WOMEN IN DENTISTRY - Interview: Dr Magdalena Osiewicz

“This profession requires incredible precision and focus”

Dr Magdalena Osiewicz has run her own private practice in Cracow in Poland since 2010 while also working as assistant professor at Jagiellonian University’s Department of Integrated Dentistry and as a researcher at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam) in the Netherlands. In this interview, she discusses what it takes to succeed in dentistry and why she relies on Kuraray Noritake Dental products in her dental practice.

Dr Osiewicz, how did you decide to enter the field of dentistry?

My father is a medical doctor and a great example for me. He argued that being a doctor would not be good for me because it would consume all my free time. Therefore, I decided that I would become a dentist, preferably a prosthodontist, and I have since specialised in dental prosthetics, restorative dentistry and treating temporomandibular disorders. However, I honestly think that being a dentist doesn’t leave you so much free time either. It’s an ongoing discussion that I have with my father during the holidays.

In your experience, are there any advantages or disadvantages to being a woman in dentistry? Has the situation changed over time?

I have been a dentist since 2005, and I must say that this profession requires incredible precision and focus as well as a very high level of physical fitness. In addition, it is a profession that demands that you have very good social skills and empathy for other people. Combined with all the other duties that a woman has, there can be big challenges for a woman working in dentistry.

How important is it to have peers and/or mentors with whom you can discuss problems?

I think it’s very important. Owing to the fact that we often work on our own, dentists can quickly forget that discussing issues with other professionals can improve their skills and help them serve their patients better.

What qualities and skills do you think are needed to succeed in the dental world?

To succeed in dentistry, you need to work with the best materials, constantly improve your knowledge and skills, and enjoy working with other people. You should always be open-minded and critically evaluate your work. Mistakes must not be repeated, and you should learn from them.

What advice would you have for women considering a career in dentistry?

I would advise them to maintain a healthy work–life balance and to take care of their physical and mental health.

How were you first introduced to Kuraray Noritake Dental’s wide range of solutions?

My first contact with Kuraray Noritake Dental’s products was during my postgraduate studies at the Academic Centre for Dentistry in Amsterdam, where we needed materials that could be used in the most extreme situations.

Which Kuraray Noritake products do you employ in your daily workflow?

To be honest, I use many Kuraray Noritake Dental products in my dental practice. CLEARFIL™ AP-X and PHOTO BRIGHT are great composites for patients with bruxism. I also use CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 when we have a demanding patient for aesthetic work. I can recommend CLEARFIL™ PHOTO CORE, and I use PANAVIA™ for cementing prosthetic work as well as absolutely reliable adhesive systems such as CLEARFIL™ SE BOND or PHOTO BOND. I should also mention Kuraray Noritake’s range of KATANA™ Zirconia, which is the best zirconia on the market and is what I use for prosthodontics.

• 16 apr. 2020