Combining research and empathy in dentistry
After considering careers as a medical doctor and as an educator, Nicole Krois landed on what she thinks is the perfect profession for her: dentist.
“I come from a family of teachers, and I really enjoy working with patients and students, so being a dentist seemed like a good fit for me,” says Krois, of West Des Moines. “Dentistry is largely about teaching patients about their teeth and how to take care of them throughout their lives.”
Nicole Krois has spent more than 10 years studying at the University of Iowa, earning a BA in biology and an MAT in secondary science education before enrolling in the College of Dentistry
“When people ask why I have stayed at Iowa, I tell them that it has everything you need. Everything I wanted to do, I could do here,” says Krois, who adds a DDS to her résumé in June.
Degree: DDS
Hometown: West Des Moines
Future plans: Work as a general dentist in a private practice
Krois will receive a DDS from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in June. She also completed at Iowa a BA in biology in 2013 and an MAT in secondary science education in 2015. She says she feels well prepared to begin her career.
“At the UI College of Dentistry, we get to work with patients in our first year, and that’s not true at every institution,” she says. “We also get training in all the different specialties, from oral surgery to endodontics to periodontics. Even if you don’t go into those fields, you’ll be prepared in them as a general dentist.”
Another area that differentiates Iowa and the dental college, Krois says, is research. She began working on research her sophomore year with Maurine Neiman, an associate professor of biology who studies evolution. It was such a positive experience that Krois accepted an invitation after enrolling in the College of Dentistry to work on a project studying clinical dental education.
“It tied together my passions for education and dentistry,” says Krois, noting that a foundation in research will serve her well as a dentist. “What we’re taught at Iowa is evidence-based dentistry. We’re taught to use our experience but also to go to the literature. For example, if I have a patient presenting with something I’m not sure about, I can go to the papers and see what the best approaches are. Or, when a new product is introduced, I want to know what makes it better—not just that it’s the cheapest. Having that research background will make me more confident as a clinician.”
“At the UI College of Dentistry, we get to work with patients in our first year, and that’s not true at every institution. We also get training in all the different specialties, from oral surgery to endodontics to periodontics. Even if you don’t go into those fields, you’ll be prepared in them as a general dentist.”
- Nearly 80% of dentists in Iowa were educated at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.
- Although the majority of incoming dental students at the University of Iowa are biology or science majors, the College of Dentistry welcomes applications from students of all majors, including business, psychology, and art.
- The UI College of Dentistry has an embedded staff therapist who is committed to student health and wellness.
Leonardo Marchini, associate professor of preventive and community dentistry, says Krois embodies the strengths of Iowa’s dental education.
“The first is what we call ‘Iowa nice.’ The empathetic way we look after and care for others is so important in dentistry—it’s key to keeping dentists well regarded in the community. The second is that while we have a strong research background here, our emphasis is on teaching. We have the opportunity to develop educational skills and polish how we teach and guide learning,” he says. “Not only does Nicole have empathy, but she also does things in a timely and complete fashion. And her background in education makes her even more compassionate and a good communicator. It blends two skill sets that are important in dentistry.”
Krois is searching for a position in a private practice in a larger city, but the spread of novel coronavirus and COVID-19 have made the job hunt difficult. She says dentistry often is an early casualty of an economic downturn, with patients understandably deferring routine care in favor of paying rent and buying food. Ultimately, she’d also like to work as an adjunct or clinical professor at a dental college.
“One of the more valuable aspects of my dental education at Iowa has been having dentists come to campus each week to talk about their work,” she says. “I want to pay it back but I feel I need to get some experience first.”
When she does find the perfect job opportunity, Krois looks forward to connecting with her patients and helping to erase any negative associations they may have with previous dental work.
“I love talking to patients,” she says. “It may run my appointments longer, but sometimes they need that extra five or 10 minutes. I can chat at them the entire appointment—it puts them at ease and helps take their mind off what I’m doing. There is value in building rapport, and I really want to have that ‘mom and pop’ feeling in my practice.”
