Professional Working Experience in Dentistry

2013 Oct-Onwards  Occasional, part tie dentist at several clinics in Rhodes Greece.

           Supporting young colleagues(difficult cases) , replacing colleagues(holidays , pregnancy) assisting colleagues in surgical cases, and treating y cases as a free lancer, preparing the sae tie myself for migration, and searching for job abroad.

2003 Sept-2013 Jul. General Private Dentist at my own Dental Clinic in Rhodes  Island , Greece.

      I work at my own Dental Clinic as a general private dentist. I work alone without secretary assistance or dental assistant. My dental equipment consists of a Planmeca dental unit, one dental microscope (Zoomax), one class B autoclave (Planmeca), digital x ray system (Schick), digital camera (Rf), implant unit(surgery, surgical and prosthetic kit) (Mis), impression material mixing machine (Pentamix), dental airflow (EMS), electro-surgery unit (Coltene), LED technology curing light, endodontic equipment based on rotating files and heated gutta-percha obturation techniques (Protaper-Profile-Thermafil-System B Apex locator VDW) and ARTEX face-bow system and articulator. All dental materials are characterized by innovation and excellent quality. My professional principles are based on quality of dental care and prevention, patient utility, lifelong learning and focus on the detail.

     I work in all bandwidth of extended general dental practice with respect to the limits of a well-trained general dentist, except for orthodontic cases. I am very well experienced in endodontic treatments including molars and retreatments. I may say that this is my strongest area of expertise. I am also very experienced in all the bandwidth (aspects) of restorative dentistry. I will not hesitate to place a golden inlay at a molar, if my patient can overlook the aesthetic disadvantage and appreciate their longevity, but at the same time I use the layering technique for every filling or direct restoration. For molars, I prefer the specially designed composites. I rarely use amalgam.

      I am also experienced in the modern direct and indirect aesthetic techniques (aesthetic inlays and onlays, laminate veneers, and all ceramic crowns) but I avoid using them indiscriminately just on the mere demand of my patient. Most patients demand hi-aesthetic dentistry but in the majority of the cases, they need something else than all-ceramics and Hollywood smiles. Actually I don’t believe in aesthetic and non-aesthetic dentistry. For me, dentistry is a fine art, which includes the beautiful, the natural, the moral and the scientific element.

     I have very good experience with removable and fixed prosthodontics. I had very good success at full mouth rehabilitations with fixed prosthodontics, partial and complete dentures and teeth supported over-dentures. I also have very good experience in conservative periodontal therapy though not in surgical. I am also not well experienced in apicoectomies. Extractions, simple or surgical, are part of my service practice, but I never operate at wisdom 3rd molars located close to the inferior alveolar nerve or sinus. I am not well experienced in all the bandwidth of paediatric dentistry. I easily operate at common cases (extractions, fillings, sealants, fluoridations) but I send all complex cases to a specialist.

     The last 6 years I involved myself in implant dentistry. At first with the prosthetic part and after with the surgical part. My experience in that case is quite good at the prosthetic part and  poor at the surgical. I have placed only 2 implants for an over-denture at the lower jaw and I believe that according to my education, experience and training, this is my upper operational limit until now. I have never practiced any orthodontic case. I only advise my patients accordingly.   I have several times collaborated with an orthodontist for prosthetic purposes. I keep close collaboration with a certain periodontist, orthodontist and paedodontist for the cases I can’t manage myself. At the implant placement I always guide the procedure from the prosthetic view. I also keep collaboration with a certain dental laboratory. 

2000 Feb-2003 May.  In-house General Private Dentist at the Municipal Dental Clinic of Nisyros Island, Greece.

     The Municipality of Nisyros (a small Greek island of 1.000 people at the borders), offered the opportunity to a young dentist to work privately without invest. By vesting him the municipal dental clinic for free and sponsoring the cost of the materials. The dentist had to offer dental care at lower prices. I was given the position after competition. The equipment could be characterized as old and dysfunctional. The only innovation was my digital X-ray equipment and the camera that I had brought. After a year though, and following my suggestions, the equipment was renewed and consequently I occupied a contemporary clinic with satisfactory capabilities. The first year was the year of "wet hand" dentistry. I was totally alone, without any support and inexperienced. I was almost “captive’’ at a magnificent and totally quiet island.

        I worked for 8 hours, slept for 8 hours and studied 8 hours, six days a week for 3 years. At the same time, I was assisting the Doctor of the island, with whom I cooperated. During that period on the island, I experienced and learned how important it is to serve people and how vulnerable health is.I experienced one person’s death outof acute pulmonary edema in my hands, while assisting the doctor, I was asked by the Police, along with the doctor to express forensic opinion (unofficially), if death was caused due to accident or crime. I had to transfer a heavy injured patient  urgently, while the doctor of the island was transferring another  one . I offered my dental care to 28 immigrants who were abandoned in a neighbor islet. I did a tooth extraction to a 106-year-old lady, I faced 2 cases of ‘’Kabuki make up syndrome’’, I talked to children and taught them dental care.         

       In the above paragraph, I elaborated with absolute sincerity on the range of my dental abilities which started to be built on this small island, during my service. The common dental needs of the residents whether there was the possibility to refer to specialists or not, made me update my knowledge constantly by studying on  a  permanent  basis  in order to cover  my  inefficiencies.  The  isolation,  on  the  other  hand,   and  the forbiddance of a mistake, which would be fatal, taught me to appreciate my limits. I will never forget my first composite filling which lasted 2 hours, but I can’t also forget the satisfaction I got when I saw, 2 years later, my first full mouth rehabilitation with over-dentures completed.