The dental clinic underwent a makeover this previous weekend. Our pre-existing equipment was outdated and prone to malfunction. We received new dental chairs that are better in every single way than the old chairs. The vacuum system was also much improved. I was pretty excited about these new changes, so I could only imagine how the dentist must have felt.
I received an acceptance letter from UT Dental Branch in Houston today, so I'll be withdrawing from UTHSC San Antonio. It'll be a much better opportunity for me here - among the advantages, I'll be closer to family/friends, and I'll be one of the first to experience the new dental school opening in 2012!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
One of the Biggest Problems in Dentistry
As I was walking down the hallway to the dental clinic to start volunteering, I saw the dentist walk out with her belongings toward the parking garage. My initial thought: "Oh no, she just walked out on all of her patients!" This wasn't the case, as she explained to me that her daughter was sick, and that she needed to take her to go see the doctor. I wished her daughter well, and then went inside the clinic to say hi to everyone there before I left.
Since the dentist was gone for the day, all appointments had to be canceled except for the post-ops that only required a dental assistant. I hate when patients are rescheduled due to things they can't control. Keep in mind that HHH has so many patients to take of, so they have to wait a month or two in between appointments. I know it's frustrating for them to have to wait so long to see any progress, but that's the way things have to be for this free service. Nevertheless, I understand when they get annoyed when they come in on time for their appointment, only to find out that they have been rescheduled much later than desired. For example, the dental clinic manager informed a patient that he had to be rescheduled. The manager then filled out an appointment card and told me to hand it to the patient, who was waiting outside the clinic. As I told the patient that his next appointment was next month, he snatched the appointment card from me and abruptly left. I apologized to him for the inconvenience, but those words fell on deaf ears. I wasn't offended at all because I would've probably felt the same way if I was in his position.
One way to cut down on problems like this would be to have more dentists working for the underserved population. I think that's one of the biggest problems in dentistry today. It's not that there's a shortage of dentists in the field, but that there's a lack of dentists serving the people who normally don't have access to dental care. Sure, you see dental offices everywhere, but most of them are located in the city, where you might even see multiple offices on the same street. What makes HHH so amazing is that it is the only full service, no cost, dental clinic for the homeless in all of Houston. In the future, I'd like to cater to the underserved people in the same way as the dentist at HHH does. Maybe one day, when a homeless patient gets rescheduled here, his/her next appointment will be in the next week because there won't be a shortage of dentists willing to help these people.
One can only hope right?
Since the dentist was gone for the day, all appointments had to be canceled except for the post-ops that only required a dental assistant. I hate when patients are rescheduled due to things they can't control. Keep in mind that HHH has so many patients to take of, so they have to wait a month or two in between appointments. I know it's frustrating for them to have to wait so long to see any progress, but that's the way things have to be for this free service. Nevertheless, I understand when they get annoyed when they come in on time for their appointment, only to find out that they have been rescheduled much later than desired. For example, the dental clinic manager informed a patient that he had to be rescheduled. The manager then filled out an appointment card and told me to hand it to the patient, who was waiting outside the clinic. As I told the patient that his next appointment was next month, he snatched the appointment card from me and abruptly left. I apologized to him for the inconvenience, but those words fell on deaf ears. I wasn't offended at all because I would've probably felt the same way if I was in his position.
One way to cut down on problems like this would be to have more dentists working for the underserved population. I think that's one of the biggest problems in dentistry today. It's not that there's a shortage of dentists in the field, but that there's a lack of dentists serving the people who normally don't have access to dental care. Sure, you see dental offices everywhere, but most of them are located in the city, where you might even see multiple offices on the same street. What makes HHH so amazing is that it is the only full service, no cost, dental clinic for the homeless in all of Houston. In the future, I'd like to cater to the underserved people in the same way as the dentist at HHH does. Maybe one day, when a homeless patient gets rescheduled here, his/her next appointment will be in the next week because there won't be a shortage of dentists willing to help these people.
One can only hope right?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Life Lessons
These past two weeks have really shown me how far I've come since volunteering at HHH back in August 2008. We had a young woman start volunteering with us last week. Whenever a new volunteer comes, I immediately hope for two things: that I can get along easily with that person, and that I can properly teach everything I know. It's through these small teaching encounters that I realize just how much I've learned myself.
There are also a few "life lessons" that I've learned since being here. I've realized that help is available for all who seek it. As cliche as that sounds, it really is true. We are social beings, with the need to have some kind of camaraderie with others. Regardless of race, sex, class, or any other classification groups we divide into, I feel that helping others should know no bounds. It's a privilege to witness how people help each other here all the time. Another thing: humor is universal. When patients open up to us and we get to joking around, we create a bond that shows we are equal, despite all of our life issues. I never thought that I would ever interact so much with the homeless. To be able to share laughs with them just shows that humor can be understood by all.
To sum it up, reach out to others with open arms, and don't discriminate with your help! I promise it's a great feeling.
There are also a few "life lessons" that I've learned since being here. I've realized that help is available for all who seek it. As cliche as that sounds, it really is true. We are social beings, with the need to have some kind of camaraderie with others. Regardless of race, sex, class, or any other classification groups we divide into, I feel that helping others should know no bounds. It's a privilege to witness how people help each other here all the time. Another thing: humor is universal. When patients open up to us and we get to joking around, we create a bond that shows we are equal, despite all of our life issues. I never thought that I would ever interact so much with the homeless. To be able to share laughs with them just shows that humor can be understood by all.
To sum it up, reach out to others with open arms, and don't discriminate with your help! I promise it's a great feeling.
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