"My Childhood Dream Come True"

by Keri Bottrall, Grand Rapids Community College

James B. Bush Essay Award 2008

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to visit a few first grade classrooms, to talk to the kids about the importance of dental care. Looking at all those 6 year old faces, I couldn't believe that I was their age when I realized I wanted to go to school to work on people's teeth.

I never wanted to be one of those kids that wanted to be a ballerina, a teacher, or a firefighter. I wanted to work in the dental office. From the first time I sat in that dental chair and the dental hygienist cleaned my teeth, I told her "I want to do, what you're doing". I love every aspect of the dental office, and every procedure I ever had done, from fluoride, to sealants to cleanings. I had always wished I could go more than two times a year.

Getting my first cavity on the other hand wasn't exactly exciting news. I wasn't afraid of the procedure; I was more upset with the fact, that I had a cavity. At that young age, however I didn't really notice that everyone in the dental office had a different role. The only think I knew was that I was going to be working for a dentist when I grew up. In fact, if I go through my elementary school papers, everyone I wrote when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, said work in a dental office.

By the time I was a junior in high school, I had already applied to Grand Rapids Community College, to get a head start on the dental programs. Deciding to go to Grand Rapids Community college was one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only do I love the campus, but the dental programs are amazing. After finally deciding on dental assisting, the counselor had the dental program put my name on a waiting list, after that all I had to do was wait.

Since there were so many girls that decided dental assisting wasn't right for them, I became part of the 2008 dental assisting class. The start of school wasn't exactly easy; it was all lecture classes for seven weeks, such as anatomy, and intro to dentistry along with nutrition and science. But, even now looking back at those lecture classes, everything I learned then I am relating to what I am doing now. For example, while in our basic science class, we were given the opportunity to look a a cadaver. being able to physically see certain aspects of how our bodies work gives you an amazing in-sight, and even prepares you a little for when you 're ready to start actually looking in patient's mouths.

As soon as our first semester of school was over we started our lab and clinic classes. Wow! Do they go by fast? One day you're learning about how a rubber dam works and the next day your trying it out on a classmate. I don't think I have ever learned so much in all of years of schooling as I have in the last 7 months. About 2 months ago we started learning how to take x-rays, and just last week I took a full mouth series on my dad. He was sure impressed with the amount of information I have learned in the past few months.

In May we take our R.D.A. boards. I have learned so much at school, I don't know how I've retained it all. There are so many things that an R. D.A. can do, that I never thought we would be allowed to do. Such as sealants, rubber dam, and even packing an amalgam. I would have to say that packing an amalgam by far has been my greatest challenge.

Everything that I have accomplished this school year would definitely not have been possible without the help of all my amazing dental instructors. Sometimes school is very difficult think, and if you don't have teacher a cheering you on, telling you that you will make it; it can be even more difficult. We have been aught many different subjects, from a variety of teachers. The more diversity you have, the more approaches you may have on different types of procedures that go on in the dental office.

So why did I want to go into the dental field? Well, our teeth are amazing. Smiling at someone can change there whole outlook on a bad day they are having. I'm excited that one day soon, I will finally ge to be a part of making someone's smile great.