On Tuesday, April 7th Dr. Adrian Gonzalez, a young dentist serving the greater Boston community was invited to give a virtual Career Readiness lecture to share his experience in dental medicine, healthcare, and career advice with our youth.
Gonzalez completed his dental education at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and now works as a dentist at Everett Dental in Everett, MA.
“We connected with Adrian because he is a young professional who we hoped would explain the day-to-day of his job, his career path, and what it was like getting to where he is today,” said Emma Kahn, a Career Readiness Program specialist.
By providing high-quality dental care for his patients, Gonzalez dedicates himself to restoring the confidence his patients once had.
“I like to fix the smile of my patients,” said Gonzalez. “My job is to help them enjoy life to the max.”
As an example, he shared a moving anecdote of how he helped a patient with cancer whose teeth were ruined by erosive medications. During his care, he took out 18 teeth and reconstructed the denture so the patient could chew by himself again.
As many are in his field, Gonzalez is especially passionate about preventive care to maintain and improve oral health, and implementing preventative procedures.
“We have seen significant changes in my profession in the past 20 years,” said Gonzalez. “Our job has shifted from reactive to proactive.”
As opposed to the conventional idea of being a doctor, being a dentist is actually a “human” job that requires lots of soft skills, according to Gonzalez.
“Every patient is a different person with different conditions – you cannot see everything through the X-ray.”
Gonzalez is at his office from 8:30 a.m to 5:00 p.m everyday. He explained to our Career Readiness students that he provides advice and performs necessary diagnostic procedures on proper brushing, flossing, cleaning, and other dental care. He is also learning to adapt to the business side of his career, such as managing the office and creating a routine that flows. Gonzalez hopes to earn his specialty in dental medicine, or even open his own practice in five years.
Gonzalez has never once regretted the eight years he spent acquiring his dentistry degree. Being a dentist is challenging, but always rewarding in his eyes. He views his job as worthwhile when it means he is able to change his patients’ lives for the better.
So, does a dentist ever get bored? “Never!” said Gonzalez. Being a dentist is challenging, but in the meantime rewarding. “I have never regretted becoming a dentist,” he said.
“Adrian is a great example of someone who is dedicated to his career and can give good advice about healthcare-related jobs, and who was willing to volunteer his time to help out,” said Emma.
“We are so grateful to have him share his expertise and relate to our participants who want to learn more about the healthcare industry.”
This blog was written by students at the BU PR Lab.