Teamwork makes the dream work

I’ve been a little MIA - recuperating and taking time to enjoy Thanksgiving but also working away at projects here and there. I haven’t had a lot of time for good reflection, so I’m thankful to have this little space to contemplate (albeit in the corner of a lounge in the airport, but finding time is precious!)

Maxillofacial prosthodontics is a subspecialty, but that in no way means that it is a standalone, independent field.

In actuality, maxillofacial prosthodontics relies on collaboration and coordination of multiple disciplines of care that span both medicine and dentistry. Just like standing at the corner of multiple states, I liken the subspecialty as a crossroads of care that intersects aspects including craniofacial development, speech pathology and velopharyngeal function, implantology, orofacial prosthetic rehabilitation, and oncology to name a few.

Often referred as multidisciplinary care, there is a lot to have to take into account when working with and caring for a patient in a maxillofacial prosthetic case.

Just a little example of what considerations are made in a maxillofacial prosthetics case….

Thankfully, the essence of multidisciplinary care and ergo, maxillofacial prosthodontics, is the team.

It is easy to make the assumption that the docs are the “all-stars” of the team. But the honest truth is that I am far from that. Actually, I can’t do squat without several essential and key players. To give a basketball (go Heels!) analogy, even though the players on the court make up the main event, the game couldn’t even be held without the court sweat wipers, janitors, security personnel, set-up crews, lighting crews, ticketing, etc. These roles are removed from the direct action of the game, but make the game in and of itself possible.

That’s how I feel about my schedulers, assistants, hygienists, biomedical engineers, technicians, etc. Their roles are actually critical, if not paramount, to not only the care that the patient, the star player, receives, but also the patient’s actual experience of undergoing care. For example, although there is glitz and glamour with having access to cool equipment, I can be the rate-limiting factor in a patient’s care because I am not fully equipped with the capability of using it. Let me tell you, 26 years of education sometimes (many times) will not permit me to find the “on” button to a fancy schmancy laptop. Siggghhhh I wish I was exaggerating...

In all honesty, I’m oftentimes humbled by how much I need and rely on my fellow team members. To care for this special population of patients and their oral rehabilitation needs is not a one man task at all. Like any good team, I rely on them to also show up and accomplish their roles and responsibilities well because their efforts magnify my efforts and likewise, their absence can make my job so much more challenging and hinder our patient’s experience in care.

While I’ve emphasized the team caring of and for the patient, the star player, I also rely on the patient to also contribute. In all of the preparation, work, and care that the team members provide, the patient needs to be an active participant. Even though we are helping them, the team needs help from the patient - be it accommodating for scheduling, being able to keep their mouth open for an extended time, or even dealing with my headlight’s beam sometimes getting in their eyes. It’s the small things, but the patient’s patience, acknowledgment, and willingness to give the team an opportunity to help is monumental to all of our success.

I’ve had some time lately to experience and process the importance of being a part of a team and collaborating together. At work, there is a constant flux of transition and changes - both positive but also making it so much more important to be able to lean upon the stability of my team. I think the common misconception is that the maxillofacial prosthodontist, or any doctor, is the hero, the leader. The reality, however, is that it takes many individuals, experiences, thoughts, and ideas to actually make things work.

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to thank my team - from patients, assistants, mentors/colleagues. Thank you for helping to accomplish the big picture and the big tasks by the various smaller tasks that you do.

And, most especially, I want to thank my personal team, my family. You guys rock and are my rock :) Thank you.

This post’s lessons: A tell-tale sign that you’re a prosthodontist (or in the midst of studying to become one) is when you’re on a first name basis with your overnight clean crew. Thank you to those ladies and gentleman who not only keep our space in tip top shape (even though we spill stuff all the time), but also give us some company during a loooooong lab night.