, whenever possible, recognize people who contributed to the day’s success.

Heather: Those are terrific tips, Angela. It’s true that each and every day the success of the dental practice, both short term and long term, is made up of a series of small wins.

And those wins increase exponentially when people are recognized for their efforts and contributions. Through the American Association of Dental Office Management, I’ve heard some pretty unique ways teams recognize, reward and celebrate each other. One opportunity coming up about which I know we are both passionate is the second annual Office Manager Appreciation Month

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(OMAM) this September. Last year our two organizations worked together to create a dedicated month where the managers are recognized and appreciated. This, of course, doesn’t diminish the contributions of all members on the team; it’s just an opportunity to celebrate the women and men who I’ve heard them self-describe as “magicians,” and “jugglers.” Last year was the inaugural year for OMAM and was a great success. We’re hoping that this year is even better and that we have even more doctors and teams participate.

Angela: Yes, last year was a huge success. Having spent half of my career as a dental Office Manager, I thoroughly understand every person on the dental team is important; but we wanted to recognize office managers because they often are the heart and soul of the team.

Last year thousands of office managers were celebrated by their teams with flowers, cakes, parties and more.

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Also, hundreds of office managers and administrators joined AADOM. This year, the word has gotten out, and we’re expecting big things in September as additional organizations want to align with and participate in this initiative.

who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry and are current CareCredit-enrolled physicians as of August 31, 2020 and prize award date. Starts 10:00 AM ET on 9/1/20 and ends 8:00 PM ET on 9/30/20. For complete rules, visit www.carecredit. com/myawesomeom Sponsored by Synchrony Bank.

Heather: As we’ve discussed, recognizing and celebrating strength and resiliency is so necessary today. You mentioned cakes, parties and flowers. And those are all good ideas. I’d like to share a few more. The team could write “love notes” to their office manager/administrator, sharing what they love about them – such as their sense of humor or ability to handle stress. Or everyone get together after hours for an “Our-office-manager-makespatients-and-us-happy" hour. How about a “We-havean #AwesomeOM” banner or sign in the reception area so patients can get in on the fun, too. And, to participate in OMAM, doctors can go online to CareCredit. com/MyAwesomeOM to nominate their OM as an #AwesomeOM. One doctor and his or her office manager will be randomly selected to receive a scholarship to the AADOM conference in Boca Raton 2021, courtesy of CareCredit*.

Angela: Don’t forget office managers can also post a picture of how CareCredit is displayed in their practice, share a best practice tip and use tag #AwesomeOM #CareCreditSweepstakes on Instagram for a chance to be one of five randomly selected winners of one FAADOM education and a one-year AADOM membership**. For details, eligibility and official rules for both promotions, teams can visit CareCredit.com/MyAwesomeOM and AwesomeOM.dja.com. That’s a lot of good stuff – just for taking a few minutes to recognize the contribution, strength and resiliency of the practice’s Office Manager or Administrator.

Heather: I think the point is to, again, celebrate the big wins and all the little successes that create long-term patient loyalty. Your quote about strength of women is also one of my favorites, but so is this one by Kara Goucher: “Acknowledge all of your small victories. They will eventually add up to something great.”

**No purchase necessary to enter or win the CareCredit Office Manager Appreciation Month #AwesomeOM Promotion. Open to legal residents of the U.S. with its territories, including D.C. and Puerto Rico, who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry and are Office Managers (or a comparable position) employed by a CareCredit-enrolled dental provider as of 8/31/20 and prize award date. Starts 10:00 AM ET on 9/1/20 and ends 8:00 PM ET on 9/30/20. For complete rules, visit AwesomeOM.dja.com. Sponsored by Synchrony Bank

About the authors: Angela Martinez found her passion for the field of dentistry 28 years ago when she held a part-time high school job in the back office of a dental practice. Over the years she expanded her expertise, holding multiple roles in the dental practice including RDA, treatment coordinator and Office Manager. She used that firsthand patient experience when she left the practice environment to become a Dental Consultant and Provider Relations Manager for a dental insurance company.

Then, in 2014 she joined CareCredit. At CareCredit she successfully leveraged her extensive knowledge and expertise in her role as trainer and Practice Development Manager. Angela was subsequently promoted to her current role as Vice President of Strategic Association and Dental Health Policy to lead strategic initiatives, education and relationships with national, state and local dental associations and provide sales support for CareCredit Dental Tradeshows.

Heather Colicchio is the founder and president of the American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM). AADOM is the largest professional organization in the nation for dental business team members.

AADOM also hosts the Annual Dental Management Conference: www.aadomconference.com. Heather is passionate about small business and entrepreneurship.

She enjoys collaboration and loves working in the dental industry.

*No purchase necessary to enter or win the CareCredit Office Manager Appreciation Month Physician Sweepstakes. Open to legal residents of the U.S. with its territories, including D.C. and Puerto Rico,

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dew.life

WHO, WEAR, WHEN

Good DeWs Find Good DeWs

DeW

DATES

Here are some upcoming events we will be attending.

Let's meet up, DeW Crew!

Dental Impact Summit Rescheduled for Spring 2021 Lake Rabon, GA dentalimpact@dentalpost.com

Under One Roof October 9-11, 2020 Denver, CO www.rdhunderoneroof.com

Smiles at Sea November 6-9 Miami, FL SmilesAtSea.com

DeW Retreat November 12-14, 2020 Charlotte, NC www.dew.life

DeW PJ Parties ... to be announced

dew.life

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DeWERS

MY UNCONVENTIONAL PATH TO SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO DENTAL SOCIETY

I

t is April of 2020, and I am writing this article as the world contends with a global pandemic the likes of which we have never seen before. It is an unfortunately dark time in our personal and professional lives. The year 2020 also happens to be the year that I have the distinct honor of serving as president of the Chicago Dental Society. It is rapidly becoming an interesting and challenging time to not only be a dentist, but also a leader within our profession.

When I first set out to write this column, I planned on writing a lighthearted piece on my career path and how my involvement in organized dentistry has not only brought me personal fulfillment but how it also put me on a path to the position I am in today, serving as Chicago Dental Society president. I will still write about these things, but I am unsure how lighthearted it will be.

My sincere hope is that by the time you are reading this article, we will all be on the other side of this crisis and returning to our “normal” daily routines.

In the 155-year history of the Chicago Dental Society, I am only the fourth female president. I graduated from Loyola University Dental School in 1986, and although I have been involved in organized dentistry since that time, I didn’t initially set my sights on serving the society as an officer. The truth is, I did not even initially set out to be a dentist!

Words that were once spoken by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt ring very true for me:

By Dr. Terri Tiersky, DDS,JD

I was a political science major at the University of Illinois with my sights clearly set on law school. That path changed suddenly second semester of my junior year, when I decided to switch to Pre-Dentistry. How in the world could I possibly fit in all the requirements needed to get into dental school?

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

After becoming a dentist and practicing full time, how could I possibly then go to law school at night and get a law degree?

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

And so I did. This unconventional path led me to dental school first and then law school. While attending law school at night, I practiced dentistry full time during the day. I like to think that my law school education taught me an entirely different way of thinking, and I believe that has had a positive impact on my leadership style, as well as my participation in meetings, such as the House of Delegates of the American Dental Association and the Illinois State Dental Society. In a somewhat basic assessment of the difference between the two, dental school taught me science; law school taught me theory. Together, both have equipped me with a unique set of skills that have helped me in both my private dental practice and my various leadership roles. For one thing, I feel wellequipped to evaluate both sides of an issue objectively before coming to a conclusion.

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

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dew.life

DeWERS beyond words. Live your dream, and reach for the stars, even if your path looks different than that of others.

This unconventional path has allowed me to not only be a part of our wonderful profession but also to have a voice in dentistry’s future, to be a mentor, to give back through various philanthropic entities and to make lifelong friendships along the way.

Of the four female CDS presidents, I am only the second to also be a mother. I have a 20-year-old daughter who attends Michigan State University. I think that it is often overlooked how much harder it is for women to have a career, be involved beyond our offices and raise children. Of course things have improved greatly since my daughter was born. But I frankly think that as women we will always face different challenges than our male colleagues. That isn’t in any way a bad thing, it’s just the reality of life. I have apologized to my daughter for all of the times over the years that meetings took me away from time that might have been spent with her, but I believe that I have shown her that as a woman you really can have it all.

It is vitally important that women of all ages get involved in organized dentistry to some degree. Perhaps your path will also be unconventional, perhaps not. I am certain you are all aware the face of our profession is thankfully changing. Women now make up more than 50% of the students enrolled in dental schools across the country, and we are seeing an increase in the number of women leaders in both local and state dental societies. We must keep this trend going. When I became involved nearly 34 years ago, I was often one of only a few women in the room. It was daunting at times, but I never let my gender define who I was or what I had to say. Did I ever feel that I was treated differently because I was a woman? Yes. But I tried to never let that stop me. In fact, it energized me. I have always believed that you don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to be heard but rather the one that has something important to say. People will listen.

To have a hand in your own destiny is fulfilling in ways

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It is both an exciting and challenging time to be serving as president of the Chicago Dental Society. The pandemic has dentists being forced to close their offices to routine dental care in hopes of keeping ourselves, our families and our patients healthy; as well as preserving PPE for our emergencies and for those that need it on the front lines of this fight. I have used this time to look deep within to determine how best to lead from behind the scenes. I remain resolute in trying to live up to what I believe a good leader should be. That includes trying to remain the voice of reason and calm during such a difficult time, helping anyone who reaches out to me with questions, directing the questions that I cannot answer to the appropriate people, and maintaining virtual contact with my board of directors and staff to keep everyone informed and in touch.

Although video chats and virtual conferencing have proven very useful and provided a fun divergence during this difficult time, I look forward to a time when we can all be together face-to-face and resume business as usual to continue to serve our patients and continue our efforts to move the profession forward through organized dentistry.

About the author: Dr. Terri Tiersky has been practicing general dentistry since 1986. Dr. Tiersky earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her dental degree from the Loyola University Chicago School of Dentistry. She also has a Juris Doctor degree from the John Marshall Law School. Dr. Tiersky currently serves as the 2020 President of the Chicago Dental Society (CDS) and has previously held the roles of Secretary, Vice President and Treasurer and held a seat on the CDS Board of Directors for three years. In addition to CDS, she is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) and the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, and a fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and The Odontographic Society of Chicago. She has served on numerous committees of the CDS, ISDS and the ADA over the years, including the board of the Chicago Dental Society Foundation, the ISDS Board of Trustees and the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs. Dr. Tiersky also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park and is a volunteer for the Alpha Omega Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program and for Donated Dental Services. Dr. Tiersky lives in Highland Park, Illinois, with her husband and daughter.

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DeW Dish

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Christi craig bintliff

know the depths of her inspiration nor ever personally meet those that went on to accomplish great things. In looking back, she helped me realize that every role I have held in dentistry was not just a job but a steppingstone to where I am today.

Leap2Solutions.com

How do you measure your success?

©Alicyn Drew Photography

My success is not defined by a job title, an award or by my accomplishments. While those things clearly represent my drive and determination, I measure my success in my ability to lead, coach and inspire others to reach their highest potential. This is my way of paying it forward and honoring the many people who have been so influential in my life and career.

What is the best part of your job?

The supportive and respectful relationship that I have cultivated with my bosses. We have experienced the serendipity of having arrived at a perfectly aligned leadership team. In addition, they have been my biggest supporters of personal endeavors. They have known that my long-range goal is to become a dental performance consultant/speaker. They have encouraged, supported and provided opportunities that have assisted me as I slowly transition from my role as an administrator to a consultant. This type of relationship rarely occurs in business which makes it even more precious to me.

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

I continue to be inspired by the many women who have supported me throughout my journey. A woman whom I admire and continues to inspire me is Linda Miles. She was consulting at the dental practice where I began my dental career. I was captivated by her pose, enthusiasm and positive energy. She had an innate ability to quickly provide solutions to the challenges that were keeping that practice and team from reaching their highest potential.

And, she did it with superb finesse. I recall saying to myself, “I want to be like her when I grow up.”

She paved the way for so many women who pursued a career as a consultant and speaker. She may never

What obstacles have you overcome in your life?

Trust and confidence. I was a happy girl growing up in the country in eastern NC, but that all changed one summer. When I was 12, my father suddenly died from a massive heart attack; and within a couple of months my mother began her slow descent into alcoholism. She was verbally and emotionally abusive. It is very hard to trust others when the one person you trusted the most betrayed you. And, when you are constantly told all the things you aren’t, can’t and won’t be, you start believing what they say is true. Fortunately, I had two great mentors come into my life in my mid-20s, who ironically were dentists and who helped me grow personally and professionally. They taught me trust and gave me the confidence boost that I so greatly needed which changed my life forever.

What “DeW” leaders do?

Women are born to lead. We have tremendous influence.

The world is full of inspiring women whose passion, work and impact in their communities encourage us to choose a specific field of study, follow a certain career path and become economically empowered.

DeW leaders cultivate a diverse set of advisors, a wide network of supporters and key mentors who help us succeed. We continually seek feedback in our quest for personal and professional growth. And, we openly share our experiences and expertise to help other women rise to their highest potential. Our transformational qualities of leadership — vision, optimism, inspiration, out-ofthe-box thinking and implementation — have fluidly navigated us through the unprecedented situations brought on by COVID-19. We make a difference whether quietly or boldly.

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Dr.Meghna Dassani drdassani@dassanidentistry.com

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

Remind myself that not too many have this opportunity that I have, put on some good music, and hugs from my girls... that’s all that is needed to turn a frown upside down.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Dark chocolate

What advice do you have for the new person in your office?

Having fun is as important as giving your 110%.

What “DeW” leaders do?

Servant leadership!! Leading with grace and mentoring the leaders of tomorrow is what leaders DeW.

What is your favorite Indoor/Outdoor Activity?

Baking and gardening

What is the best part of your job?

with What famous person living or dead would you like to have lunch and what would you ask them?

When I’m speaking, it’s watching those light bulbs go off. In the dental office, it’s the patients whose lives we change... be it through their smiles or by helping them Dalai Lama. What is the one piece of advice that he would sleep and breathe better. give the world right now?

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

They are playing your theme song as you walk on stage. Name that tune!

My mom is the reason I am the person I am today.

"This Girl is On Fire" by Alicia Keys

How do you measure your success?

What does balance look like?

If I can answer "Yes" to the question “Are the people who I work clinically 3 days a week. My days start early, so I am matter in my life happy?” that is what success means to in line to pick up the girls from school. This gives me time me. This includes my family, my team and my tribe. to focus on my sleep apnea coaching and plenty of lunch dates with my hubby.

What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

How do you take your coffee?

Having to go through dental school a second time as a Double espresso foreign trained dentist was hard and being told that I didn’t have what it takes to be able to get on stage and make a What is your motto? difference in the lives of dentists and patients worldwide.

There is little we cannot do when we are fueled by a clear purpose.

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Sarah schoeneck

sarah.schoeneck@pattersoncompanies.com

If the relationship didn’t work, it means you weren’t compatible. These are things better to figure out at the beginning. Be yourself from the start; it might take longer to find the “perfect” setting, but it will be worth it and right when you do.

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

Focus on gratitude. It’s cliché, but it’s so easy to lose sight of everything you have and focus on the few things that are going wrong in that moment or day.

I force myself to list all the things I am grateful for, and that usually brings me back down to earth.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I’m not sure if this is “guilty,” but I love going to movies at the movie theater. It’s a lost art these days with everyone streaming movies at home. I love the whole experience of getting ready to go out, getting popcorn and being in a theater.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is interviewing customers and hearing their success stories. They are so passionate about what they do, and they care about their patients. What really surprised me is how these dentists and hygienists are truly pillars of their communities. They are involved in seeing their communities prosper in many ways other than just in the dental field. I interviewed a doctor out of southern California, and she opened a practice in her hometown. She had a unique relationship with her patients because they were all people with whom she grew up. She said to me, “I’m a product of this community, I feel a sense of loyalty to see it prosper.” This is one of the many stories I have had the privilege to write. I love being able to spotlight our customers.

What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

I’m still early on in my career, but one thing I needed to overcome was trying to change to fit into a specific role. This might seem simple, but the best advice I have received is to always act and be yourself. This goes for job interviews, in relationships and at work meetings. If you try to be someone you are not, it could come back to hurt you down the road. If you don’t get the job, it means that you weren’t a good fit.

What is your favorite Indoor/Outdoor Activity?

My favorite activity in general is attending Minnesota Vikings football games. SKOL!

WITH What famous person living or dead would you like to have lunch and what would you ask them?

I love this question, and it’s so hard! I’m a huge history nerd, so I’m going to choose Abraham Lincoln. I would ask him about leadership and how he worked to unite a country in such a crisis.

What has impacted your life most recently?

I’ve lived in Downtown Minneapolis for seven years.

I love this city, the people, the community, and the sports teams. In the wake of the civil unrest over the past few weeks, we are all coming to grips with how to move forward. It’s a scary time, but a time where everyone needs to be heard. We are all different—different opinions, different backgrounds, and different visions on how to start healing. But we are also the same. We all want to build a place that grants everyone the opportunity to seek happiness and prosperity. That is what gives me hope in times like these. We are more alike than we are different.

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SUCCESS

WORKING THE LIFEWORK BALANCE AND LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE By Dr. Gina Dorfman, DDS

S

ome time ago, I was invited to speak at a dental meeting. The organizers thought that I should talk about life-work balance. Frankly, I was surprised. I felt that I was the least qualified person to speak about life-work balance because there are so many things going on in my life, and I often feel like things aren’t entirely under control or in balance. I am a practicing dentist and an owner of a multi-specialty group practice. I am also a co-founder and a COO of a dental software company.

I am married, and I am a mom to two amazing children who both challenge me and make me proud every single day. I am also a speaker, a writer and a podcaster. Yes, I’ve elected to do all these things voluntarily, just like I chose to become the head of the library committee in my son’s school and a room parent in my daughter’s class. I am busy, busy, busy. I have so many balls in the air at all times that it often feels like one of the balls is going to get dropped.

Of course, no matter how hard I try, I occasionally drop a ball or two. Like, that one time when I forgot to pick up my son from school, a few times when I missed their games or recitals, and so many times when I forgot to order lunches or buy school project supplies. So, in case you are wondering why you didn’t get the mother-of-the-year award last year, it’s because I had it locked up.

OK, the truth is that I’ve struggled on my quest to attain that elusive life-work balance until I realized that lifework balance doesn’t exist. It’s a myth. Nothing in the universe is ever in balance. Sometimes our work needs us more, and other times our family needs us more.

Occasionally, our health and wellbeing become a priority.

Real balance doesn’t exist. Living a good life does not mean balancing life and work. It means being fulfilled

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and successful in both.

Nowadays, being busy is the norm. When friends ask us how we are doing, we often instinctively respond with: “I am busy.” I recently caught myself saying that right after coming back from a 30-day vacation on Maui. You see, we like being busy because being busy means that we are on our way. We are making things happen. Things are getting done.

However, does being busy give us the fulfillment that we desire? Does it create better connections with our friends and family? Does it make us happier? More productive? Does it even make us more money? Are we busy with things that will move our lives forward, or are we just busy shuffling things?

Being busy makes us look good, and it’s easy - you just say “Yes” to everything that comes your way.

Being fulfilled, on the other hand, takes work. Being fulfilled and living your best life requires intention and planning.

So, where do we start?

An excellent place to start is to create a vivid and detailed vision of a life worth living. If we don’t intentionally design our lives, someone else will design them for us, and we might not like their idea of a perfect life. Imagine getting into a time machine and traveling three years out. What does your ideal life and work look like in three years? Who are the people in your life? How do you take care of yourself and your health? Once you envision your perfect life and work, you can reverse-engineer from there by figuring out

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Success what needs to happen to get to where you want to be from where you are today.

While you work on creating a vision for the life you want to live, let’s remember a few simple truths:

1. Our time is finite. So, when you say “Yes” to

something, you are saying “No” to something else. Are the things you are saying “Yes” to more important than the things you say “No” to because you feel you don’t have the time? Learn to say “No.”

2. Productivity is not about doing more; it’s about

working better - figure out what projects and what work will bring the most value to your life, and focus on these things. Do things that you enjoy doing and those that will deliver the most value. Automate, delegate or eliminate the rest.

3. When we say that we don’t have time for something, we are saying that this thing is not a priority for us. We are saying that we are choosing to spend our time on things that are more comfortable, more familiar, maybe easier. So, what do you not have time for that you think is important?

Exercising, walking your kids to school, working on creating systems in your practice? If this is important to you, put it on your schedule.

4. Multitasking does not exist. Our brains are not

built for multitasking. When we are multitasking, we think that we are making good use of time, but we are not. Instead of working on multiple tasks at once, our brain switches quickly between different activities. It wears us out and causes mental fatigue. We feel like we’ve been busy, but we haven’t accomplished very much. It causes our bodies to release cortisol - the hormone that makes us stressed out and fat. It diminishes our memory, reduces our ability to concentrate, and it causes us to make careless mistakes. Instead of trying to multitask, learn to single-task. Turn off all distractions, and focus on one job at a time.

5. Small things matter. When it comes to time, it’s not

the quantity but the quality that matters. Be fully present when you spend time with your family.

Folding laundry next to your kids is not the same as getting down on the floor with them to play. We’ve all had those wonderful times with our kids and families and friends that we don’t recall because our brain does not store this information properly when we were distracted or tried to multitask.

With the smallest investment of time in the right places, you can radically improve the quality of your relationships and the quality of your life.

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6. Good things don’t happen to people who play it

safe. We often struggle with the way things are because we are afraid to do things differently. How often do you feel stuck in paralysis by analysis, scared to make the decision or make a move because you don’t feel like you have enough information? How often do we struggle with a slow, incompetent or downright nasty employee because we are afraid to make a change? We worry that it will be difficult to train a new person or that the new employee will be even worse, so we do nothing. How often do we deal with unappreciative patients? How long do we stay in unproductive associateships? Taking risks and making changes can be scary. We cannot anticipate everything that will happen. We’ll never have all the answers.

Accept the uncertainty, take a risk, make a change.

7. Most of us work way too much doing the work

we don’t like so that we can buy the stuff we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.

So, don’t be afraid to take the time away from the office. I promise you your work will still be there when you get back. It’s been scientifically proven that people who are happy and fulfilled in their personal lives are more satisfied and more productive at the office. As Rabbi Harry Kushner famously said: “Nobody ever on their deathbed said, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.'”

About the author: Dr. Dorfman graduated from the University of Southern California in 1996, earning a degree in Biochemistry. She completed her dental training at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry in 2000 and shortly after started her practice near Los Angeles, California. While starting a practice in a saturated market came with its own challenges, the practice grew tremendously over the years, expanding to several locations. Dr. Dorfman is also a frequent contributor to several industry blogs and the host of Behind the Smiles Podcast that features the most disruptive and influential members of the dental community who are moving dentistry forward. Her passion for creating systems and leveraging technology to streamline practice operations is what eventually led her to co-found YAPI, a paperless dental software, where she is currently serving as the COO of the company.

When she is not working, Dr. Dorfman enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her husband, Ken, their two children, Mila and Lenny, and their German Shephard named Axel and a new puppy named Flash.

Website: ginadorfmandds.com Email: drgina@yapicentral.com

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SUCCESS

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’VE ARRIVED, IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CLEAR VISION?

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n today’s world, it seems that so many people are trying to fit into a certain mold instead of truly exploring their own path to happiness. When we set out on our journey, we do it because of how we think it will make us feel when we get to the finish line, but chasing someone else’s version of success is a bumpy, unfulfilling road.

Just having all the boxes neatly checked doesn’t mean the end result feels good or fulfilling in any way. Have we truly arrived if we’re focused on what we want success to look like from the outside, instead of what we want it to feel like when we get there?

You might be saying to yourself that this is not the time to be thinking about changing course; but the truth is no matter how uncertain and challenging this pandemic has been, now is the exact right time to rebuild your practice. You can build a business that is fulfilling for you and not continue feeding your current one that has you constantly hustling and tirelessly on the treadmill.

By getting crystal clear on how you want success to feel at the finish line, it can serve as a compass to let you know you’re on the right track to creating a life that will actually make you happy.

As a business owner, I learned this the hard way. I built my consulting business up to even beyond what I thought I had wanted. I was traveling weekly, speaking, had a full client load and was making a great income. That was the moment I was waiting for all of the hard work and long hours to pay off. I had made a lot of sacrifices along the way and had missed precious time with my kids; and, in reality, I was feeling more depleted and exhausted than ever. I had created what I set out to, but then I realized

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By Kristin Pelletier

what I created was the dental industry’s version of a successful consulting business.

It was at that moment my blinders came off. I was no longer on auto pilot or willing to settle for any version of success but my own. Once I had this realization in my own business, it was so clear to me that a lot of my clients, and business owners in general, were chasing a false, fit-into-the-mold version of success, not one that would align them with just as much abundance but also the joy that had been lacking in their business and life.

So, how can you determine what you want your own version of success to feel like? Go inward, and get ready to do the work of honest self-reflection. You have to be crystal clear and commit, even if it means tearing something down that looks successful on paper.

In my own journey, I found myself in a relentless cycle.

I had recognized I wanted a change and thought I had committed to building toward something new, but then I would find myself right back where I was. Bringing on a large, multi-doctor practice when I was already stretched thin might look like a win on paper; but if it leaves you looking at what you had to give up to get there, is it really a win?

My rock bottom happened when I had been invited to be a speaker at a dental event where I live in Oklahoma; and, at the time it was scheduled, I didn’t know it would be the same day my two boys were graduating from elementary and junior high school. As soon as I found this out, I contacted the meeting planner and asked to see if any changes could be made to allow me to still see my boys graduate but also fulfill my commitment for the event.

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success

"Have we truly arrived if we’re focused on what we want success to look like from the outside, instead of what we want it to feel like when we get there? "

The meeting planner explained that was not an option.

My heart fell, but I knew I had to follow through on my commitment.

The day of the event came, and I had a very heavy heart, which became even heavier when I arrived at the venue only to see it was directly across from the graduation site. I could see all the memories being made across the street and couldn’t make my own with my family. I felt I was trapped but smiled my way through the day while knowing there was a very special graduation going on a very short distance away. That was where my heart was.

The trap is this: When you have success on paper, you end up running faster and working harder to keep accumulating more and more of what you don’t even want. For me, it wasn’t worth the 60 hours a week or losing the ability to be present outside of the moments working on my business; and it definitely wasn’t worth my kids getting the worn-out, worst version of me and my clients getting the best version of me.

with joy, not resentment and a business that was so far out of alignment with my truth.

Those four words became my new business plan and gave me exactly what I needed to create a vision that would give me not only abundance but also fill my heart.

Creating your own version of success doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice abundance. I didn’t become less ambitious. I was just ambitious toward what would bring me spaciousness, fulfillment, joy and abundance. As entrepreneurs, we want to create and grow, and that’s so important. However, we just need to be tuned into growing our businesses in ways that leave us feeling energized, not exhausted and depleted.

This is the work. There’s nothing more critical or more important for entrepreneurs right now than being clear on what success feels like to them. It’s more important than vision or mission or getting the right investors; otherwise, you could take a lot of detours trying to find the feeling you’re seeking.

That was a defining moment.

I had to come up with my non-negotiables of what success felt like to me, and all of my decisions had to be based on that going forward. What I determined was that success for me felt like: Spaciousness, fulfillment, joy and abundance.

Finding your own success words will help you build your foundation and put you on the path to consciously creating a life that brings fulfillment and happiness.

So, what does success feel like to you?

Come up with your 3-5 words.

I needed spaciousness to create, grow and be present with my kids. I needed fulfillment knowing I was using my gifts and leading my clients toward their version of success. I welcomed abundance to give me the security I needed to continue my work, and I wanted a heart filled

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These are words that if you felt this way, it would be like hitting the jackpot in every area of your life and business.

I suggest setting aside a block of time to work through

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success this exercise fully. Get out in nature, and get grounded to do the work. Being away from the busyness will allow you to put the right thought into this important foundational piece.

Tip: If you’re having a difficult time coming up with what success feels like for you, think about what you’re unhappy with in your business, and identify the opposite of that as a possible way you want success to feel.

We're Going Digital!

As a member of The DeW Life Crew you have so many benefits: • Receive and download the magazines before anyone else gets to see them.

• Complimentary subscription to the “Dental Entrepreneur” digital magazine.

• Connect through the digital magazine via links and videos INSIDE the digital magazine.

• Opportunities to write and be published via our blog or magazines.

• Invitations to members-only events...

INCLUDING OUR RETREAT. • The private Facebook group for meeting, connecting and learning.

• The chance to be a part of an amazing group of women (and men) working to RAISE WOMEN in the dental industry.

“But I LIKE getting my hard copy of the magazine. Can I still get it?"

OF COURSE you can still get the printed magazine.

We just want to save as many trees in the rainforest as we can, but we are happy to still sell you a printed magazine. But, keep in mind, the digital membership is going to be less expensive as a thank-you to those helping conserve. (And, let's be honest, print costs more, too.)

Once you finalize your 3-5 words, try on this new way of being, and see how it feels. Close your eyes, put your hand on your heart and envision your words. What new possibilities would open up and be available for you if you were to fully embody all of them? These words will be your roadmap for every decision going forward. Ask yourself, “Will it bring me closer to how I want success to feel?” By figuring out first what you want it to feel like when you get there, you suddenly meet the path with a whole new sense of excitement and energy.

A pandemic does not have to derail your longing to have a business that feeds your soul and brings you joy. Instead, it creates a perfect opportunity. I love this quote from Socrates: “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but building the new.”

This is the first step to being truly intentional about the life you’re creating. It’s your roadmap for creating your vision of success for the future.

About the author: As a business coach and owner, Kristin helps clients across the nation create practices they love. She understands the challenges and barriers doctors face.

She is passionate about helping them transform their mindset and business to achieve their goals.

As an excellent communicator, she is very intuitive and able to identify and diagnose areas of opportunity quickly and give workable and practical solutions. Kristin’s goal is to help doctors create a business and most importantly a life they love.

Kristin is bringing transformational change to her clients through one-on-one coaching programs, mastermind groups and retreats.

To find out more: www.kristinpelletier.com, kristin@ kristinpelletier.com, 866-499-2498.

Go to dew.life to join us!

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

I DON’T WANT IT TO BE ME By Anne Rice, RDH, BS, FAAOSH, CDP

W

hen my uncle passed away from Parkinson’s disease, I didn’t think too much about it. I thought about him but not the disease. When another uncle passed of early onset Alzheimer’s disease, I felt badly for my cousins; but I still didn’t think about the disease itself. When my mother became forgetful, I chalked it up to her being older. I mentioned it to my father, and he quickly dismissed the notion that there was anything wrong. Eventually a time came that there was no denying it, at least not for me. She didn’t have simple memory loss; she had a disease. At the time I had become a bit of a science nerd, and I thought that I would read up and help her solve it. I finally came to the realization that there wasn’t a fix; no medications or brain games would be sufficient to halt the disease. That subsequently led to frustration and despair. What my own future would look like was always in the back of my mind. Would a brain disease be my destiny? This deep fear was gnawing at me. Then, things changed.

In 2007, my son was 6 years old and loved reading. On weekends we would go to the bookstore and spend hours there, almost using it like a library. Periodically we would buy something, but most often we were window shoppers.

His section of the store was in the back, and I passed material of my interest along our jog to his department. I would sometimes grab a few books that looked interesting to browse as he was tearing through the Magic Treehouse series. One day I passed by a book called "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova. The fictional story was about a Harvard Law professor who is stricken with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. I would like to say I picked it up for the subject matter, but that would be a lie. It had scenes from Cape Cod, and for me that was similar to the famous line “You had me at hello” from the 1996 movie, "Jerry McGuire." I

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found out later that the author was herself a Harvard neuroscientist whose own grandmother was stricken with what at the time was called senile Alzheimer’s disease. When Lisa Genova originally tried to get her book published, no one wanted the manuscript. “Too depressing,” they said, and, “Who wants to read about Alzheimer’s disease?” So, what does a neuroscientist do when she can’t get published? She self-publishes and sells it out of the trunk of her car. The book was surprisingly popular, and in time there was bidding war. A major New York publishing house managed to grab hold of it. The major motion picture arrived seven years later, and the rest is history. Her story stands as proof that when a woman has a mission or passion, nothing can stand in her way. The book fascinated me. I look back now and firmly believe there was some sort of divine intervention that led to me finding it that particular day. We never really know how our lives will unfold, do we?

Ten years later, I was coming close to my 30-year clinical dental hygiene anniversary, and I was becoming enamored with oral systemic health. Falling in love with science and research was so different than I had ever lived my life before. I had taken a course on cardiovascular prevention for healthcare providers, and it was the most intense continuing education I had experienced up to that point. I was hooked... hooked deep. It was the fuel I needed to start a business, albeit small, educating anyone who would listen about relationships between the mouth and the body. As I was learning and training, I was stupefied at some research I came across about dementia. I knew at the time that my mother was not going to get better, and I was still extremely worried that I could become a victim down the road as well. I knew there was no treatment or cure for Alzheimer’s disease, along with most other forms

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

"By 2050 here in the United States we are looking at 14 million Americans being affected, two thirds of these cases being women."

of dementia, despite hundreds of millions of dollars in research. No one could land on one definitive cause, however cognitive decline is similar to most systemic diseases in that prevention is key. That resonated with me, maybe because my entire career I had been a prevention specialist of sorts, and it was compelling that this was the only thing researchers were actually in agreement on. Books were being released by the droves with tips and tricks for prevention, but it seemed hardly anyone knew this information. Rudy Tanzi, PhD was one leading researcher whom I had followed extensively. He spoke about something called modifiable risk factors.

women do not get the disease, we very well may care for someone who does in the future.

As I researched the risk factors, I saw that many were elements that I assessed in my dental chair. Sleep, blood pressure, diet, smoking and insulin resistance were a few of the factors I found in common. Vitamin deficient anemia increases a person’s risk over 2.5 times and is something that I could easily see in the oral cavity. I discovered that when a person has lower than normal levels of B vitamins, it contributes to an increase in homocysteine, which significantly increases the risk of not only Alzheimer’s, but also another dementia form called vascular dementia. We see oral manifestations such as angular cheilitis, glossitis and red burning tongue very plainly. Alzheimer’s dementia is defined as an age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by several neuropathological markers including something called amyloid beta plaques, tau tangles, inflammation, synaptic impairment and neuronal loss that leads to cognitive impairment. Once again, you had me at inflammation. The plaque and tangle hypothesis that researchers have spent so much time and money researching has now morphed into a neuroinflammation hypothesis. The human body’s innate immune system is trying to stop the inflammation in order to save the brain.

Some of the biggest culprits of this brain inflammation are bacteria, yeast and the herpes virus - all things I deal with in my office.

Modifiable risk factors are elements in our power to change, unlike age, gender and genetics. After much study, I intend to argue that we may actually be able to modify the genetic component with changes in lifestyle.

During my research I found estimates that 35% of current Alzheimer’s cases could have been prevented with modifications to lifestyle and habits. Additionally, interventions could perhaps delay the onset in others.

If we could delay the onset by five years, for example, we could cut the numbers in half. The current trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease is staggering. It is now the fifth leading cause of death, beating breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. By 2050 here in the United States we are looking at 14 million Americans being affected, two thirds of these cases being women. We need to support each other as a collective group in the pursuit of better brain health. This single form of dementia has a future You may wonder what do I do personally that may estimated cost of over a trillion dollars, not including all decrease my risk, considering all I know about cognitive of the free care contributed by friends and family. If we as decline and risk factors. First and foremost, I prioritize my

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS sleep. I track it through my smart watch and a new device I bought called an OuraTM ring. I pay close attention to all the things that can lead to a decrease in sleep quality.

I limit caffeine to very early in the morning so that it does not interfere with my sleep at night. My bedroom is exceptionally dark and purposely cold. I do not allow any electronics in the bedroom with the exception of one clock. I take a very serious look at whether wine is really worth the lack of quality sleep I will get. Circadian rhythm is the internal process that regulates the sleepwake cycle, and you can improve that cycle by regulating light. I work to get an abundance of sunshine in the morning, and our home is quite dim in the evening. I try to get eight hours of sleep per night. I exercise every day, which helps with sleep. I also include a bit of mindfulness mediation to keep me more relaxed as I try to fall asleep.

Eating healthy is a work in progress, but I limit my sugar consumption because poor blood sugar control can keep you awake. I have come to accept that I cannot predict my future, and I have released the need for control that I once thought I needed to have over my life. I don’t want it to be me, of course, but right now my focus is on my mom’s journey in this final season of her life. I am grateful for all the years we have had together and am grateful for the time we have left.

About the author: Anne Rice is a dental hygienist, writer, speaker and consultant. Her focus is oral systemic health, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease prevention. She is a graduate of the BaleDoneen Preceptorship for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, is a Fellow with the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She is also a member of ADHA and TXOHC. She lives near Houston Texas with her husband, son and fur daughters.

My website is: anneorice.com Email: anneorice@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneorice/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/anneorice/

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO MY CAREER By Cheryl Shafer, RDH, BS, COM

H

ow can it feel like yesterday that I was seeing most of my clients in the office making a personal connection? At this moment, mid-April 2020, the world is experiencing an unimaginable crisis that has impacts both personally and professionally as we are quarantined and personal distancing due to COVID19. How can it feel like yesterday and at the same time feel like a lifetime ago that I welcomed Christina into my Orofacial Myofunctional practice Facial Function? I am so grateful I can continue to serve clients by way of telehealth sessions during this crisis to help those with sleep, breathing and oral dysfunctions reach their goals.

On a sunny day last December, I opened the door to greet an elegantly dressed new client with long shiny blonde hair. “You exist; I have been searching for someone to help me!” she exclaims. Christina, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a national keynote speaker, enters the office and sits across the table in the consultation room to discuss her concerns. “At my last dental visit I was telling the dental team about how frustrated I am that my tongue stops working while I am speaking. I feel like I go mute and struggle to finish my presentations.”

She continues, “I have both emotional and physical pain that is interfering with my life in ways it is hard for others to understand. I have been searching for answers; are you able to help me?”

As an oral health professional, I felt her desperation to my core. Can I help her find the answers? This question made me reflect on how I got to this place in my career where I can serve others by helping them find the root cause and solutions for their concerns with orofacial myofunctional disorders. My career has taken a new direction to places that took perseverance to achieve, from advanced training, creating a company to forming

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new interdisciplinarity relationships. I have experienced the value of collaborating with medical and dental professionals who are specialized in oral function as we assist those who are looking for answers.

It has breathed new life into my career to witness amazing transformations in the lives of those I have had the privilege to serve.

I am honored to share with you how my career has changed from feeling like a burnt-out dental hygienist living with chronic neck pain to being on fire as a dental hygienist/orofacial myologist specializing in breathing and oral-facial function.

After over thirty years as a clinical dental hygienist, I thought I would be retiring. But now, retiring is not as appealing anymore because I discovered the answer to who I am, what gives me purpose; and I am working harder than ever. My work does not feel like work - but like a gift I have that I can share with others.

My journey started when I was in high school. People would ask me, “What profession are you going to choose?”

What I was asking myself was, “Who am I?” I will never forget the day I was at a crowded restaurant and a young lady slipped and fell on the tile floor, hitting her head on the water fountain against the wall. I witnessed her fall to the ground, saw a large gash on her forehead and blood flowing down her face and onto the floor as she laid on the ground. The crowd gathered in a circle around her, not wanting to touch her. I could not understand what was happening, why no one was wanting to help her? I had to make my way through the spectators to reach her. I grabbed her, turned her over, elevated her head and held her in my lap, applying pressure to the bleeding

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

wound with a cloth until the ambulance arrived. That day I learned something about who I am: I have a deep desire to help others. I discovered that day I wanted to be a healthcare professional.

At that time my mother was an office manager of a dental practice; I can thank her for exposing me to the option of serving others in the field of dentistry. During my senior year of high school, I worked as a dental assistant, confirming the desire to dedicate my career to the oral health profession.

After many years of working as a dental hygienist in private practice, my eyes were opened to a new field of focus as I read articles on orofacial myofunctional therapy in my RDH Magazine. As a mother of a son who was snoring and grinding his teeth, and had airway, breathing and speech issues, it was eye-opening learning about orofacial myofunctional disorders. It helped me connect the dots of what our son was struggling with, to see the root cause of his struggles, and find the lifetransforming solutions that resolved his airway and orofacial dysfunctions!

Doing more research on the field of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, I discovered organizations that have advanced training for dental hygienists, dentists and speech pathologists. My journey in my oral health profession changed after I took advanced training with the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM). After many hours of additional courses, an IAOM board exam and an onsite exam, I earned the recognition of being a Certified Orofacial Myologist.

Oral structure, function and behavior are three fundamentals of oral health. Like a three-legged stool, they are all important to maintain balance and health.

This newfound understanding caused me to pause and

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reflect back over the 30 years as a dental hygienist with the feeling that I missed the red flags of airway, sleep and myofunctional disorders with my patients.

It is my goal to share my journey to inspire and ignite a passion among dental health professionals regarding the essential role they have in the overall health and wellness of our community. As oral health professionals, we have an opportunity to: Evaluate: Look for the WHY, the root cause of airway, breathing and oral dysfunction.

Educate: Teach about the importance of slow, soft, diaphragmic nasal breathing and tongue resting on the roof of the mouth.

Collaborate: Work with an integrative team of medical and dental professionals.

Dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons and physicians refer patients to me to evaluate the oral dysfunction and impacts on craniofacial development, orthodontic retention and breathing. With each case I feel like a detective, trying to solve the why, by evaluating their oral function and developing an integrative treatment plan to reach their individualized goals.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller I will never forget the day Christina entered my office looking for answers. She continued to tell me about her struggles. “I want to improve my sleep, reduce the chronic pain in my neck and shoulders, eliminate tongue fatigue and lisping when I speak.” She told me it was difficult to eat and to use her tongue to get food off of her teeth. All resulting in physical and emotional impacts on

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS her life. Christina summed it all up with this sentence, “I want to strengthen the muscles of my face so I can sing and smile again, I want to sleep!” Then with her eyes looking into my soul she asked, “Are you the person I have been looking for to help me?”

After taking detailed records of her history, we did the inter-oral exam. Her exam revealed she had a severely restricted lingual frenulum, commonly called a tongue tie. Her tongue was resting on the floor of her mouth and she had limited distance from the back of her tongue to the soft palate (CL 3 Mallampati score).

During the evaluation I watch her struggle to lift her tongue off of the floor of her mouth. I cannot imagine what she must be experiencing as a professional speaker, presenting to a large audience, with a tongue that can only function with excessive facial and jaw compensations. She explained, “I go mute during my presentations; it is exhausting.”

We discussed the importance of having an evaluation with an oral surgeon with whom I am teamed who specializes in tethered oral tissues. I knew she would be in good hands. We also discussed how before and after the release of her tongue tie, myofunctional therapy would be vital to assist her to reach her goals of healthy orofacial muscle function.

Christina had her tongue tie released with a lingual frenectomy in February. At her next session she was excited to share that it was a life-changing procedure.

“I felt like someone cut me off a string, and I can move differently,” she explained. “I feel free. Before, I felt like a marionette connected to a string that was pulling me in directions I did not want to go. Now I feel like I can move freely without restrictions.” At her two-week postfrenectomy myofunctional session, she told me, “I am so proud of my tongue! It can move independently from my jaw, it can get food off of my teeth, I can speak without lisping, and I am sleeping better!”

the university are all online. The new online format is testing her endurance to speak for a long time even more.

She shared with me how thankful she is for the ability to handle the increased demand for her oral facial muscles with all the webinars, podcasts, online presentations and lectures She expressed to me how thankful she is to reach her goals of healthy oral function and the lifechanging impacts it has had. She expressed that, “The best part of this journey is that I sleep better, have more energy and feel better.”

Telehealth appointments have enabled me to continue serving clients who are searching for solutions to help their sleep, airway and myofunctional disorders. If you would like to learn more about what it is like to use online services in your practice, please feel free to contact me, cherylshafer@facialfunction.com.

A great resource for current HIPPA guidelines is: https:// www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/ emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcementdiscretion-telehealth/index.html The article lists HIPPA approved sites: Zoom for Healthcare Doxy.me Google G Suite Hangouts Meet Skype for Business / Microsoft Teams My passion for understanding the impacts of the airway and facial function has led me to places I never thought I would be... from forming relationships with other dental and medical professionals all over the world to owning my own business, Facial Function, and to being a national speaker. It feels so good to say, “I love my job!” I am blessed to have found my purpose which is to help others find the root cause of their myofunctional disorders, to breathe through their nose, to sleep better and to be their best self. Witnessing the life transformations the myofunctional clients have made, serving clients both online and in-person, has breathed new life into my career.

As I am writing this article, we are in the middle of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her “To know even one life has breathed easier because you myofunctional appointments are now all telehealth lived. This is to have succeeded”- Ralph Waldo Emerson sessions.

About the author: During her telehealth session two months after her frenectomy, she was delighted to report, “It was a long Cheryl Shafer has dedicated her life to her passion in oral search to find the path to resolve the issues that were health, education and integrative healthcare. impacting my life and career. I now have more confidence, increased energy, animated facial expressions and After 30 years practicing as a dental hygienist, she is now improved tone when I present to the audience.” a national speaker, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist and founder of Facial Function.

At this time due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, her speaking engagements and lectures at Specializing in the function of the face, she is helping

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS individuals and families with orofacial myofunctional disorders such as mouth breathing, tethered oral tissues, noxious oral habits, improper tongue posture, forward swallow, sleep disturbed breathing and facial pain. She has dedicated her career to assisting patients find the root cause and solutions to reach their goals of healthy sleep, breathing and orofacial function by collaborating with an integrative team of medical and dental providers.

Her mission is to educate and empower the dental team to recognize oral dysfunctions and impacts on restorative sleep, craniofacial development and orthodontic retention.

Cheryl has an altruistic nature as she is passionate to serve the well-being of others in her community and her clients at Facial Function.

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

LIVING YOUR VALUES

By Dr. Cheryl Brunelle, DDS

I

nterview with Dr. Cheryl Brunelle Author note: I wish we had recorded this interview.

Cheryl laughs throughout and always radiates a smile.

Her laugher is infectious!

Can you share a bit about your practice to help our readers get to know you?

I always had an interest in dentistry starting as a dental assistant during high school in 1988. I graduated from Case Western School of Dentistry in 1998 and opened my first practice in 2000. At Case Western, we were trained to work in tandem with EFDAs (expanded function dental assistants). This really set me up for success and productivity. Today I work “in” the practice as a clinician two days a week, and “on” the practice and business side three days a week. I adopted that from Productive Dentist Academy. On Wednesdays I host executive team and manager meetings. We rotate topics each week so that we are focusing on marketing, finance, HR / recruiting and strategic planning each month. This structure allows for growth instead of just putting out fires.

I’m also married to my dental school sweetheart, Suresh Goel, DDS. He’s an incredibly talented periodontist and visionary for our Seattle Study Club in Rochester, NY. Together we have eleven dental practices and five children. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun!

How do you balance motherhood and entreprenuership?

My role in both arenas is to be a positive role model.

Whether team members or children, they see and hear everything. Our goal is to raise both our children and our team members to be strong, independent thinkers and to have fun.

It wasn’t always easy. I was pregnant on and off for about eight years while working full time. Those years are such a blur. It was a lot of bottles, diapers, laundry and car seats. Looking back we realize that sometimes we were just going through the motions, but we had a lot of excitement and experiences along the way. Thankfully we have a lot of family support nearby, and we could not have done it without their help.

I encourage many influences for our children, including parents, grandparents, great teachers and coaches. It really does take a village. Positive role models and a safe environment are the most important aspects of the sports and activities our kids engage in. We hope our kids realize that it is more important to support your teammates and have a happy and fun environment than just being on the winning team.

How has your marriage played a role in your success?

Beyond our foundation of love and respect, I’d say two things hold us together: organization and a sense of humor! Marrying the right person and having a

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life partner is important to me. One of the main reasons I married Suresh was because he makes me laugh. I’m the focused, get-it-done person. He’s the visionary who comes up with great ideas and puts a funny twist on everything. It’s no wonder we now own a Comedy Club.

In dental school, no matter how hard of a day I had, he would always make me laugh.

We approach problem solving in very different ways which helps us create innovative and unique solutions.

One of the blessings of our both being dentists is that we can be empathetic with each other for the challenges that the profession brings. Of course, the bigger challenge is to turn off the dental talk. In that respect, owning an unrelated business has been a nice distraction.

Our secret sauce? Travel! Every Thanksgiving we schedule out the next year’s family and educational adventures. Thanksgiving, New Year's, spring break, our anniversary, CE events and more – we love to be on the go. Club Med has been our “go-to” destination for over a decade, and we have met so many returning families and amazing team members along the way. Going to Club Med is just like arriving to a home away from home.

How can you afford to travel so much?

Training, organization and a strong executive team allow us to be away from the office – although we are always available to discuss any issues of the day. Early on, the team I had made me feel guilty about being away from the office. The team I have now appreciates how hard I work and that taking time away lets me come back refreshed and focused. Being away also gives the team

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an opportunity to have more responsibility and grow in their leadership roles.

What drives you?

I don’t want to let my team down. When I’m not giving my best, I take a moment and remember how many families are dependent on this amazing business we’ve built. It gets me up and gives me a smile for the day, knowing that we support one another and our families. I also love that we are a female-led company. We don’t focus on gender per se, but I do think it keeps us balanced and compassionate.

One of my favorite things is to take a young employee and mentor them to become leaders. One team member in particular was a bit timid in the beginning. We sponsored her Dale Carnegie training, and today she’s a very confident manager. I love seeing how much she’s grown.

What has your experience been being a woman in dentistry?

My dental school class was the first to be more than 50% female. We had a lot of strong female instructors who were great role models. After dental school, I joined the Army Reserves which was a more traditional environment with respect to females in dentistry. When I find others talking down or underestimating me because I’m a petite female, I look arrogance in the face and smile. Rather than arguing, I focus what I need to do to keep moving forward.

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS Today, having grown my confidence and experience in practice management, I find it much easier to encourage my associate doctors to adapt to our practice philosophy.

We are united, and I encourage the team to leave ego at the door and focus on creating a welcoming, positive environment.

What advice on Continuing Education?

Continuing education defines what makes a clinician and a team exceptional, in my opinion.

When people ask, “What if you invest in your team and they leave?” I say, “What if I don’t invest in them and they stay!” We provide educational opportunities in leadership, clinical care and personal growth. Personally, Spear Education, The Kois Center and Seattle Study Club have set my standards clinically. From the business perspective, I wouldn’t be where I am today without Productive Dentist Academy and Dale Carnegie.

Patients appreciate our technical and clinical expertise and that we do not pressure them into treatment. I do comprehensively diagnose and have found this allows patients to make educated decisions about their own care. More often than not, they choose to proceed with optimal health.

What advice would you give others?

• Maturity is seeking first to understand and have dialog rather than just reacting.

• Don’t lose sight of where you are going. It is easy to get distracted. Stay focused, and keep bringing the conversation back to your core values and plan.

• Surround yourself and family with positive influences, and be a good role model who others want to follow.

• Be willing to have the tough conversations and give people choices.

• Look for maturity when you bring team members into your tribe, especially in leadership positions.

• Be involved in your community creating the change that you want to see. Volunteer, and show up! It means a lot more than just writing a check.

• Focus on relationships and not transactions.

• Remember: At the end of the day – it’s just teeth.

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What do you do to take care of you?

I am very focused on health and wellbeing. I like to be behind the scenes, and I cherish my quiet time. I have been a vegetarian my whole life; and I love yoga, powerwalks and pilates classes. When I work too much and don’t take the necessary time out, I am less focused and experience higher levels of stress. I become more reactive to things when not feeling physically fit, and that is when I know to escape to a yoga class or meditate and refocus.

I’ve come to realize that I cannot be everywhere at the same time. If we cannot make it to a child’s event, we’ll make arrangements for a grandparent to be there. If it’s a work meeting I am unable to attend, I’ll have a manager represent me. I used to feel guilty about not being there, but now I realize that learning to delegate has let me balance my responsibilities more evenly. For the kids, having grandparents at their events is especially nice.

Recently, our youngest child, Tyler, had a poetry reading and we couldn’t attend. I called in both grandmas! They loved it, and Tyler was thrilled to have them there.

If you weren’t a dentist, what would you be doing?

Genetics has always been an interest of mine, and I did consider becoming a genetics counselor for a time before becoming a dentist.

About the author: Born and raised in Webster, New York, Dr. Brunelle graduated from St. John Fisher College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She then earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry. Following five years in private practice and the US Army Reserves in Cleveland, Ohio, she and her husband returned to the Rochester area in 2004 to be close to family.

Cheryl founded Lilac Family Dental Care in 2005, growing it into a comprehensive care private practice. Seeing a need in the community sparked the creation of Flower City Dental in 2015. Now with five locations, Flower City Dental serves the needs of patients throughout the Rochester area. Having five children of her own, she appreciates the importance of providing a positive dental care experience for children and adults alike—an important step in maintaining good oral health habits for a lifetime. Spending time getting to know her patients and their families is important to Dr. Brunelle. She believes strongly in the value of providing accessible, quality dental care in a supportive environment.

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BUILDING RACIAL EQUITY IN OUR BUSINESSES By Jasmin Haley, RDH, MSDH, CDA

A

s healthcare professionals, we have all given an oath to improve the public’s total health. As a dental hygienist and an educator, I’ve taught my students our ethical codes and values, including the value of non-malificence which indicates “our fundamental obligation to provide services in a manner that protects all clients and minimizes harm to them, and others involved in their treatment (ADHA, 2019).”

However, this time is undeniable: Change is happening; will you have an active participation?

Recent events in our country have shown that many of our marginalized communities are still overlooked.

There is still work to do regarding race relations, and as business owners we have an ethical duty to help assist in building equity for all.

Some have joined book clubs, others have shared their experiences, some are protesting, or some are reflecting and focusing on what they can do to build a better world.

Whatever you decide, I want to encourage you to grow in love. Look for ways to understand, never minimize each other and listen.

So, now what? The question I want all of us to ask ourselves is: How are you helping to improve racial equity in your business, in your team, in your community and ultimately in your home?

Then I implore you to find ways to build more inclusive teams, friendships, businesses and lives. We need to evaluate our intentions and find the correct recipe to create change.

This will require continuous engagement and conscious effort from everyone. We just can’t go back to business as usual. Your customers/clients will hold you accountable and so will your community.

I implore you to take imperfect action with me. Here are some ways we can help build our business and lives for racial equity (Adapted from Rodgers, 2020):

At our DewLife annual event in 2019, I spoke to our diverse and inclusive group about legacy. I often think of the impact I want to leave in this world and the example I want to leave for my own children. I think of my daughters, my husband, my family that I love and the community I have come to love (that includes you). Although I choose love in all that I do, I am reminded of my own blackness when I’ve encountered biased treatment, racial profiling while my husband is driving, being called the n-word, my entire race being labeled as savages & thugs, lost opportunity

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because I didn’t have the eurocentric look... and the list goes on. I actively choose to not dwell on it and continue to move forward in my life, ambitiously keep seeking my goals and build meaningful relationships.

1. Develop awareness that inequities do exist. I

recommended reading “Waking Up White and Finding Myself In the Story of Race" by Debbie Irving to begin your journey of awareness.

2. Use your resources and circle of influence to

help the invisible, to speak up when you see others doing wrong, to build a table that includes inclusivity. There is no room to be silent anymore.

We need allies involved to help combat racism.

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"I often think of the impact I want to leave in this world and the example I want to leave for my own children. I think of my daughters, my husband, my family that I love and the community I have come to love (that includes you)."

3. Do you work to include diverse representation in

your business, your employees, your marketing, speakers for your conference or actively recruiting people so that your clients/customers see someone they can identify with? No, let’s bring about change!

Reference: ADHA. (2019, June). Bylaws & code of ethics. Retrieved June 15, 2020, from https://www.adha.org/resourcesdocs/7611_Bylaws_and_Code_of_Ethics.pdf

4. Have the difficult conversations; be willing to

Rodgers, R. (2020). Reimaging small business: a town hall to listen, learn & commit to building equitable, antiracist organizations. Retrieved June 12, 2020 from https://helloseven.co/townhall-2/

5. Understand that you will make mistakes. Don’t

About the author:

listen and learn. I can’t highlight this enough: Listening first can help you build the empathy and compassion needed to move forward in love.

be afraid to ask questions. Remember it is not the responsibility of our Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) to help fill in the gaps for you, which is why #1 exists. You need to do the research and the work.

6. Find ways to invest in helping marginalized

communities. Are you investing at least 15-30% of your investments in marginalized communities?

Time, resources or more? If the answer is "no," start with reviewing what your business does currently and where you can make adjustments.

7. Still at a loss of what to do, at times you may need to hire a diversity, equity and inclusion expert. Here is a great resource: http://www.everylevelleads.com

Recently, I took a pledge to build an anti-racist business.

I hope you join me, too. Are you ready to take the pledge with me?

Racism is a human rights issue; it is never a political issue. Let us all keep up the work to build a better world and leave a lasting legacy.

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Jasmin Haley, RDH, MSDH, CDA, is the Founder and CEO of Beyond the Prophy®, Co-founder of the Inspire the Future Summit™ for Dental Hygiene Educators, and Cofounder of the MOMgienist® Community. She has over 18 years of experience as a dental hygienist, educator and dental assistant. Within those years, she has served 8 years in academia, in a full-time, adjunct or consultant capacity. Currently, she is a full-time educator at Wake Technical Community College Dental Hygiene Program.

When she is not directly helping to impact the lives of her students or dental professionals with her coaching, she can be found on the stage doing what she loves the most — speaking from the heart. She shares her personal experiences of overcoming overwhelm, burn out, fear and self-doubt to help professionals rediscover their greatness and pursue their entrepreneurial goals.

She is an expert on HIV/AIDS, an advocate for the opioid epidemic, curator of impactful events, promoter of selfacceptance/self-love and crusader for cultural sensitivity.

Jasmin is a national leader, entrepreneur, influencer and a 2018 recipient of the Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction.

You can reach her at www.jasminhaley.com.

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MY DATE WITH SILENCE

By Paige Mead

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t’s raining. I’ve been moving from one restless thought to another. I should be reading. I should be writing. I have work to do. What if my loan doesn’t come through?

What if I pick the wrong projects to pour my energy into and I end up with a whole bunch of dead-ends instead of closing and billing for projects? Do I need to rewrite my book to get it to sell? I bought a puppy in December; and now I’m struggling to get her trained, and I’m afraid it’s coming between my husband and me. Is there any more coffee left?

In the middle of all of that, I keep drifting off in my head as though there was somewhere else I could be. My eyes wander off the page I’m reading for the third time (because I need to get this reading done), and they land on the blue spring flowers waking up in the rain on the side of my yard. I planted them 3 years ago now, and each year they’ve spread out along the border and over a small wall. Every year the cascade of blooms is more electric, more eye-catching, heartier. Then I catch myself, feeling peaceful and pleased, and I feel guilty for the pause and the drift-away. I think if I gave myself permission, I could literally sit here at this window and stare at those beautiful blooms for hours. It seems self-indulgent when my list of to-do’s is written in bold in my mind and literally pulsing behind my eyes.

And now, amidst this pandemic, when the sea of job candidates is swelling, and the jobs are gone, which is precisely why the sea swells, here, now, I’m furloughed. I should have MORE time to read, to write, to develop future business, to answer everyone’s calls. In fact, the level of noise has risen to an all-time high in my head; and not just there... everywhere but the flower bed, it seems. In the garden, it’s quiet. I’m quiet. I can make the decision

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to go into the garden when I’m tired of the clamor of everything else because it’s like going into another dimension. I can’t write anything with my hands in the soil. Can’t read either. I can’t answer emails, calls, texts. I can’t cook for my family if I’m in the garden. Can’t watch tv or catch up with the news. I could listen to a podcast, that voice says, trying to break through; that way I’d at least be making good use of SOME of my time. Suddenly I feel obstinate. But I opt for music when I’m in the garden, because, let’s be honest with ourselves, I don’t want to listen to other people when I’m purposefully zoning out.

What does that say about me? What does it mean If I love my work, and I love the people I help, and I love my family, but I still want to exit stage left even if for only a few hours? Weren’t we taught as kids that a little rest, a little slumber, and poverty will come on like a bandit in the night? In my generation, I know I’m not the only one who heard that from well-meaning elders. I was born with work ethic inscribed in my DNA. Does that mean I’m lazy if I indulge the silence? There’s that petulant voice again, calling me names to keep me under control.

What an effective master that voice can be. Yet, my eyes drift back out the window to the electric blue blossoms waking up in the rain. Which one do I indulge: the silence or the noise? Am I selfish if I set the work down, close my computer, don’t check my phone or email, and instead allow my gaze to wander, my thinking to slow, and the silence to caress me? Will the business machine I’ve built over the last 5 years keep humming? Or will it grind to a halt?

Silence beckons to me, like a secret lover. My breathing slows as I flirt with it. My body starts to relax, and I can feel the tension drain from the muscles in my face. I

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breathe through my nose, deeply, one cleansing breath after another. I smile to myself. How odd a thought to consider silence my lover, I think. Maybe “odd” isn’t the right word. Stimulating? Can silence be stimulating?

Silence, my lover, calls to me from across the yard and beckons me to approach. A hummingbird flies in and out of the blossoms. The rain is gentle and light. There is no question about it. I want to be in the garden, no NEED to be in the garden. Deep cleansing breath. My lover awaits. I know how it will feel to turn off the noise, the responsibilities, the worry, the shoulds and the musts, the anxieties, the clamor for my attention, the books that aren’t getting read, the podcasts I’m not listening to, the social media I am flat-out ignoring; and all at once I am just a little less concerned. I might make a few people angsty if I disappear for a while. That would hardly be the end of the world. Deep breath. Now the pull is stronger.

It feels less like an indulgence, and more like a pressing need.

The pragmatic and petulant voice resurges, “But what about everything else on your to-do list?” What about the work that isn’t getting done? What about the time you’re wasting? What about your responsibilities to other people? What about the money you aren’t making while you’re turning off and getting away? What about the POVERTY BANDIT??? None of those things is going anywhere. The more I watch the garden, and the life in it, and imagine the smells of fragrant flowers blooming that I planted in the past, the smell of the clean air and the chirp of the birds, I don’t even care that it’s still gently raining. In fact I imagine it almost as a shower I need on my skin. Battle over. I win. I find I can’t focus on my work now even if I try. The noise of regular life is tinny and distant, as though disappearing around the corner. I’m

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aware of my breathing, the feel of my body, the fact that I’m a little hungry. I think my husband just said my name, and for a moment I focus on the sound and hear him, playing with the puppy and laughing. The kids are fine, he’s fine, business will wait, social media will not care if I’m gone for a while. No one needs me to do anything just now, and it’s the perfect time for a tryst with silence.

About the author: Paige Mead has been recruiting professionally for over twenty years. She opens doors and connects people for a living in the dental industry. As an industry ambassador and key opinion leader, her role is to draw in and hold onto the professional sales and executive talent that will drive the industry for the next century.

Paige Mead Recruiting uniquely and specifically serves the dental industry focused on Executive Search and Professional Sales hiring across each market segment, traditional and emerging.

Now a best-selling author, Paige and her team of specialty recruiters believe in information-sharing, continuous professional growth, and the importance of uniting the history of the dental industry in the USA with the technological advancements and leaders emerging in markets across the dental vertical. The dental industry is a hidden gem worth fighting for. Healthy markets require diverse minds and perspectives, independence and unity.

Paige is the dental industry connector. http://paigemeadrecruiting.com linkedin.com/in/paigemead paige@paigemeadrecruiting.com

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For You, About You,

By You!

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Mental Health Counts & You're Not Alone!

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