Dr. Brian Shah, a dentist who underwent jaw surgery, discusses his career and challenges in oral surgery. Topics include his background, the importance of dental collaboration, choosing Harvard for oral surgery, challenges in surgical residency, and the significance of joint health in restorative dentistry.
Collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches are key in dentistry for providing comprehensive treatment plans.
Understanding occlusion and temporomandibular joint health is crucial for successful orthognathic surgery and long-term joint stability.
Deep dives
Dental Aligned Trainers and Expert Guests
The Dental Online Training Sharecast features Dr. Dennis Hartley as the host, who interviews dental experts and shares his own career insights. The podcast covers a wide range of topics in dentistry, including oral surgery, TMJ reconstruction, and facial reconstruction. Dr. Brian Shaw, an oral surgeon specializing in TMJ and facial reconstruction, is featured in this episode. The conversation explores his unique career path and the challenges he faced along the way. They discuss the importance of collaboration and learning from different dental specialties. Dr. Shaw emphasizes the significance of understanding occlusion and the temporomandibular joint in dental practices. The episode showcases the value of interdisciplinary approaches and the benefits of working with expert guests.
The Impact of Dental Education and Training
Dr. Shaw highlights the impact of his dental education and training on his career choices. He shares his journey from his undergraduate studies in microbiology and fine arts to his realization that dentistry could combine his passions for both medicine and art. He explains how his personal experience with orthognathic surgery as a college student motivated him to pursue oral surgery and TMJ reconstruction. The episode provides insights into the importance of hands-on training and the influence of mentors in shaping dental professionals' career paths.
The Role of Collaboration in Dentistry
The podcast emphasizes the significance of collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches in dentistry. Dr. Shaw discusses his collaborative experiences with dental professionals from various specialties, including working with restorative dentists, periodontists, and orthodontists. He highlights the importance of building strong professional relationships, respecting each other's expertise, and understanding the specific needs of patients. The episode encourages dentists to work together to provide comprehensive and efficient treatment plans for patients with complex dental conditions.
The Integration of Occlusion and Joint Health
Dr. Shaw emphasizes the crucial connection between occlusion and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) health. The podcast delves into the significance of evaluating TMJ conditions and ensuring joint stability before performing orthognathic surgery. Dr. Shaw highlights the use of advanced imaging, such as MRIs and CBCTs, to assess joint health and plan surgical interventions. The episode sheds light on the importance of understanding joint anatomy, function, and the impact of surgical procedures on long-term joint stability.
In the first part of this episode, our host Dr. Dennis Hartlieb and guest Dr. Brian Shah discuss Brian's background, his career changing jaw surgery, oral surgery program challenges, and the importance of dental collaboration.
