Practicum Reflection

Over winter break of sophomore year I had the pleasure of shadowing several dentists and oral surgeons. I completed my practicum at the Doctors of Dental Medicine in Dayton, New Jersey. My main site supervisor was Dr. Harvey Meade; however, I was also able to shadow Dr. Richard Hirschlag and Dr. Kenneth Alspach. Dr. Meade has been my dentist for my entire life as well as my father’s primary dentist since he was a child. When I asked to shadow him for a few weeks he gladly accepted my request. Once I got my scrubs and showed up to the office Dr. Meade introduced me to everyone and then I joined the chaos that was the dental practice. During my practicum I had the opportunity to observe several types of dental procedures. I was able to sit in on common dental procedures including annual cleanings, referrals, and first-time appointments. Furthermore, I was able to witness several types of oral surgery such as tooth removals as well as bridge and crown implantations. However, the part I enjoyed the most was learning how to take and read the x-rays done on the jaws and teeth of the patients. Unfortunately, due to insurance issues I was unable to do any hands-on work rather I could only observe and ask questions.

My practicum allowed me to witness the practical application of science in an everyday setting. I learned about the anatomy of the human mouth as well as all of the chemical reactions that can lead to harmful effects in the body if the mouth is not properly taken care of. Being able to shadow at a dentist’s office has given me a much greater appreciation for the profession. There is much more to being a dentist than cleaning teeth or constructing new ones. The ability of the team of dentists to come together to determine the cause of the problem as well as the best course of action for treatment was truly impressive. Furthermore, the artistic aspect of dentistry was something I had never considered before but after shadowing dentists have learned is a very important feature of the profession. After placing a bridge, crown, implantation, or filling, it is imperative that this new “tooth” be shaped correctly so that not too much pressure is placed on it. If the shape is incorrect by even a tiny bit it can cause serious harm in the form of cavities and jaw damage. This aspect of dentistry is something unexpected but definitely added to my appreciation and respect of dental professionals.

The completion of my practicum has influenced my plans for the future. I had been contemplating whether being a doctor, dentist, or veterinarian was best for me. While I greatly enjoyed my time at the dentist office, I have come to the conclusion that dentistry is not the field I want to go into; therefore, I plan on shadowing a doctor as well as a veterinarian in order to determine which path is right for me. Even though I do not plan on going into dentistry this practicum has led me to realize how much I like the process of taking x-rays and reading them to determine the source of the problem; consequently, I am considering the fact that radiology may be a possible career path that I would enjoy. Finally, I have learned from this experience that I take pleasure in positively impacting someone’s life which is something I would like to continue to do no matter what career path I find myself taking.