The Dental Bicycle

I was on my bike ride after a very long time today and this is what unfolded when i introspected.

The front view of the bicycle is what is visible to anyone crossing us from the front and that is the only view most of the times people have of cycle while it is moving. Same is the case with the dental practices. The front wheel and the handle is the most obvious and visible thing people can see. The front wheel in dental practice is soft skills and the handle is your reception and the receptionist.

The side view of a bicycle is seen for a lesser amount of time which shows both wheels, paddle, gear, shocker, brake and seat.

The rear wheel is the domain skills or the core clinical dentistry we do as clinicians and it is actually what keeps you moving and its robust structure is dependent on how well it is trained and experienced.

The paddle seems to be like a team without which nothing is going to move. We ought to have the strenuous efforts of team to keep the bicycle moving.

Gears resembles the level of dentistry we do- are we a

• fresher dentist, or a

• trained fresher dentist or a

• trained experienced dentist or a

• groomed trained and experienced dentist.

And the list goes on and on.

Shocker or rather the equipment which absorbs shock is basically a misnomer for financial knowledge. In times of stress this what separates peaceful and stressful practitioners.

Brake is an analogy with work life balance. If your brakes are not in shape then both the personal and professional journeys are going to be messy. So have a robust system for work life balance in your life so that you know when to halt and how to avoid sudden jerks of life. Slowing down is also an art to be perfected.

The seat of the bicycle is the very place you work. A beautiful metaphor that comes out here is that even a small seat on sports bike give you a comfortable journey after you practice for sometime. So its not the size of the clinic but the mind behind the clinic that makes it big or petite. The bottom line is you should be comfortable with your seat after sometime and start your journey maybe with a small gear but gradually keep on up grading your skills to enjoy the journey even more smoothly. Do not forget your paddles( team member) as they are what keeps you going. Apply brakes at regular intervals to enjoy the charisma of life. Size doe not matter, mind does.