Ten Years as a Patient, One Summer as an Intern

Contributed by: Madison Wilson ’29, Biology

Throughout my time interning at Prosthodontics Associates, my role was to learn the ins and outs of the office, how to clean and sterilize all instruments which allowed me to become  familiar with names of instruments and how they are used. My primary role was to sit in as an  assistant during procedures; learning step by step what the doctor was doing to then know how  to anticipate what instrument would be needed next. This opportunity also allowed me to  interact with the patients; asking questions about their dental journeys and sharing my goals.

I chose Prosthodontics Associates for my internship because I felt like I was returning home. I  was a patient of this practice for ten years. Dr. Traina and his staff worked very diligently over  many hours of appointments to restore my smile and confidence. At the end of my treatment, I knew I wanted to become a prosthodontist to give back to others what this doctor and all the  staff who helped him had done for me. With that being said, it was important to me that I intern  at this office because the dream is to one day come back and work here. I have experienced the patient’s side and through this internship have learned how everyone works as a team to  provide the best outcome for a patient’s treatment. 

I earned this opportunity by emailing the doctors of the practice and asking if they would be  open to mentoring me via an internship. Dr. Traina was more than happy to participate. 

Albertus classes have helped me a lot while interning. I would say that my General Biology  classes have helped me the most. Although we did not specifically learn about teeth, we had  gone over the human body which briefly talked about teeth and surrounding mouth parts. By  taking this course, I was able to get a general idea of terminology, which helped me connect  what the doctor was explaining to what I had learned in class.  

I have learned a lot during my time at this internship. I have learned about all the different teeth  and their corresponding tooth numbers, and each of the four different parts of a tooth. I have  also been able to sit in and assist in different procedures. This allowed me to become familiar  with each type of procedure and why it is specific to each patient. Not only was I able to hear  about procedures but I was able to see how the office in general operated as a cohesive team,  clinically and administratively, to provide the best treatment in a caring environment. 

This internship allowed me an experience which will put me ahead when it comes time to apply  for dental school. I will have knowledge of the many different types of dental procedures needed for patient care, tooth anatomy, structure and numbering systems. It has also shown me  the importance of communication skills to work effectively with staff members and  understanding patient concerns and the ability to explain the steps involved in returning their  smile. It has also given me a firsthand view of what my day-to-day world will be once I become a  prosthodontist.