WRITING IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE

Dentistry as a Healthcare Profession

Northeastern University
Bhumi Patel
ENGW 3306

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In a general sense, healthcare is regarded as the principle of upholding and improving

mental and physical health of the human body. These aspects of the body need to be maintained
because they are composed of the systems responsible for human existence, and these systems
are required to function to a certain degree in order for continuing existence to be possible.
Within the body, each of the systems is given its own value and assigned responsibility, but it is
important to consider that other features of the human body may also play a strong role in
relation to diseases and disorders. In particular, oral health is a major entryway for pathogens that
is often undermined. This region of the body plays a major role in the acquisition of bacteria,
microorganisms, and disease, which are all leading causes of infection and could eventually lead
to death. The mouth provides a very open entrance for all types microbes to enter, harmful or not,
and gives them an opportunity to create a new habitat in any of the area of the human body. The
focus of these statements is to trigger a change: although body systems are typically thought of
when discussing disease, dental care should be given more emphasis as a potential preventative
measure as it is the primary throughway for the start of countless prevalent diseases.
Dentistry is a branch of medicine that is dedicated to promoting and maintaining oral
health, similar to how physicians study the branch of medicine that is dedicated to maintaining
the human body as a whole (Explore Health Careers, n.d.). Although dentists primarily focus
on one area, it is important to recognize that it is a crucial one. Maintaining proper oral health is
a key preventative measure that most people are not aware of. The oral cavity is exposed to so
many different settings and substances, all which allow microbes and diseases to thrive as they
enter through a moist, ideal, germination environment and later seek a habitat in our bodies.
Because so many people are not aware of the vitality of dental care, the preventative measures
are not taken, contributing to more sick people, dental related illnesses or not. Overtime, this

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results in a public health issue, as a downwards spiral is seen. Dentists and other medical
professionals attempt to gain as much control of the situation as they can by raising awareness
and educating the public about this issue. Dental wellbeing is a public health concern while
simultaneously being a major preventative care action.
The dental community is composed of a professional group of individuals who share
many commonalities. Leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and meticulousness are just
a few of the characteristics that connects dentists. One unifying value of dentistry and other
medical professions that allows for successes in the patient-provider relationship is passion for
providing care, especially to those who need it the most. Education and increasing awareness
goes hand in hand with this relationship. With a strengthened relationship between the caregiver
and the individual, healthy choices are promoted.
Similar to most team-oriented fields, communication in the dental profession is heavily
emphasized. Professional and well-organized interactions must occur on a daily basis, between
varying partners, and through a number of different means. As a healthcare professional, verbal
and written communication skills must be very strong in order to be successful and be able to
provide the best possible care to patients. Besides the charts, emails, phone calls, and other
typical genres of communication that are envisioned when thinking of dentistry, education, and
research studies is another realm that is often forgotten. In this day in age, technology is cutting
edge. New research discoveries regarding oral health and diseases are published on the daily, and
dentists are at the forefront and are expected to keep up. As a professional in this position, a
dentist must be able to comprehend information from scientists, and explain this same
information to patients in a simplistic manner in order for the patients to have the most effective
understanding of their scenarios. Another type of writing that is often not thought of is research

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publications. These often include biological and chemical aspects of tooth decay, which is of
interest to many dentists as they may have focused on similar topics during previous internships
or fellowships. Although research publications are not always so relevant in terms of the clinical
setting, they enhance the overall biological understanding of the activity of the mouth from the
caregivers perspective. It is important to remember that although it may seem like dentists only
communicate jargon with other health professionals, they are also effective communicators to
other audiences, which allows them to educate their patients. As mentioned above, the patientprovider relationship is essential, and dentists must be personable and approachable in order to
carry this out.
Dr. Fred Ferguson is an inspirational pediatric dentist who embodies many of the values
of a dentist. Through his TED Talk, An Opportunity to Improve Wellness, Prevention, Quality
of Life and Overall Health, Dr. Ferguson touches upon many aspects of oral health, its effects
on systemic health, and how it is rising to become a public health issue. As an engaging speaker,
he does a phenomenal job getting his central argument across, as well as introducing his new
technology MySmileGuide, which is an online oral evaluation tool that helps target the
specific needs of individuals. Besides his motivational speaking and innovative skills, other
genuine qualities can be seen through his tone and mannerisms throughout the lecture (Ferguson
2013).
While watching the TED Talk, it appears that Dr. Ferguson has many aims. Educating
patients and providers, empowering all individuals to maintain healthy oral cavities as well as
body systems, and inspiring future dentists to ensure that they are compassionate about the
profession that they will soon be entering are three that are clearly visible throughout his

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presentation. Through his lecture, it is very visible that he is passionate about his career, and
works hard to ensure that individuals are educated and have access to reliable resources.
One useful method that Dr. Ferguson practices which keeps the listener attentive is his
screen in the background. Unlike a typical lecture, in which the speaker follows the text on the
slides to serve as a topic guide, Dr. Ferguson stands in front of the screen and rarely looks back.
His slides often display images accompanied with key words, phrases, or questions that really
makes the audience critically think. Rather than depending on these key words and images to
help express his thoughts, he uses them to enhance his presentation. Within the slideshow, he
includes images of care that he is provided, which is also a tactic that keeps the audience
engaged.
Although he is a professional, Dr. Ferguson speaks in a simplistic, yet eloquent manner
by which he expresses his main concerns about the effects of oral health on the systemic body. It
is clear that the audience is a group of college students due to the setting, but the word choice is
understandable to almost any age and any field of study. Specifically, when introducing the
basics of oral care, an interesting slide accompanies him in the backdrop. The slide is split down
the middle, and he utilizes it to explain the role that genetic and non-genetic factors play in oral
health. He further emphasizes that non-genetic components, such as mouth care and diet, play a
greater role in determining overall quality and maintenance of the oral cavity.
He aims to reach two crowds: the patients, and the caregivers. He empowers the patients
by informing them about the dangers of an unhealthy oral cavity as he explains the Surgeon
Generals Report in 2000 which indicates that poor oral health is directly linked to chronic
diseases. He shows the importance of seeking out healthcare, and gives personal anecdotes of
how he has helped people in need. On the other side, Dr. Ferguson emboldens the caregivers by

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showing them the influence that they have on the lives of those in need. Through his personal
stories of his own pediatric patients, accompanied with images, he expresses that compassionate
nature of the profession, and really focuses on the fact that each individual healthcare worker can
make a difference.
His tone is welcoming, as he is very interactive with the crowd. Throughout the speech,
he often asks questions for the sole purpose of getting thoughts stirring, not calling on
individuals for answers. His active and dominant voice holds attention which encourages future
dental students to focus on their passions and remember the values that deemed them fitting for
the profession (Ferguson 2013).
An Opportunity to Improve Wellness, Prevention, Quality of Life and Overall Health,
truly embodies the values, traits, and motivation of a quintessential healthcare provider. Through
his TED Talk, Dr. Fergusons compassion and dedication for the field is seen, while he motivates
others to seek or provide quality care. Communicating effectively, utilizing cutting-edge
technology, as well as being welcoming and encouraging, this presentation truly embodies
dentistry and healthcare as a field.

**Reflective Note: Personally, I think that this piece of writing will definitely be incorporated
into my portfolio at the end of the semester. The TED talk was very inspirational to me as a predental student, and I think that it was very beneficial for me to extract and analyze the
presentation. I learned a lot from Dr. Ferguson, but I also learned a lot about why I personally
chose this field. I think that this piece would fit in to my professional portfolio because it
demonstrates my interest for the career, and my passion for learning and listening to others.

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References

Department, B. (2016). Dr. Fred S. Ferguson. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from
https://dentistry.stonybrookmedicine.edu/faculty/ferguson
ExploreHealthCareers.org. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2016, from
http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/1/Dentist
TEDx Talk, Dr. Fred Ferguson - MySmileGuide, Oral health assessment, education and online
tools. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2016, from
http://www.mysmileguide.com/tedtalk.asp