Dr. Erin Sheffield and Dr. Sarah Harding discuss their podcast, mentorship, burnout, patient behavior, and collaboration in the oral surgery field. They also share their experiences at an oral surgery conference in Mexico. The conversation covers the challenges and experiences of dental professionals, including discrimination, work-life balance, and practice ownership. It also delves into the impact of family and personal life on career decisions. The conversation covers a range of topics including office management, networking, referral patterns, third molar extraction, sedation techniques, and challenges in pediatric dentistry. The discussion also delves into the use of different medications for sedation and the complexities of managing pediatric patients.

Takeaways

• Mentorship and representation are crucial for aspiring oral surgeons.
• Burnout can manifest in different ways and is influenced by boundary violations and emotional capacity.
• Patient behavior and entitlement in the dental profession are impacted by competition and financial factors.
• Collaboration and full-scope practice in oral surgery are less regulated and more common in certain regions.
• The oral surgery conference in Mexico provided a unique and collaborative experience for attendees. Discrimination in the dental field
• Balancing work and family life
• Practice ownership and autonomy Office management and networking are crucial for building a successful dental practice.
• Referral patterns and patient demographics play a significant role in determining the types of procedures performed.
• The use of different medications for sedation and the challenges of pediatric dentistry are important considerations for dental practitioners.

Chapters

• 00:00 Experiences at an Oral Surgery Conference in Mexico
• 22:47 Challenges in Dental Practice
• 32:04 Navigating Career and Personal Life
• 39:52 Practice Ownership and Autonomy
• 45:25 Office Management and Networking
• 53:20 Sedation Techniques and Medication Use
• 01:08:13 Challenges in Pediatric Dentistry