Pre-Internship 

1/7/24

 Describe your hopes, dreams and fears for internship. Consider your job description, your project, your coworkers, your internship site, your overall experience and how it could fit into your education, your life or your family.

I am super excited for my internship at Complete Dental Health as I prepare to explore a potential career in dentistry. I am eager to deepen my understanding of the field and hope this experience will help me decide if it’s the right path for my future. Over the next 5 weeks, I look forward to shadowing procedures, interacting with patients, and learning about the financial aspects of running a practice. Based on my previous visits, the team I’ll be working with seems super kind and welcoming; I anticipate this will create a positive environment where I am free to ask questions and actively grow. Although I know this experience will help me make informed decisions about my future, I feel some stress about my performance quality. I pride myself in my effort and work ethic, so I hope I am able to showcase this in a real world experience. Overall, this internship will be a large change in my daily routine and social life, but I plan to take advantage of this unique opportunity as it will help me gain clarity on future careers and learn from professionals. 

Week 1: Starting Internship  

​Describe the culture at your internship, including how people interact, communicate and work together. 
My internship is a welcoming and highly organized culture, where the staff is dedicated to patient comfort, teamwork, and efficiency. Patient care is prioritized through kind gestures, such as offering flowers and blankets to every patient and taking the time to create personal connections with everybody. These actions foster a warm and inviting culture that makes each visit unique and memorable. The culture of Complete Dental Health goes beyond patient interactions. It is rooted in teamwork, learning and communication. Whether I am shadowing Dr. Collins, assisting at the front desk, setting up rooms, or chatting in the break room, I am consistently gaining new insights and knowledge. This culture creates a strong sense of belonging for anybody who walks in the door. Additionally, the practice’s communication systems are direct evidence of their efficiency. Direct intercoms are used for for quick staff messages like “Dr. Tim needed in OP-5” or “Patient #4 has arrived”. This ensures smooth operations and reflects the staffs commitment to coordination. Overall, the culture at this internship is defined by genuine care, effective communication, and a dedication to excellence.


Image to the right shows the direct lines that are placed in every room.
What goods and/or services does your company provide to the community and how do they consider their role in the community, responsibilities to society?
Complete Dental Health offers oral health services and education, essential for maintaining overall well-being and confident smiles. Their offerings include routine cleanings, preventive care, personalized product recommendations, and restorative treatments created to amplify both oral and overall health. The company goes beyond performing procedures and dedicates a significant amount of time to patient education, ensuring all patients leave the practice equipped with the knowledge to maintain long-term oral health. The staff genuinely care about their patients, taking the time to explain proper hygiene habits and the important connection between oral health and overall wellness. Complete Dental Health plays a critical role in the community by promoting healthy habits, delivering high-quality dental care, and creating a welcoming environment where patients consistently leave with healthier smiles. 


Image to the right shows an example of a service Complete Dental Health provides. (Crownings)

Week 2: Clinical Practice

1/13 - 1/17

Project Description: Describe your internship project. What will you be doing? What will the final product look like? Which skills (academic, creative, technical) will you utilize and/or develop as you do the project. How will the project benefit the organization?
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For my internship project, I will be designing a graphic showing all of the comfort items Complete Dental Health offers during appointments. As previously mentioned, the company's goal is to keep patients smiling and comfortable. To support this, they provide a variety of comfort items, including blankets, lip balm, headphones, and more. My project involves showcasing these items, by creating a visually appealing "Comfort Menu," and placing it in front of every operating chair. This ensures all patients have easy access to a list of conveniences to enhance their appointment. This project will utilize my creativity and design skills by creating something professional yet engaging. My main goal is to develop a graphic that draws patients in and improves their overall experience. This project will benefit the practice by strengthening its reputation for prioritizing patient care and comfort. It aligns with the organizations goal of consistently finding new ways to enhance the patient experience, keeping all patients loyal and satisfied. 
Blogs-
How has your internship changed your mind on future career paths?
I am still deciding between nursing and dentistry, but my internship has provided me with a lot of valuable insight on the variety of healthcare roles. Initially, I was interested in becoming a pediatric dentist, but after observing the staff at my internship, I’ve started considering a career as a dental hygienist. I have noticed hygienists have a lot of patient interaction, a set schedule, and require less schooling, which would be financially beneficial. While I am still heavily considering nursing, this experience has expanded my perspective and helped me reflect on my long-term priorities. This week I spoke with a hygienist who shared she was also deciding between nursing and dentistry during college. Ultimately she chose dental hygiene because of its balance and routine. This interaction inspired me to think about what I value in a career. Overall it has shown me the importance of fully exploring my interests to make informed decisions about my future.
How do you see yourself changing over the course of your internship?
​Throughout my internship, I have already grown and learned more than I thought I would. I am excited to see what the next 3 weeks have ahead because I know that I will be continuously learning, growing, and evolving. During my first 2 weeks I have spent a majority of my time setting up rooms, sterilizing, and shadowing procedures. I’ve already made significant progress, as I’m beginning to memorize set-ups and routines, which has built my confidence in clinical skills. However, for the next two weeks,  Dr. Collins will be away, meaning there won’t be any patients other than for cleaning appointments. This means I will be spending more time at the front desk, interacting with patients, and possibly shadowing hygienists. Although I've been improving in clinical tasks, I’ve noticed that my interaction skills could use some work. Therefore I am taking these next two weeks as an opportunity to focus on communication and patient engagement. In summary, I can already see myself developing in many ways. I am gaining confidence, knowledge, and communication skills, and I hope that by the end of internship I am even stronger in these areas. 

Week 3:  Front Desk and Assistant Duties

1/21 - 1/24

Blogs-

Who benefits from the work you do at internship?
​The work I do during my internship benefits all my coworkers in different ways. For the hygienists, I assist with perio-charting, a task that only takes a few minutes but creates a smooth process for the measurements of gum pockets. Since the hygienists have to record six numbers for each tooth and go around the mouth four times, my help allows them to focus on calling out the numbers without pausing to write them down. This makes the measurements go a lot quicker and more efficiently. I also occasionally assist with taking x-ray pictures for patients who may have difficulty holding the x-ray device for extended periods. This eliminates the need for the hygienists to leave the room for every image, making the process much more efficient. I also support the dental assistants by learning and performing many of their miscellaneous tasks, such as shutting down and setting up rooms, restocking supplies, and sterilizing tools. This lightens assistant work load and contributes to a smooth work flow for all staff, therefore enhancing patient experience. Additionally, I assist the front desk by ensuring patients are reminded of their upcoming appointments, improving overall patient efficiency.  My daily internship responsibilities, create a seamless and effective environment for both the staff and patients. This experience has shown me the importance of teamwork and how even small tasks can have a big impact on the success of a practice.
What are social interactions like in your workplace? 
I would describe my internship as a calm yet social environment. Depending on the size or complexity of each task, staff members either work independently or collaboratively. Hygienists typically work on their own but have constant communication with their patients, as well as personal connections with fellow coworkers. The front desk staff often work together to manage scheduling and phone calls, though some small tasks are handled individually. The doctor and assistants collaborate closely during procedures, but when Dr. Collins isn’t performing a procedure, he usually works independently in his office. Even when tasks are done independently, the team maintains a friendly and social environment, often chatting about topics like food, family, or their personal lives. This dynamic creates a welcoming and supportive nature, which directly reflects on the care they provide. The staff’s charm and collaboration efforts demonstrate their commitment to ensuring each patient receives the best possible experience.

Week 4 : Preparation 

​1/27  - 1/31

Who is your mentor? Describe his life, schooling, and career journey.
Throughout my internship, my mentor experience has varied. My official mentor has been facing a family emergency and has not been in the office since my second week. Since then, I’ve been mentored by two dental assistants. For the last two weeks, I’ve been working with Melfred, the only assistant currently in the office, with whom I also did my mentor interview. Melfred has been working at Complete Dental Health for 9 years, but he officially became a registered dental assistant 6 years ago. In addition to being a dental assistant, he’s also a new father to an 8 month old named Rafael. Melfred originally went to school for physical therapy, but after completing his pre-requisites, he was not able to get into the program, as the admission process was based on a lottery system. He then decided to pursue dental assistant school, which took about 10 months to complete. His education included both textbook work and labs, followed by an internship at this very office. Melfred is very detail-oriented, as he works directly alongside Dr. Collins, who places high importance on detailed work. In the future, Melfred hopes to eventually pursue his dream career in physical therapy.
What advice would you give to a junior in high school who wants to pursue a career in the field of your internship? 
I would say make the most of it and learn as much as you can. Although this internship showed me that this career may not be the right fit for me, I am grateful for that knowledge and have used it to my advantage. Take the time to learn about your coworkers, the environment, and the field itself. While consistently being given tasks may seem tedious at times, an internship is a unique experience, and learning not only makes the time go by quicker, but it also enhances the value of the experience. This advice applies to any field. As for dentistry specifically, I would recommend shadowing as many procedures as possible and getting familiar with the company quickly, as it will help things run much smoother. My biggest piece of advice for any internship is to use all your time wisely. Although we haven’t had much to do these past few weeks, I’ve taken advantage of my quiet workspace by researching future careers and colleges, working on my website, and applying for summer programs to deepen my knowledge even further.

Week 5: Final Week!

2/3 - 2/6

How do you feel about returning back to classes next week?  
I am so excited to come back to school next week! While I don’t expect a major change in my work effort, I know it will be a routine shift. My internship was incredibly valuable, but I’m really looking forward to being back in school. This experience has deepened my appreciation for school in ways I hadn’t expected. I really enjoy doing schoolwork, being around people my age, having lunch with friends, and my everyday routine. These moments, which I may have taken for granted before, now feel much more meaningful. As I go back, I’m going to stay thankful, knowing that my high school experience is almost over. I will definitely miss my internship schedule and the shorter commute, but I know that I will greatly appreciate coming back to school. ​
How do you see yourself making decisions about your own life beyond HTHMA? Do you see yourself following a life similar to anyone you met at an internship? Why or why not? 
My internship helped me realize that this particular field may not be the right fit for me. While I have learned a lot and appreciated the community I’ve been part of, spending each day in this environment has made me realize that I want to explore something I feel more passionate about. Dentistry has always sparked my interest, but over time, I’ve felt a stronger pull towards nursing and women's health. Everyone I’ve collaborated with at Complete Dental Health has taken their own unique path, and I have enjoyed learning about the variety of directions one can take towards their future. However, I feel like my ideal path may look different. Most of my colleagues completed their pre-requisites at a community college before joining their specific career programs (hygiene or dental assisting), but I’m hoping to find a college that offers a direct 4-year program. This would allow me to complete my pre-requisites and then transition directly into the 2-year nursing portion of the program without having to reapply. I’m excited to explore this new direction, and I’m looking forward to the next steps in finding the best fitting future for me.