The specialization in HOF (Orofacial and Surgical Harmonization) is the choice of many dentists who want to work in aesthetics within dentistry. The postgraduate program also offers other advantages for professionals, such as the freedom to build your own schedule.
That is why Leticia Ranghiere started the HOF course. In the sections below, learn about the dentist's other motivations and what she has thought of the clinical immersion, which is one of the distinguishing features of this postgraduate program.
Complete patient care
Leticia Ranghiere graduated in dentistry 4 years ago. She currently works in intraoral aesthetics, that is, “improving the aesthetics of people's smiles.” She works in private appointments and also provides services for other professionals and franchises.
To have more flexibility and autonomy over her own schedule, she started the specialization in HOF. The goal is to improve her skills in new procedures so she can care for patients more completely. “I want to work with everything possible in aesthetics.”
The HOF course allows dentists to learn the theory but also the practice of several subjects. “Including the face. The course will add a lot because it will make treatment more complete.”
Expectations for the specialization in HOF
The dentist says that she already works with the aesthetic side, but only intraorally. “Basically, I bring improvements to the smile, which already makes a big impact, and these are very important procedures.”
“With the harmonization course, we can work with the whole face. With that, I can remove expression lines, make a person look younger, and much more. Because today we have this possibility of aging well.”
“So with the course, my work will change. I will no longer be only inside the mouth, and I will be able to start working outside it too. And from there I will be able to put it all together. I can create a more beautiful smile and combine it with the face, which will be incredible.”
The pharmacology class in the HOF course
Leticia Ranghiere also talked about the pharmacology class she had in the postgraduate program in Orofacial and Surgical Harmonization. Here is an excerpt of what she said:
“The class went beyond what I expected because I did not know some compounds that help in treatments to improve the skin, complementing the final result of harmonization treatments.”
Leticia also said that with the classes and the clinical immersion, she will be able to improve her patients' skin in a less invasive way. “I will add value to my work because I will be able to recommend cosmetics with specific compounds that I learned in the pharmacology class.”
We have already covered this HOF course class here on the blog, taught by Professor Dr. Thais Carmo. You can read it in full whenever you like.
The importance of aesthetics in dentistry
Since she already works as a dentist, Leticia knows very well how important aesthetics is in dentistry. “It often happens that a person has a positive change in self-esteem. And I am very happy to be able to positively impact patients' lives.”
And she explains this change in self-esteem with examples: “when we close a diastema or increase the size, shape, and color of a tooth. Whitening itself already allows this. When the patient comes back, I notice she is totally different because she returns more confident.”
Being able to change and improve patients' lives was one of the main reasons that led the dentist to the specialization in HOF. “It is the main reason I want to work with aesthetics in dentistry.”
Another factor that was important in this decision has to do with her aptitude for aesthetics. “Besides, I have known since childhood that I have a skill for and enjoy everything visual. I have an aptitude for the beautiful and the harmonious.”
The freedom in the dentist's schedule
Leticia Ranghiere says that in addition to the motivations mentioned above – patients' self-esteem and aptitude for aesthetics – the freedom she will have in her field of practice also weighed heavily in choosing the HOF course.
“The course will allow me greater freedom, mainly because today I am not only self-employed. I also work for other people and franchises. And I want to move away from that way of working, so I believe the course will help me with that.”
For this aesthetic dentist, the future is promising: “Freedom will allow me to take the step of working only with private patients. Working with more time, flexible hours, and building my own schedule.”
The clinical immersion in the HOF course
In October, the 1st class of the Orofacial and Surgical Harmonization course took part in the clinical immersion, which consists of in-person classes with an exchange of experiences between dentists and professors. On that occasion, Dr. Cynthia Heckert Brito and Dr. Diogo Branco led the hands-on practice.
We also shared a bit about those clinical immersion days, which Leticia Ranghiere attended. See the photos.
Success Stories>Orofacial and Surgical HarmonizationIrving Malaguti
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
