Alex Shalman

by Alex Shalman
AlexShalman.com – Practical Personal Development

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.”

~Randy Pausch

There are certain goals in your life for which success is a non-negotiable conclusion. It’s inevitable that the bus of your life is going to drive towards a fork in the road.  The trick is to position yourself in the drivers seat.

My most current and biggest obstacle so far has been to get into dental school. If my whole story was simple, that “I applied, I got in, woot!” then it wouldn’t have been very inspirational. Luckily, for the story’s sake, it took me three years of applications, rejections, retaking the DAT, and upping the ante with a master’s degree in order to push my way through.

The whole process really humbled me, and at the same time made me really proud of what I can do when I put everything I’ve got into it. I’ve had the benefit of being very self-aware, and carefully analyzing the mental processes that I went through in order to reach this goal. I could have been depressed at the first rejection. I could have quit and found another line of work…I almost did…but I didn’t, because my brain thinks as follows:

1. Cut Off Unsupportive People
   I’ve long been going through the process of purging negative people from my life. The friends that were just great to party with, the people that were disgustingly pessimistic, and the ones that clearly did not have my best interests in mind. Getting rid of negative people opens you up to meeting new ones with qualities you respect and admire.

   Several months ago I had a friend ask me why am I still trying to get in, and why don’t I just give up and go and get a real job instead of trying for this dental dream. My girlfriend Marina had an awesome response to this onslaught. She said, “How can you live if you stop trying? That’s the formula for regret.” I like it a lot. I have to keep this Marina person around me more!

2. Cut Off Plan B
   I’m very inspired by a story of Julius Caesar that I heard from one of my personal development tapes years back. When Caesar’s ships landed on the enemy beach, he immediately ordered his army to turn around and burn down all of their own ships. This left only one option, plow through the enemy lines, no matter what, and on to victory.

   In my own life, I gave myself only one option, no plan B, no alternatives, and that option was to become the best Dental health professional in the world. Other options and job opportunities were presented to me, quite often, and I always thought of them as the “Serpent’s apple” which I refused to pick.

3. Talk About Your Dream
   Everyone that I encountered knew that my number one goal, the thing that I wanted so much I could taste it, was to get into dental school. I didn’t ask them for help, I presented myself as a passionate individual who has wanted to be a dentist since he was five years old and would stop at nothing to achieve this dream. People respect this form of sincerity.

   In fact, people would often times start trying to think of solutions to how they might help me, or who they knew in a great position to help me. Over three years, I got a lot of contacts, some of which were dead leads, but the sheer volume that was generated from me speaking about my number one goal created some golden opportunities and referrals.

4. Believe In Yourself
   You know those days: When you’re down on yourself, and you’re thinking about quitting. Perhaps you even start to entertain some good reasons for why quitting would be a good idea.

   *SLAP*

   The trick is to give yourself a mental slap.  Take those negative thoughts and nip them in the bud before the weeds overthrow the yard of your mind. Don’t be the kind of person that thinks this way.

   It’s your job, not your friends or your parents, to believe that you’re the best. You must believe, deep in your soul, that whatever you have, whatever you’re selling is absolutely the air that everyone should be breathing. If you don’t believe you’re the best, and don’t do everything in your power to really be the best, then no one else will believe – so believe!

I’ve played a dangerous game my friends. I got a Masters degree, albeit educational and interesting, in a field that I didn’t want to spend my life working in – but I pushed on. I talked to everyone and their dog about my dreams, and encountered some pessimistic backlash – but I pushed on.

I even spent this summer studying to retake the admission test “just in case,” while having a promising spot on the waiting list, when I could have taken a vacation and hoped I’d make it off the list – but I pushed on.

Never stop trying, not while you’re still alive and capable. As I like to say… “If you have a dream, whether you have to go through those doors sideways, backwards, or jump in from the roof… don’t give up.”

Alex Shalman is a Personal Development writer and speaker, and most recently an NYU Dental student. If you enjoyed this article please tweet it and vote for it on StumbleUpon. I’d appreciate it.

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For most people, going to the dentist is a nightmare. Whether it is the sound of the drill, the fear of the needle, or just the anxiety of being in the office, they walk in scared and very apprehensive. Most people do not realize that the entire time they are worried about the shriek of the drill or prick of the needle, the dentist carries that same fear but in a different way. Each dentist can only hope that the patients he encounters have been truthful about their entire medical history.

While it is important that the patient choose a clean and reliable dental office, it is twice as important for the dentist to treat every patient as if he has a hazardous disease. This is not meant for the dentist to work in fear, but instead for him to take all the precautions necessary to keep the dental office a safe and clean work environment. Having a dentist that is unaware of the potential hazards in his work environment makes his entire staff, including himself, and his patients more vulnerable to injury.

Dental offices are prime locations for diseases to be transmitted. Many of the procedures involve the use of needles, drills, and other objects that can cause bleeding. A simple extraction leaves much of the office covered in blood, and sometimes even when the blood has dried it still carries different diseases. The remaining, less invasive procedures all require contact with saliva, which also carries many transmittable microbes.

The name of the game in safety is to prevent transmission of saliva-borne and blood-borne pathogens. Whether it is from dentist-to-patient, patient-to-dentist, patient-to-staff, or patient-to-patient, it is crucial that all parties are made aware of the hazards they face. Let this be a guide of the most common pathogens that can be contracted in a dental office. While ignorance is bliss, knowledge is indeed priceless.

Saliva-Borne Pathogens

Although people tend to worry less about things transmitted through saliva, it does not make them any more desirable. Unlike blood-borne pathogens, some people view saliva as only a minor threat, when in reality the little things sometimes add up to the bigger picture. The reality is that most people do not realize how often they encounter someone else’s saliva. People constantly have their fingers in their mouths biting their nails or licking their fingers. Then they touch objects all around them.

Saliva can carry many illnesses, including the common cold, infectious mononucleosis, and cytomegalovirus. There are also other viruses, like herpes, that can also be transmitted through saliva. Many cold sores are the result of the herpes virus. Herpes results in blisters that can form on the mouth, lips or genitals. These blisters may also recur periodically in place of ones that disappear. Herpes can also leave unwanted scarring and can be quite painful.

Other things like Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) can be transmitted. It may not be a huge threat for those that have a healthy immune system, but those that have an immune deficiency are at great risk. Symptoms of MRSA include skin infections that resemble a boil or an abscess. The area is often red, swollen, painful and filled with pus. MRSA can also present other symptoms since it can affect the urinary tract and the bloodstream. If Staph. affects the lungs and causes pneumonia, you can also have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, and chills.

Blood-Borne Pathogens

In comparison to saliva-borne pathogens, blood-borne pathogens are more serious. Blood-borne pathogens may seem difficult to contract, but in actuality the hazards are everywhere. They can be transmitted through accidental punctures from contaminated needles, broken glass, or other sharp objects around the office. Contact between broken or damaged skin and infected body fluids will also transmit any blood-borne pathogen. This is a list of the most common pathogens and some of the risks they carry.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is primarily transmitted through “blood to blood” contact. HBV initially causes inflammation of the liver, but with time can also lead to more serious conditions such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. HBV cannot be cured, but can be treated to help people build antibodies to fight an infection and keep it from returning. There are vaccines that can be administered to prevent contraction of HBV. HBV is very durable and can survive in dried blood for up to seven days, so any blood around an office should be handled with extreme care. Symptoms of HBV include nausea, fatigue, possible stomach pain, loss of appetite, jaundice and darkened urine. Those infected may not show signs for up to nine months.

Hepatitis C (HCV), similar to HBV, also affects the liver. Hepatitis C damages the liver and can be very tricky because it does not always show immediate symptoms. Around 80% of people diagnosed with hepatitis C see no symptoms. If symptoms do emerge, it usually takes 10-20 years, sometimes even longer. This asymptomatic latency can cause serious damage. Hepatitis C is also transmitted in a similar manner as HBV, from blood-to-blood contact. Symptoms of hepatitis C are very similar to those of HBV, and it also has no cure. Considering hepatitis C targets the liver, the body is at a greater risk of infection, prolonged bleeding, and inability to break down toxins.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system and weakens its ability to fight diseases. HIV can develop into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) over time. HIV, which has no cure, can be fatal. Even though it is said that there is a 0.4% risk of contracting HIV in the workplace, this disease is deadly and every precaution should be taken. Symptoms of HIV include weakness, sore throat, fever, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, a white coating on the tongue, and swollen lymph glands.

This information is not meant to frighten, but instead to prepare healthcare providers. When entering a healthcare profession, we are made aware of the risks, but it’s easy to forget them. You can never get too comfortable or be too careful. Life is precious and as healthcare providers, we should be the ones to set the example and inform those that may not carry the same knowledge.

References:

EHS Safety Training Bloodborne Pathogens. http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/modules/bbp/index.htm

• American Dental Education Association
• American Dental Association
• National Dental Association
• Academy of General Dentistry
• American Equilibration Society
• American Academy of Periodontology
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• American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
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• American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics
• Academy of Operative Dentistry
• Academy of Osseointegration
• American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• American Academy of Implant Dentistry
• American Association of Women Dentists
• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
• Academy of Laser Dentistry
• International Academy for Sports Dentistry
• American Association of Public Health Dentistry
• American Board of Orthodontics
• American College of Dentists
• American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists
• Special Care Dentistry
• National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
• Christian Medical and Dental Associations
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• American Dental Assistants Association
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• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
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International Dental Societies and Associations

• FDI World Dental Federation
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• Pierre Fauchard Academy
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• International College of Dentists
• International Association for Disability and Oral Health
• Canadian Dental Association / L’Association dentaire canadienne
• Canadian Dental Hygienists Association / L’Association canadienne des hyginistes dentaires
• British Dental Association
• British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
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• Swiss Dental Study Club

United States Student Organizations

• American Student Dental Association
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• Penn State Pre-Dental Society – Penn State University
• South Asian Medical-Dental Association – Tufts University
• Christian Pre-Dental Society
• Young Dentists Worldwide

International Student Organizations

• Cardiff Clinical Dental Students’ Society – University of Wales
• Sims Club – University of Calgary, Alberta
• Macedonian Dentistry Students’ Association – Dentitia On-line