Enjoying life as a dental professional
GORDON J. CHRISTENSEN, D.D.S., M.S.D., Ph.D.
Each of us is indebted to many people for our knowledge about dentistry. I could easily name many people in the profession who have significantly contributed to my knowledge and understanding of the profession. However, only some of these practitioners appear to have blended enthusiasm for the profession with a true enjoyment of all aspects of life. Many live active lives, long past retirement.
I have selected one of the most significant people who shaped my professional career to help me obtain subject material for this article. I hope that my observation of the characteristics and opinions of this icon in dentistry will assist all of us to live happier and more satisfying lives as dental professionals.
This article discusses some attributes considered necessary for a happy professional life, as suggested by Dr. Rex Ingraham, blended with my own observations of mature, happy dental professionals. When interviewing Dr. Ingraham, I was amazed that my own personal beliefs and attitudes about happiness in dentistry are almost identical to his opinions and experiences.
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A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE LIFE OF DR. REX INGRAHAM
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Dr. Rex Ingraham, of Glendale, Calif., is a true legend in clinical dentistry (Figure
). The highlights of his life are listed below:
- – born 1914 in Grand Junction, Colo.;
- – grew up on a ranch in Colorado;
- – graduate of Mesa College in Colorado in 1934;
- – taught grade school and science in high school;
- – director of the school band;
- – moved to Los Angeles in 1937;
- – happily married with children;
- – graduate of the University of Southern California, or USC, School of Dentistry in 1941;
- – honored by Omicron Kappa Upsilon membership in 1941;
- – professor and chairman of Operative Dentistry at USC, 1946–1969, while practicing actively part-time;
- – introduced high-speed rotary instrumentation to predoctoral dental students in 1949;
- – developed color-coded instrument organizers in dental school at USC in 1950;
- – wrote world-recognized publications on gold foil and rubber dams, as well as on cast-gold restorations;
- – made 21 single-concept videos and developed programmed teaching materials to accompany them in 1970, far ahead of the time that most schools introduced such materials;
- – authored many articles and lectured globally;
- – recognized throughout the world for his expertise in restorative dentistry, occlusion and dental education;
- – named distinguished professor at USC in 1987;
- – has been responsible for raising significant donations for the USC School of Dentistry;
- – retired from active practice in 1976;
- – retired from full-time teaching in 1981, but lectured until 1985;
- – will be 90 years of age in 2004.
Dr. Ingraham has identified the concepts discussed below as being conducive to his happy and productive professional life.
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FAITH, OPTIMISM, POSITIVE THINKING AND ENTHUSIASM
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It is amazing to see the positive influence of the concept of an abiding faith that "all will go well." Unfortunately, many people have the opposite attitude of fatalism, and a negative feeling about life and the future. When a person feels that life is negative, it will become negative. If a practitioner continues to talk negatively about dentistry, the profession will soon be negative to him or her. On the contrary, if a practitioner looks for areas of the profession that really appeal to him or her, those areas will excite and satisfy the individual and bring happiness to life.
Mature people know that there is something good in every experience in life. Eventually, even seemingly negative events turn out to have positive effects on people’s lives. Those positive characteristics of a negative event may require some time to identify, but they do exist.
Most people in the United States have a formal religion, and their religions encourage optimism and positive thinking. Similar feelings can be achieved without formal religion for those who want to take the time to develop them. In my analysis of many great leaders, four characteristics possessed by all of them are faith that all will be well, optimism, enthusiasm and a positive orientation toward life.
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STABLE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
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Dr. Ingraham grew up in a family with seven children. He still remembers fondly the many family fishing trips, hikes, campouts and other activities. Although his first wife died at age 38 years, he has been happily married to Lucille since 1963. Every summer, the family gathers in Colorado for a mountain vacation of two to four weeks.
To truly enjoy life and professional activity, all of us should seek and achieve family stability.
How do you feel when everything is stable and peaceful in your family? Most would agree that there are few better feelings. Our days are filled with activities that distract from stable family relationships. Although death of a spouse, divorce, a wayward child or other factors can cause major disruption in life, the events gradually pass and stability again returns. To truly enjoy life and professional activity, all of us should seek and achieve family stability.
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FRIENDS
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A true friend is a major positive factor in all of our lives. Friends who are in the profession are even more valuable to dentists. Clinical experiences can be shared, and advice can be obtained. Assistance can be available in the event of illness. There is an observable strong bond between dentist friends. Everybody needs friends. Numerous dental academies, study clubs and other organizations foster professional advancement, as well as fellowship and friendship. Dr. Ingraham has friends around the world, many of whom have found that much of their success in dentistry and their orientation toward excellence in dentistry are attributed to him.
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ANIMALS
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Some practitioners prefer animal friends to human ones. I must admit that most pets appreciate you, don’t criticize you, are happy to see you, don’t burden you with their problems, don’t ask for money or favors, and boost your morale in down times. I find that loyal pets contribute to my happy life.
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SERVICE TO OTHERS
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It is well-known that money, power and possessions alone seldom bring true happiness. However, providing service to others is one of the only known methods of achieving true happiness. Active participation in community service clubs; churches, synagogues or other religious groups; schools; and other organizations provides service opportunities for dentists and their families. Enjoyment of life is directly related to the level of service provided to others. Dr. Ingraham told me that 50 percent of his income came from teaching and 50 percent came from a part-time practice, in spite of the fact that teaching took far more time than did his practice. To quote him, "giving to others provides happiness."
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GOOD HEALTH PRACTICES
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How do you feel when your body is not functioning well? You cannot enjoy life, and you concentrate on your various illnesses. In the United States, obesity has become a significant problem. Smoking and overuse of drugs and alcohol are commonplace. As health practitioners, we know how to keep our bodies functioning well. Proper diet, adequate sleep, exercise and moderation in use of objectionable materials are necessary for optimum enjoyment of life. Dr. Ingraham stated that his enjoyment of, and participation in, jogging and running have been major factors in keeping his body in shape and, as a result, in contributing to his enjoyment of life. He contends that exercise is important to maintaining physical health in the mature years.
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EMPHASIZING YOUR GOOD CHARACTERISTICS
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It is easy to determine what you do well in life and what you do poorly. Nobody feels good about doing those things in which he or she is incompetent. On the other hand, when you do something well, you feel great. I suggest looking at your own characteristics and listing those that are your strengths. When your best characteristics have been identified, decide which of these you want to emphasize in your life.
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VACATIONS AND RETREATS
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Time for personal thought and planning, as well as family activities and togetherness, are essential for happiness and satisfaction in life. However, we must plan time for these activities. Each August, Dr. Ingraham’s family takes a vacation in the mountains of Colorado. I suggest planning far enough ahead so that there are no conflicts with school or other events. I prefer planning at least one year ahead, so family events take preference over professional or other events. Time away from work is necessary for creation of happiness, creativity and fulfillment in life.
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HOBBIES
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Diversion from the daily activities of dentistry is necessary for good mental health. Dr. Ingraham enjoys golf, fishing and skiing. In fact, when I interviewed him and his wife at their home in Glendale, Calif., they were planning a skiing trip to Colorado—-at his age of 89 years. I enjoy fishing, church work, family activities, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, photography, horses and grand-kids, all of which my wife enjoys with me. You know which hobbies you enjoy. Your responsibility is to resolve to be involved in a hobby and then find the time to enjoy it. My own feeling is that few days should go by without at least a short time involved in a hobby or similar activity.
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HARD WORK
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There seems to be a feeling among some dentists that they prefer to work only a short time and have all of the financial benefits of dentists who devote more work and energy to the profession. Some appear to have the philosophy that they can raise their fees higher and higher, while working less and less. Dr. Ingraham and I feel that enthusiasm for the profession, and hard work at its various aspects, contribute significantly to a happy life and a feeling of accomplishment.
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SUMMARY
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The life characteristics that contribute to a happy professional life are easy to identify. However, many of us do not strive to incorporate them into our lives. In this article, Dr. Rex Ingraham has shared his ideas about the factors that have contributed to his happy and long professional life in dentistry, as well as to his satisfying life in retirement. All of us would do well to adopt some of these characteristics into our own lives.
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Dr. Christensen is co-founder and senior consultant of Clinical Research Associates, 3707 N. Canyon Road, Suite No. 3D, Provo, Utah 84604, and is a member of JADA’s editorial board. He has a master’s degree in restorative dentistry and a doctorate in education and psychology. He is board-certified in prosthodontics. Address reprint requests to Dr. Christensen.
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The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of the American Dental Association.
Educational information on topics discussed by Dr. Christensen in this article is available through Practical Clinical Courses and can be obtained by calling 1-800-223-6569.
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