The Glass Wall

The phrase "The Glass Ceiling" has taken on several meanings over the years. Originally coined by Marilyn Loden at a 1978 women's exposition, it referred to a metaphorical invisible barrier that prevents certain individuals from advancing to higher positions. My comments on this page in our January issue spoke to the importance of this issue and its relevance today.

Each year in February, the dental profession has its largest gathering in the United States. February and Chicago seem to go hand-and-hand in the dental profession, as more than 30,000 of us travel from around the country and internationally to the Windy City for a multitude of educational events. Each year, I find myself running from one hotel or convention center to anther for a multitude of lectures.

Despite the size and prestige of these meetings, a glass wall exists between some of them. It seems that a metaphorical invisible barrier separates the clinical aspect of dentistry from the laboratories. The majority of dentists attend all the clinical meetings offered, while the majority of technicians spend their time at laboratory-focused events. Of course, there are always a few who venture to the other side, either as speakers or attendees. But this is not the majority. As I have expressed in prior commentaries over the years, if we could break this glass wall, learning would become more team-oriented and the true evolution of the dental profession would take place. Clinicians need to better understand the work of the technician: the material options available today, the space required for the materials to have the optimal success, and the esthetic and functional parameters of the patients they treat. Likewise, technicians need to have a better understanding of the clinical work—the biological principles and basics of clinical dentistry—in order to be able to improve communication in the partnership between technicians and dentists. This begins and grows by working and learning together, building professional relationships and sharing information that will help improve the final outcome for our patients.

I hope that in the years to come, we begin to break the old glass wall. Invite clients to meet for team learning. Venture out to events that perhaps are not on your radar. Make your learning experience really worth the trip.

Peter Pizzi, MDT, CDT
Editor-in-Chief
peter.pizzi@broadcastmed.com