My greatest experiences with internship and volunteering came when I arrived in the United States. It has been my dream to pursue dentistry for quite some time and the opportunity to study and learn in this culture and environment is unsurpassed. Being able to shadow a dentist and learn the protocols of the field through an internship would give me invaluable experience that far exceeds that found in India.
In pursuing an internship, I was met with many challenges early on. Being a foreign-trained dentist made finding a practice that would allow me to shadow and learn very difficult. I knocked on many doors only to be turned away. That soon changed when I received the opportunity to work with Dr. Chandrika Bhut, of Smile Dental Care in Rockville, Maryland. (Smile Dental Care). Dr. Bhut’s detailed-oriented nature and ability to provide quick information enabled me to learn many things in a short amount of time. I learned the role of the dentist is to direct the patient to make a well-informed treatment decision as well as what role insurance companies play in making dental treatment affordable. I also learned different technologies from DENTRIX dental patient management software to newer generation dental materials which have revolutionized the field of dentistry. I also understand the efficacy of preventive dental treatment by observing regular prophylaxis, sealant placement, fluoride application and patient recall. It has been quite fascinating to learn various modifications and approaches of routine dental techniques used by them. I have also learned about the U.S. practices of sterilization and infection control in a streamlined manner. Additionally, I have received exposure to practical use of HIPPA, CDC and OSHA guidelines.
I received an incredible opportunity to learn about Endodontics upon attending Dr. Martin Levin’s lecture at Mid-Atlantic Dental meeting. I was offered the opportunity to shadow at his clinic where I gained vast exposure and knowledge of the Cone Beam Computed Tomography that is much more advanced than 2-D imaging that is currently used in India. Dr. Levin was instrumental in giving me detailed analysis and guidance of the various procedures used in his practice. I took great interest in the CBCT and was invited to attend a two-day continuing education course on CBCT scan technology. I also got to meet several of Dr. Levin’s colleagues from which I could draw further knowledge about periodontics, prosthodontic, orthodontic and oral surgery.
My volunteer work has consisted of various community events such as Give Kid a Smile, Mission of Mercy project and the Special Olympic MOM project; a project very close to my heart because I served patients with special needs. I gained exposure to many cultures and people from various backgrounds which helped me to minimize cultural gaps as well as improved my communication skills. These two things in and of themselves are important in order to be a successful dentist in US.
- Komabayashi, Takashi, et al. “Dental Education in India and Japan: Implications for U.S. Dental Programs For Foreign-Trained Dentists.” Journal of Dental Education 69.4 (2005): 461-469. MEDLINE with Full Text. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.
- Maniar, Radhika. “How Dentistry in the U.S. Differs from India.” Mouthing Off. N.p., 6 Mar. 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.
- “Smile Dental Care – Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, Chandrika Bhut D.D.S., Rockville, Germantown and Gaithersburg.” Smile Dental Care – Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, Chandrika Bhut D.D.S., Rockville, Germantown and Gaithersburg. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.
