Exhibit: Smiles on wheels Presentation Group

Benchmark: Teamwork/communication

Skills: TC107-Understand and contribute to the mission and                       goals of the team

           TC108-Show commitment to the team

 

            “Individual commitment to a group effort- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” –Vince Lombardi. I personally like this quote because it stands very true, if everyone in a society contributed towards a better life for themselves and their families, the quality of life would improve greatly. In the medical field, in order to run a facility effectively without error or misunderstandings it is important that healthcare professionals communicate with each other to prevent care from being provided without it being the best possible for the patient. In my dental class first years and second years often work separately, this is necessary because we have separate curriculum.

            Even though first and second years are learning different chairside and laboratory procedures, we also have assignments that are similar. When we are assigned work that both years must complete, we often complete the work with our table partner. Our tables are set up with a first and second year so working together is inevitable. I enjoy working with a first year because I have knowledge in what they are learning so I am a very helpful person to work with. I also enjoy helping them because I like to share my knowledge and it is a goal of our class overall to be successful in what we are working on. The first years need this kind of guidance in order for them to feel a sense of accomplishment, which projects on the class as whole, especially because second years are outnumbered.

            I have been committed to my class since my very first day. I have been a role model student from an academic, attendance, and laboratory/skill standpoint. I have also been a very active student in my endeavors. We have a program we participate in, Smiles on Wheels. During the 2014-2015 school year, for the very first time, we had the opportunity of working hand and hand with the Registered Dental Hygienist and also our fellow career center students. In several groups, as a class we went around to every class in the career center and prompting dental checkups and we explained common dental procedures that are performed during Smiles on Wheels in our very own laboratory. This was big for our dental class because we had to opportunity to work with actual patients. In our class, we are not certified to operate on actual patients so being able to assist the hygienist, provide patient education, and demonstrate proper flossing and brushing techniques was a big step in our class.

            As a team we recruited over a 100 patients. This was something to be proud of because we went out to the classes and personally presented a PowerPoint and explained to the students and teachers the importance of semiannual dental visits, and then we offered them the opportunity of free dental care. Not all people have insurance, and even if you do have medical insurance not all plans cover dental. A lot of the basic procedures that were offered during Smiles on Wheels would cost $100 or even more, so these services that were being provided for free is huge.
            As a dental professional your first and foremost concern should be the preventative and continuative care for your patient. It is your commitment as a dental team to provide that for your patients. It is important to work as a team with every professional of every skill level in order to achieve this. If your patients are happy, your office runs more smoothly. This is the mission of the team, to achieve the best possible care you can provide. As a dentist you are the boss of the office and if things don’t run smoothly or there is an issue you are the one the team looks to for answers so if your team is not properly trained in running your specific office effectively, you ultimately receive all of “the heat” from patients, professional organizations such as OSHA and also your employees. This is why working as a team in healthcare is vital to the success of your office and you staff. As a future dental student, while doing clinical and my regular curriculum I will be working in a team, in order to form good working habits in a team setting.  Teamwork makes the dream work and it is the central foundation of healthcare.