women in dentistry feature

9 MARCH 2015 // hygienetown.com

Q&AFour Women, Four Career PathsHello. I’m Elizabeth J. Fleming, DDS, (also known as Betty), the clinical director of Dentaltown Magazine. As a woman and a

practicing dentist, over the years I’ve found myself interested in what opportunities other women have found in dentistry.

I spoke with four women who have chosen unique career paths in dentistry, and shared those conversations here in the

four following question-and-answer segments. I hope you enjoy learning about these women as much as I did.

Errante

Dr. Margaret Errante is the director of the Boston University Dental

Health Center at the university’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental

Medicine. She also serves as the assistant dean for business development.

Errante has more than 30 years experience in the dental fi eld, includ-

ing 18 years as a principal in a multi-location group practice prior to

joining Boston University.

Did you always want to be in academia?

I always thought that I would teach, but my career took

me in the direction of a more administrative role in academics.

Before joining Boston University I held a position as an adjunct

clinical instructor at Pima Community College (in Arizona)

where I supervised dental hygiene students on the clinic fl oor.

This was a very rewarding and fulfi lling role because I had the

opportunity to work with the students and provide guidance on

different techniques in dentistry.

Fortunately, while managing my practice in Arizona and also at

the Boston University Dental Health Center, I have the opportunity

to take on a mentoring role. I host study groups, peer reviews, and

provide guidance to junior faculty and colleagues.

What other positions in dentistry have you had in the years

leading up to Boston University?

I practiced dental hygiene prior to attending dental school.

After graduating from the University of the Pacifi c, I was a prin-

cipal in Associated Health Plans and Associated Dental Care

Providers located in Arizona. After practicing for 18 years in

Arizona, I moved to the East Coast.

Why did you choose dentistry?

I thought it would be a great profession for a woman, providing

a great work and life balance, which is a rarity. The wonderful

thing is I have the opportunity to pursue my career aspirations

without having to sacrifi ce time with my family. So I have the

best of both worlds.

Speaking of balance, how did you fi t family in with your career?

At the time of my son’s birth, the practice was really ramping

up. Two weeks after delivering him I had to cover one of the offi ces

for emergencies. I went to the offi ce with a portable crib and my

son in tow. The only reason it worked for me was because I had

tremendous support from my husband. By the time my daughter

was born, we chose a “role reversal” and my husband became a stay-

at-home dad to allow a better balance between work and home.

Much of my success was due to my husband and his efforts to keep

the home front so stable.

Who are some of your mentors?

That’s an interesting and challenging question because I

have been infl uenced by many different people from a variety of

professions, including dentists, dental specialists, business leaders

and individuals who have great leadership skills. There’s nothing

more inspirational than to see people who can lead with ease. I like

to understand the qualities or components of what makes them

successful with their leadership.

I also believe in lifelong learning though continuing educa-

tion opportunities, reading books on leadership and business and

observing talent in many different forms.

Dr. Margaret

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women in dentistry feature

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What do you enjoy most about being a dentist?

I like interacting with patients, providing quality oral care, and

making a difference in patients’ lives. I especially like the fl exibility

of being able to work in a variety of roles in dentistry ranging from

clinical to business to administrative to academic.

In your long and distinguished career as a dentist, what were

the highlights?

Owning, developing, and growing my practice in Arizona was

a major accomplishment for me. Also, I was instrumental in the

major reorganization and upgrade of the Boston University Dental

Health Center. I am especially proud of the community outreach

throughout the years, through which we were able to provide com-

plimentary dental services for lower-income patients.

What do you like to do outside of dentistry?

I come from an immigrant Italian family and family has al-

ways been a top priority. So I spend a lot of time with my hus-

band and two children. I love to travel and enjoy cooking.

If you did not become a dentist, what would you have become?

Originally I aspired to be an orthopedic surgeon. But, looking

back I think I would have pursued a career in business and studied

to get my MBA. But just to set the record straight, I have never

regretted my choice to become a dentist.

What words of advice do you have for dental students today?

I could probably go on forever when it comes to giving

advice to the students because you want to guide them as much

as possible. But, you have to understand that each student is

different and some have to learn on their own accord. However,

there are a few points that I feel are essential in order to have a

rewarding career in dentistry. These points are:

1. Be selective when it comes to opportunities to practice

dentistry. Don’t just take the fi rst offer—really take the time

to consider the options available to determine which is right

for you.

2. Manage your fi nances and learn to live within your

fi nancial means.

3. Always do what is right for the patient.

4. Be a life-long learner. Remain humble and give back to

your community. ■

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women in dentistry feature

11 MARCH 2015 // hygienetown.com

Q&ABradyDr. Lee Ann Brady is a privately practicing dentist in Glendale,

Arizona and a nationally recognized educator, lecturer and author. Brady has worked with Spear Education and The Pankey Institute and is the director of education for Clinical Mastery in Tempe, Arizona. Brady is also on the editorial board of numerous dental magazines, including Dentaltown Magazine.

Why did you choose dentistry?I had grown up in dentistry. My dad is a ceramist who

owned a crown and bridge lab, so I was pouring models and doing wax-ups at an early age. The challenge of balancing home and work had me rethink my medical career choice, so I actually called my dad (who was away), to announce I was taking the DAT instead of the MCAT.

What’s the story of your dental career and how did you become involved with so many of the top dental education groups across the United States?

After graduation from dental school I worked in a high-pro-duction offi ce, and then bought a practice. Both of these experiences left me unsatisfi ed with dentistry to the point that in 1999, I sold my practice and quit. I was out of dentistry for three years when my husband lost his job. In order to take care of our responsibilities, I found an associate’s job. I loved this job and the difference was the owner doc’s commitment to high-level continuing education plus offering patients comprehensive treatment. I jumped on the CE bandwagon from then on.

Learning keeps me engaged in dentistry. While attending a course in Key Biscayne (Florida) I was asked to join the faculty of the Pankey Institute and the rest is history. I believe making a commitment to a journey of learning as we practice is the key to loving what we do. I’m so lucky that I also get to help other dentists discover that.

You are very career driven. What keeps you going?I balance my work and my play really well, but it’s deceiv-

ing because dentistry is my play. I love learning about dentist-ry and teaching dentistry. Talking about teeth is what I do for fun, and it happens to be my career as well. Now, I will also admit that I’m a gunner from way back, so achievement is hardwired into who I am.

Who are some of your mentors?I could not be who I am without great mentors. Some have

been teachers or people in leadership roles I have admired. Others

are friends and fellow professionals. Finding people you can learn from is one piece of mentorship, but the other key ingredient is fi nding people you can confi de in who will hold you accountable and pass you a Kleenex when appropriate.

What are your favorite sources of learning?My favorite learning is always small group, hands-on education.

Dentistry is a hands-on profession. Being able to build technical skills and practice our new learning in a safe environment without the pressure of a schedule and patients is key.

What do you enjoy most in dentistry?This may sound strange but my favorite piece is the diagnosis.

I think that’s why I teach treatment planning so much, and why I fi nd TMD fun. It’s the mental game of discovery and putting the puzzle together.

How do you fi nd balance in your life?Above and beyond my work, my kids are one of my greatest

joys. Spending time in their lives is key, even if it means texts and Snapchats when I’m on the road. My husband and I love to travel, and we set aside special time for date nights. Balance is a moving target and we are never perfectly in balance, but if we stay tuned in to the direction our lives tip in, we can tip it back when needed. Over time, the result is balance.

What do you enjoy outside of dentistry?All three of my kids play lacrosse, and I love to go watch. I’m

a voracious reader, I love to garden (even in Phoenix), and my husband bought me a piano for my 50th birthday this year because learning to play was on my bucket list. I love coming home and sitting down at the piano and playing. I have mastered Jingle Bells and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Describe your typical work week. How does it differ from when you began your career?

I see patients in my private dental offi ce about 12 days a month, so a typical week I am in the offi ce Monday through Wednesday, mostly single booked. My days are full of proce-dures. I love to do like aesthetics, implant prosthetics, complex restorative and TMD. Most Thursdays I get on a plane to go teach whether to a private study club, national meeting or for our Clinical Mastery courses.

Most dentists are perfectionists. How do you hold yourself to high standards, without creating unrealistic expectations?

I am defi nitely a perfectionist. One of the things I learn

Dr. Lee Ann

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women in dentistry feature

hygienetown.com \\ MARCH 2015 12FREE Facts, circle 9 on card

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What was the best decision you made for your career?To say yes when they invited me to teach in 2005. I had never

taught anything before and was totally out of my comfort zone. I had to pick up my family and move them, and leave my practice. It was a leap of faith. It has been a wild ride ever since, but the best decision of my career.

Looking back, would you have done anything differently?I would have started on my CE journey earlier in my career

and not spent those fi rst years simply doing what I had learned in school. I waited until the pain of not enjoying practice got so bad it forced me to do something different, instead of proactively fi gur-ing out what I needed to do to love my profession.

What words of advice do you have for dental students today?Be a continual learner. Figure out what a dental practice needs

to look like for you to love it, and then go create that practice! ■

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women in dentistry feature

13 MARCH 2015 // hygienetown.com

Q&ADr. Natalie Peterson has worked in a variety of positions in

small practices, corporate chains and a group HMO practice. She also started her own practice from scratch in 2008. After four years, Natalie found that ownership was not her niche and sold the business. She’s now working at a federally qualifi ed health center (FQHC) where a majority of her patients are adults on Medicaid plans.

Peterson is a well-known poster on the Dentaltown online message board. Her ties to Dentaltown go deeper than that. In 2014 she was married at the Townie Meeting by none other than Dentaltown founder Howard Farran!

What will your next focus in dentistry be?I would like to get involved in things outside of full-time clinical

hands-on dentistry. I’d like to get involved in teaching either at a dental school or a dental hygiene or assisting program. I’ve always thought that teaching would be fun.

I have considered going back to school many times in the past—radiology and pathology have always been interests of mine—but the idea of being a student again and taking on more loan debt makes me think twice about that.

Why did you choose dentistry?I wanted to be a neurosurgeon in the fi fth grade but then found

out that it’s a lot of training, and yikes, brains. So I looked at my orthodontist and fi gured he had a pretty good gig and in my senior year of high school, my dentist hired me as a dental assistant. I found out I did not enjoy ortho, but I liked fi llings, crowns and dentures. I liked fi xing things, making them look nice and normal again. Even back then, I was not a fan of endo or oral surgery.

Who are some of your mentors?My biggest mentor was my boss for seven years, Dr. John

Dickinson. He was always excited about dentistry, always up for learning new things and trying new products. He taught me a lot by not pressuring us associate dentists to produce. He let us work at our own pace, doing the procedures we liked and avoiding those we didn’t like. He wanted us to do good work for the patients. He passed away unexpectedly in 2012 and I miss him every day. There are so many things that come up and cases where I think, “What would Dr. D do here?” He was a dental MacGyver.

What do you enjoy most in dentistry?Oooh, tough question. Honestly, I do enjoy removable prostho-

dontics. Here at FQHC I have done more dentures and partials in the last two years than in the previous 10 years combined. A lot of my

Petersondenture patients have been the most fun to work with over the years.

Describe your persona outside of dentistry.I love to read. I read pretty much anything, except self-help

books. I love fi ction, nonfi ction, cookbooks and diet books. I watch too much TV. I love to garden, fl owers mostly. It is harder to garden in Duluth though, due to a shorter season! We love our two spoiled cats, Baxter and Cita. Rick and I participate in Mission of Mercy events every year and plan to continue.

What made you decide to get married at the Townie meeting with Howard offi ciating?

I fi nally got married this year to my boyfriend of eight years, Rick Kump. Not wanting to saddle Rick to my practice debt, we started talking about marriage more seriously after my practice was sold. We thought about an Elvis chapel while at the Townie Meeting and kicked around the idea on Dentaltown.com. Then HoGo (Howard Goldstein) emailed me and said, “Why not do it at the Townie Meeting?” Howard Farran got ordained, so that was the icing on the cake!

Why do you post on the Dentaltown message board?Lot of reasons. Most of my posts over the years have been silly/

social posts. But I do try to chime in on real threads too, and share experiences. I’ve made lots of friends over the years, so it is a great way to stay in touch with those people. I’ve learned things I never would have learned otherwise. Like Greater Curve bands! And Apex products! I would never have been able to open my practice without it (the Dentaltown message board). I wouldn’t have even tried.

What words of advice would you give to dental students today?You must really understand the amount of debt you are taking

on and how you are going to pay it off. Make sure you have a realisticidea of what your pay is going to be like. I think students these days are being fed some pie-in-the-sky ideas. I am worried for these kids coming out of school today. I would encourage them to look at debt repayment programs like public health and the military pretty seriously. Focus on getting your basic skills down while you are in school, and when you get out of school start growing those extra skills that you don’t get as much exposure to in school.

What would you consider your greatest accomplishments to be?I don’t know! I guess building my practice from nothing and

then selling it for a profi t four years later is something. But honestly that almost feels like it happened in another lifetime now. Some days my greatest accomplishment is just getting the dishes done! ■

Dr. Natalie

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women in dentistry feature

14 MARCH 2015 // hygienetown.com

Q&ADr. Joyce Bassett practices comprehensive restorative and

aesthetic dentistry in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is an Accredited

Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and

will be the fi rst female president of the AACD in May. Dr.

Bassett is an adjunct professor at the Arizona School of

Dentistry, where she has taught the aesthetic continuum. She

is a national lecturer, published author and is a member of the

editorial board of several peer-reviewed publications.

What drew you to dentistry?

My father, who was a dentist, wanted me to become a

physician. When he applied to medical school, he did not get

accepted. His second choice was dentistry. He wanted for me

what he did not get for himself. But I did not want to be a

physician. I wanted to get married and have four children and

felt that the on-call responsibility of a physician would be too

much. I felt a dental business model would be more compatible

with my lifestyle choice. (But it didn’t quite work out that way,

the married with four kids part.)

Tell me the story of your dental career.

I started college at 16 and dental school at 19. I graduated

from the Ohio State University at the age of 23 and started my

own practice. I remember the fi rst month I produced $29,000,

and I thought, “Oh my God, I’m rich!” I grew to dislike dentistry

and at the age of 27, wanted to quit. I met Dr. Rich Cohen, who

suggested additional continuing education: occlusion, TMD

and full mouth reconstruction classes from Kois and Dawson.

Then cosmetics classes came on the scene in the early

1990s and I enrolled at Case Western and Baylor. I started

lecturing and began the journey to get my accreditation with

the AACD, which took me many attempts before passing.

They called me Dr. Susan Lucci since I was the annual pre-

senter at the conference and never received the award. When I

fi nally gained accreditation, I started my journey to fellowship

and became a student at the Kois Center to better understand

function and occlusion.

BassettAre there any other AACD fellows in Phoenix?

I’m the only one in the state of Arizona that is a Fellow

and also a member of both the American Academy of Esthetic

Dentistry and the American Society of Dental Aesthetics.

What keeps you going?

I have so many tasks to accomplish. It fuels me to complete

everything in front of me. The patient’s satisfaction at the fi nish

of cases invigorates me. What keeps me going at the podium is

when women approach me at the end of my presentation and

say, “How did you get here? I want to be like you. Tell me what

to do.”

I know that when they see a woman at the podium it

motivates them and they strive for more. What keeps me

motivated in the AACD is the knowledge that this organization

is the preeminent source for continuing education for dentists to

follow a pathway to success in cosmetic dentistry. The AACD

and the Kois Center cultivate excellence in education for dentists.

Who are some of your mentors?

John Kois (founder of The Kois Center, a training institute

in Seattle). There is no comparison.

What are your favorite sources of learning?

AACD, the Kois Center, the AAED, the American Academy

of Restorative Dentistry, and the American Academy of Fixed

Prosthodontics.

What do you enjoy most in dentistry?

Patients, the surgical procedures, the artistry of smile design,

fi nal outcomes, and the satisfaction of a case well executed.

How do you fi nd balance in your life?

I exercise every day, fi rst thing in the morning. That’s my

time. Then I accomplish tasks that I despise, immediately

following my workout, so they are completed. This allows me to

focus on the rest of the day with ease.

Once I get to the offi ce, I only perform patient care, which is

a pleasure. I shut out the rest of the world and focus.

Dr. Joyce

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women in dentistry feature

15 MARCH 2015 // hygienetown.com

Dr. Joyce Bassett

What do you enjoy outside of dentistry?

Sports, hanging out with friends, relationships, hiking Camel-

back Mountain, skiing, riding my bike.

How do you hold yourself to high standards without creating

unrealistic expectations?

I presented at the Kois Symposium on failures, using my

accreditation journey and mentor exam failures as background for

this talk. I also use this presentation to open my lecture in my

full-day classes, telling how to avoid negative self-talk and instead

focusing on changing strategies to fi nd solutions.

What is the best decision you made for your career?

I didn’t listen to my dad when he wanted me to become a physician.

Would you have done anything differently as you look back on

your career?

No, you can’t go backwards, so every decision that you made

was proper in that moment.

What words of advice do you have for dental students today?

Dental school education is just the beginning of a lifetime

of learning. Build on this base and never think you have “made

it.” When you do . . . your learning ends and you won’t improve

from that moment forward. Continue to educate yourself with

lectures and hands-on programs. Be a CE junkie. You can never

stop learning.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to be

outside of dentistry?

The mentoring I perform for everyone in my path. I was not

blessed to have children of my own, but I have demonstrated the

village concept by rearing many children and students. I feel I can

infl uence the lives of many, by my example. ■

Dr. Natalie Peterson

Dr. Lee Ann Brady

Ladies ChoiceFavorite Products

Kerr SonicFill

Imprint 4 3M ESPE

DentMat NV soft-tissue laser

Philips Zoom whitening system

Bisco All-Bond Universal, and TheraCal

Nikon D7100 camera, mirrors and retractors from PhotoMed

Heraeus Kulzer Venus composite

Ivoclar Vivadent’s OptraGate dental dams

Septocaine anesthetic

Kuraray Clearfi l SE Bond

Greater Curve bands Contour amalgam (Kerr)

Scotchbond universal adhesive (3M ESPE)

GrandioSO resin (VOCO)

Exafast impression material (GC America)

Every dentist has their favorite products and instruments that give them increased confi dence and help the day pass with ease. Below, see some favorites from three of our four Q&A participants.

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