Dentaltown March 2015 - (Page 14)
professional courtesy
column
Married to My Profession
Our cover story this month connects with a topic
that is near and dear to my heart: women in dentistry.
According to a graphic in the Jan. 20, 2015 issue of ADA
News, the 2013 dental-school graduating class was 47.2
percent female. We have made some great progress since
1995 when I graduated from SUNY at Buffalo School of
Dental Medicine and our graduating class was comprised
of only 25 percent women.
Now, you might initially react with a comment
like this: "What could a guy possibly understand about
women in dentistry?" It all started in 1996 when I
married one of my classmates from dental school.
We started our careers working apart. This
was more from necessity than choice. We did
residencies at different hospitals and worked as associates
in different practices in upstate New York before we
made the decision to migrate to Arizona. Once we settled
into our new hometown and made the decision to stay
long term, we made plans to open a practice of our
own. It made the most sense to combine our efforts and
have the ability to control our schedule.
During the 13 years that we have been in pratice
together, the question that I hear most often from
patients is a version of this: "What's it like working with
your wife?" or "How can you work with your wife all
day?" I tell them the simple truth-when we are busy
working with our patients, we actually spend very
little time together at work, and when we are at home,
we rarely spend time talking about teeth. I will say that
when we do share a dental story at home, it's refreshing
to share it with someone who understands the challenges
and frustrations associated with our profession. I think
that some couples struggle to understand each other
when they have different careers.
From the beginning, we developed a division of
responsibilities that was effective for
maintaining peace at home and in
the office. I handle all of the finances
and management of the practice and
my wife is always on top of matters
with our family at home. Since we
opened the practice, we would work
together only two days a week and be
alone the other three. This was done in part to keep the
practice open five days a week but also to accommodate
our children. We had two very young children when we
opened the practice and another was born during our
first year in business. It was a true blessing to allow my
wife as much time off as she needed and I had some days
home with the kids once she came back to work. To this
day, we are able to adjust our schedules to take turns
picking up the kids at school, attending sporting events
or spending time at home when they have a day off.
When I ask my wife what she enjoys most about
our profession, she tells me that having the ability to
be flexible with her schedule when our kids were babies
was at the top of her list. She also enjoys the ability to
make a good living while working part time-she's in
the office three days per week. Dentistry can be great
for women, and women are great for dentistry. My wife
said that some patients prefer women and she believes
that a female dentist can sometimes relate better to an
office staff.
I will say it is a blessing to be married to my business
partner. We have a wonderful team to support us and
we have patients who will see one or the other or both of
us. I hope you enjoy our Women in Dentistry section,
which starts on page 86. Please share your comments
online at Dentaltown.com. Reach me by email: tom@
dentaltown.com or on Twitter: @ddsTom. ■
Who are the women in dentistry who have inspired you? Comment at Dentaltown.com/magazine.
by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine
14
MARCH 2015 // dentaltown.com
http://www.Dentaltown.com
http://twitter.com/ddstom
http://www.dentaltown.com/Dentaltown/Article.aspx?i=384&aid=5271
http://www.dentaltown.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown March 2015
On Dentaltown.com
Howard Speaks: 20 Feet from Stardom: Delegate like Jagger
Professional Courtesy: Married to My Profession
Continuing Education Update
Help Me Treatment Plan This Case
CBCT Technology: What Will the Future Bring?
New Luting Composite: Variolink Esthetic
Cone Beam 3D—Is It Really for Me?
Four Digital Marketing Mistakes that Impede Practice Growth
New Products
Poll
From Scaling to Therapy: A Day in the Life of a Dental Hygienist
The Value of a Dental Practice: Why Tracking “Attributable” Expenses Matters
I am Seeing a Lot of HPV Lesions in the Mouth Lately; What is the Protocol, Remove Them or What?
Dental Podcasts: What They Are and How They Work
Service Profi le: Garfi eld Refi ning
CE: Posterior Maxilla Implant Rehabilitation: A Challenging Task
Product Profile: Dentsply Caulking
Women in Dentistry: Intro
Women in Dentistry: Work/Life Balance: Flexibility and Creative Scheduling Go a Long Way
Women in Dentistry: The Lucy Hobbs Project
Women in Dentistry: Female Dentists in Conservative Muslim Nations Face Challenges and Threats
Women in Dentistry: The American Association of Women Dentists: Representing Women from Products to Leadership
Ad Index
Women in Dentistry: Q&A
Women in Dentistry: The Sky's the Limit: Hygienist Turned Entrepreneur Shows What's Possible
Product Profi le: SmartBox
Dentally Incorrect
Dentaltown March 2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-new-grad-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-new-grad-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-new-grad-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/dentaltown-february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2021January
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020December
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020November
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020NewGrad
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020October
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020September
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020August
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020July
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020June
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020May
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020April
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020March
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020February
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2020January
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019December
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019November
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2019OctoberNovember
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019October
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019NewGrad
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019September
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019August
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019July
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2019JuneJuly
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019June
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019May
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2019AprilMay
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019April
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019March
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019February
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2019FebruaryMarch
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2019January
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018December
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018November
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018November
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018October
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018October
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018NewGrad
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018September
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018September
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018August
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018July
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018July
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018June
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018June
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018May
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018May
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018April
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018April
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018March
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018March
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018February
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2018February
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2018January
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017December
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2017Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017November
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017October
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2017october
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/NewGrad2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017September
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2017September
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2017August
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017August
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017July
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2017July
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017June
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2017may
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017May
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/2017April
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017April
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017March
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltownuk/dentaltownuk/2017march
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/February2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2017January
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016December
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016November
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016October
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016nge
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016september
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016august
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016july
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016june
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016may
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016april
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016march
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016february
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2016january
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015december
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015november
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015october
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015nge
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015september
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015august
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015july
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015june
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015may
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015april
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015march
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015february
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2015january
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014december
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014decemberb
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014november
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014october
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014newgrad
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014september
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014august
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014july
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014june
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014may
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014april
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014march
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014february
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2014january
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013december
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013november
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013october
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013newgrad
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013september
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013august
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013july
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013june
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013may
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013april
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013march
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013february
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2013january
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2012december
https://www.nxtbook.com/farran/dentaltown/2012November
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com