You see your dentist twice a year, but do you really know anything about her other than the fact the she’s obsessed with flossing? Get to know Dr. Jennifer Donskoy on a more personal level with this interview conducted with the head dentist at DentaLux LLC. After all, she’s the one in charge of your perfect smile!
Dr. Donskoy, when did you first know that you wanted to become a dentist?
I always knew that I wanted to become a doctor, the problem was to decide which doctor to become. I started working as a dental assistant at our family’s dentist office and was completely amazed with the idea of instant gratification of seeing what your 2 hands can achieve. Furthermore, to be able to help patients get out of excruciating pain within a relatively short period of time was truly amazing. Being a perfectionist and extremely detail-oriented, I knew becoming a dentist would be the perfect choice.
Describe the first trip to the dentist that you remember.
My first visit to the dentist was in the former Soviet Union, where you had to stand in line for hours to be seen by a dentist. Not only the fumes from the operating rooms would made you sick, but the screams and cries coming from adults who were getting their work done without a slight drop of anesthesia was devastating. Luckily, once we immigrated to US, my dental appointments were mostly comprised of cleaning and check ups. To this day I can honestly say that I do not have not one filling in my mouth. Having said that, I never disregard or question a patient’s complaint of feeling pain, even though I never experienced it first hand.
Where did you go to dental school?
I recieved my DDS (Doctorate of Dental Surgery) degree from New York University.
What’s your favorite part of being a dentist?
My favorite part of being a dentist is when I see my patients leave the operatory after an extensive procedure with a smile on their face and hearing them say “Dr. that really did not hurt and it took less time that I expected.” That makes my job really rewarding.
What are your hobbies (aside from teeth)?
My hobbies include reading, although it’s hard to find a quite moment with 3 boys 🙂 I also enjoy traveling, shopping, photography and dining out. But most importantly, nothing beats spending quality time with my beautiful family… husband of 10 years, 3 boys and our English Bulldog, Lola!
Which is more important: flossing or mouthwash?
Flossing is by far most important. It is the gold standard for eliminating plaque in between your teeth. Mouthwash is not effective in achieving that function, but is rather useful in refreshing your mouth.
If you weren’t a dentist, what would be your dream profession?
If the field of dentistry did not work out for me, I think I would become a nurse anesthesist or a physician assistant. I would definitely stay in the medical field where my craving for direct patient care would be satisfied.
What piece of advice would you give to someone perusing a career in dentistry?
Pay attention to detail! It’s one of the fields, other then cardiac surgery, where a .5 mm makes a huge difference. Also treat and respect your patients as you would like to be treated yourself! This has been and will continue to be the philosophy that I live and practice by.
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