KOMET Korner Q&A with Tina Calloway, CDA

Aug. 25, 2009
In this month's KOMET Korner Q&A, Tina Calloway, CDA, will talk about how to get your dentist to cover your continuing-education costs, how she researches the latest dental technology, and how she balances the all-important career and family life.
It’s a thrill to welcome back Tina Calloway to KOMET Korner. She got the column off to a good start in February when we launched it. Since then she’s lectured all over the country, written several articles, and helped develop the Tina Calloway PRO-Visional Kit for KOMET USA. It’s the first kit introduced by KOMET USA designed by an assistant for assistants. Tina is back this month to share her career knowledge. She will talk about how to get your dentist to cover your continuing-education costs, how she researches the latest dental technology, and how she balances the all-important career and family life. We thank Tina and all of you for making KOMET Korner so successful.

Don’t forget, we want to know what’s on your mind. If you have something you want to ask the KOMET USA esteemed panel of assistants, please e-mail them to [email protected]. Keep your questions coming, and we promise to answer them in next month’s issue.
DAD: When it comes to continuing-education credits, how do you approach your dentist about helping with the cost?Calloway:“Talk in terms of the other person’s interest.” -- Dale Carnegie It isn’t always easy to ask for financial help, even if it is in your and your employer’s best interest; however, talking sincerely in terms of your employer’s interest is helpful. One of my mentors once told me that by asking for help with your education, you should include what you’d like to gain from the course, and then bring back at least three pearls that will add to the success of the practice and team. Most people make their presentation in the “WIIFM” (what’s in it for me) fashion. However, letting your dentist know that you’re willing to take the time to improve the office is eye-opening — meaning that you care about the practice. When I asked a friend this same question years ago, her answer was a question. “Tina, who is responsible for scheduling your vacation?” I said, “Me.” “Who is responsible for your child’s education?” Again, me. She replied, “Then why do we feel that it is someone else’s responsibility for our own education?” I was surprised with her question, because I couldn’t answer it. I soon realized that if my dentist was willing to help educate me, then it was my responsibility to learn as much as possible, apply this education daily, and share it with my team. If my dentist was not willing to help me grow, then should I allow myself to stop growing as well, or could I find a way to budget my education responsibly? Dental education comes in many forms and can be very affordable. We now have free webinars, online courses, and mail-in CE from magazines that cost $10 and up. No one is a hostage to continuing education because there are many affordable options.DAD: How do you research the newest and most innovative technology in the dental industry?Calloway: Most of my research comes from my dental peers and other resources. Friends in dentistry talk about the latest and greatest “dental toys” that their practices use, and I like to hear their input on many different products. My favorites are online e-newsletters and magazines. I find there are usually high-tech previews of what is new and upcoming in dentistry. Tradeshows are also one of my favorites because I love to walk around and ask vendors to show me what’s new. I have to admit that I would also place a lunch-and-learn with a representative at the top of my list. It is one-on-one, touch and feel, and sort of like shopping. We get to learn as a team to allow input from each department on how the product may benefit us. DAD: How do you recommend balancing career and family?Calloway: Career and family — it took me a long time to figure out how to balance these. When I became an assistant 14 years ago, I let the little stuff really get to me and I worried about how I could make the next office day more productive and efficient. I noticed I felt mentally drained from caring for patients, putting out the office fires, making sure that I was doing my part, and overextending myself. When I got home, I was not really there for my family. I took the Dale Carnegie course, which is committed to excellence, communication, and leadership. One of the first lessons was how to stop worrying and start living. We learned to compartmentalize our day and live in the moment — in other words, separate work, family, and self into three groups. What I like about being in a dental office is that we don’t take our patients home, unlike corporate America, who often must complete work at home to meet deadlines. When I leave the office, I leave knowing whatever I have can be completed the next day, and I do things in order of their importance. I live in the moment with my family. My mind is nowhere else except with them. This way I don’t miss out on family jokes and special moments. Also important is finding time for ourselves. We spend so much time living different roles (dental assistant, wife, mom, aunt, friend, educator, and more) that we must find a moment to spend on ourselves. I exercise three days a week for one hour. I do this only for myself because no one else can do it for me. Whatever you choose to do, make it something you look forward to. Compartmentalizing was a very important lesson for me in balancing my career and family. About Tina Calloway, CDATina is a Texas native who served in the U.S. Navy in 1992 and received her dental assisting training in Marietta, Ga. Now living in North Carolina, she has worked in dentistry for 14 years as a full-time dental assistant, currently serves as president of the Piedmont Dental Assistant Society, and is a clinical assisting consultant. Tina is a member of the North Carolina Dental Assistant Association and the American Dental Assistants Association. She is also an award-winning graduate of the Dale Carnegie Organization, an advisory board member of Dental Assisting Digest and Inside Dental Assisting magazines, and has several published articles. She is a member of the Speaking Consulting Network and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s Team Advisory Council. She has also been a guest lecturer at the Thomas P. Hinman Meeting, the Holiday Dental Conference, the University of North Carolina, School of Dentistry, and PennWell’s Professional Dental Assisting Conference.