Blog
Overcoming Adversity
By John H. Huang DMD, MS on Wednesday July 9, 2008
Recently I attended the Kentucky Dental Association annual meeting in Louisville and had the pleasure of listening to Sgt. First Class (Ret.) Dana Bowman give a very inspirational presentation about overcoming adversity. As a member of the Army’s Special Forces and the elite Golden Knights Parachute Team, Dana was injured in a freak skydiving accident in which he tragically lost both of his legs. Nine months after the accident, he turned his tragedy into triumph by becoming the first double amputee to re-enlist in the United States Army. He has since gone on to scuba dive, snow ski, and fly helicopters, defying all the traditional limits set forth by the human mind and body. Although none of us ordinary individuals are likely to be double amputees, we probably all do possess some type of comparable personal disability—something that is unique to ourselves that we must strive to overcome every single day. How inspiring it was to listen to Dana’s story, discovering the unimaginable power of the human spirit and the miracles we can accomplish in spite of our individual weaknesses. For more on Dana Bowman, visit his website at www.danabowman.com.
Championship Orthodontics
By John H. Huang DMD, MS on Wednesday May 7, 2008
As a youngster growing up in Kentucky, my passion was following the University of Kentucky Basketball Wildcats. I vividly remember the vicarious joy of witnessing many big wins, conference championships, final fours, and the 1978 NCAA championship. As I reflect back upon the glory days, I realize that all those victories didn’t just happen by chance. Through hard work, vigorous discipline, repetitive practice, and perfectionistic attention to detail, a consistent winning team was put on the court every year. The players didn’t always appreciate the hard practices or the sharp criticism during preseason workouts, but at the end of the year, everyone took pride in being the “best of the best”.
Our goal here at the Kentucky Center for Orthodontics is to be the Kentucky Wildcats of the orthodontic profession. We constantly challenge our staff members to excel in all aspects of their job performance. We always utilize the most leading edge technologies and materials, and our doctors strive to produce the best possible treatment results for our patients. The satisfaction of always going above and beyond the call of duty will ultimately be rewarded with that championship trophy of a happy patient, an enthusiastic staff, and a job well done. Come witness our team in action. I think you’ll be impressed.
Want to be an Orthodontist?
By John H. Huang DMD, MS on Thursday March 13, 2008
Few careers are as rewarding as Orthodontics--a health care profession characterized by interpersonal patient relationships, stimulating technical challenges, and predictable financial stability. My personal quest to become an orthodontic specialist began after high school. I attended college, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. Afterwards, it was four years of dental school (Doctor of Dental Medicine degree) followed by an additional three years of graduate orthodontic education (Master of Science degree and orthodontic specialty certificate). Eleven years of college may sound quite overwhelming at first but taken one step at a time becomes quite manageable especially when keeping your long term goals in mind. Remember that even the longest journey begins with a single step. I would encourage anyone with an interest in Orthodontics to observe an orthodontist in action. Learn as much as you can about the day to day operations of the practice. Dental School and Ortho School can be extremely competetive so any activities on your resume that distinguish you from others will no doubt be helpful. A genuine compassion for community service and making good grades certainly won't hurt either. Our practice offers many opportunities for shadowing and observation. Why not get a jump start on becoming an orthodontist--one of the best jobs in the whole world.
A Great Profession
By John H. Huang DMD, MS on Saturday February 2, 2008
One of the great things about being an Orthodontist is watching your patients “grow up” right before your eyes. I recently had a patient who was in braces during his teenage years come back for his 10 year retainer check. In addition to having grown about a foot, he also had a wife, a new baby, and a promising job. Just as importantly, he attributed all his success to his still beautiful smile. In fact, many of our former patients have gone on to successful careers in business, politics, sports, and entertainment. We’ve had doctors, lawyers, actors and actresses, pageant winners, and even dentists and ORTHODONTISTS! It is fantastically rewarding to be able to play a small part in other people’s success. If you’re interested in learning more about careers in dentistry and orthodontics, check back with me next month for some personal experiences and hints.
The Language of Smiles
By John H. Huang DMD, MS on Saturday January 5, 2008
Hello,
I'd also like to welcome everyone to The Kentucky Center for Orthodontics. We know you have a choice and we're extremely grateful that you've chosen our practice to provide you with that smile that will last a lifetime. I promise, we'll take great care of you.
Recently on a trip to Asia, I struck up a conversation with a young lady with braces on her teeth. I casually mentioned that I was an orthodontist back in the United States and she just went on and on in her broken English about how great her braces were. She raved about how you no longer had to put up with the unsightly bands and the stiff painful archwires of the past. It seems that people all over the world are taking advantage of the available technology to improve the overall quality of their smiles. Apparently a beautiful smile is the same in any language.