Ana Flávia Simões Barbosa is an aesthetic dentist who graduated in Dentistry 7 years ago, but she has never stopped studying. As soon as she left college, she began a master's degree and is currently dedicated to her doctorate. The aesthetic dentist also sees patients at clinics and is pursuing a Postgraduate Program in Orofacial and Surgical Harmonization (HOF).
As a result of all her dedication, Ana Flávia is already a specialist in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry and works in her own clinic and in other clinics as well. But she was not happy with the range of care she was able to offer. That is why she went in search of the HOF course.
Clinical immersion in the specialization
“I saw that I reached a point where I needed something more and I wasn't prepared, so I had to refer patients to other professionals.”.
It was with this thought, and realizing she had a lot of interest in the aesthetic side, that Ana looked for specialization options. She says she fell in love with Orofacial Harmonization and what it offers.
Unlike modular, faster courses, the specialization offers more complete preparation. With knowledge that goes beyond theory, postgraduate programs that offer the chance to apply what was learned through clinical immersiongive professionals more confidence, as Ana Flávia herself points out when she reinforces the maxim that practice makes perfect.
“The hands-on part is very important. Everything we study we have to put into practice, which is why I study a lot and practice a lot. I can't keep one away from the other”, says the aesthetic dentist.
The aesthetics market for dentists
The aesthetic dentist says that the professionals she knows who work in Orofacial Harmonization are working more exclusively on it, given how much demand and profitability the segment has today. And she sees that other professionals are finding professional and personal fulfillment through this work.
“So all the professionals I know in this field are doing very well professionally and personally, and the patients are very satisfied.”
That is why one of the expectations of the aesthetic dentist, who is so dedicated to her studies and clinical practice, is that the HOF postgraduate program will bring financial relief. She also highlights the high added value of aesthetic procedures and their prominence in the market:
“Nowadays it's a very profitable field, very well regarded, so I believe it may give me some relief on the clinical side, but I will continue in restorative dentistry and general practice, adding HOF to my work routine.”
Integrated dentistry
Ana Flávia also points out that, beyond aesthetic functions, a dentist specialized in HOF can also offer a more complete solution to the patient, an integrated treatment that seeks to resolve their pain and complaints.
One example of the functional treatment possibilities that a specialist in Orofacial Harmonization is trained to offer is relief of symptoms in patients with bruxism through the administration of botulinum toxin.
The aesthetic dentist says she sees many cases of bruxism in the offices where she works and speaks about the possibility of helping relieve this condition: “I believe this will add a lot to me professionally and will also satisfy the patient, adding to the patient's treatment overall.”
The aesthetic dentist's career
Ana Flávia's path is inspiring for other health professionals. It shows how it is possible to balance the passions of one's own professional journey, since she pursues an academic career while working in a clinic.
The aesthetic dentist wants to keep seeing patients at the clinics where she works, but she sees that she will have much more to offer in all of them after the specialization. With the HOF Postgraduate Program, Ana Flávia Simões will certainly help create more smiles out there!
Watch some excerpts from her interview in the video below:
Laís Bianquini
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
