Dental Hygienist Still Passionate After 45+ Years
Devoted. Dedicated. Passionate. These words describe Iris Rosen, RDH, BS, a dental hygienist for more than 45 years who is still serving patients at the same private practice where she began her career in the early 1970s.
Devoted. Dedicated. Passionate. These words describe Iris Rosen, RDH, BS, a dental hygienist for more than 45 years who is still serving patients at the same private practice where she began her career in the early 1970s.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 1973, Rosen began practicing with Robert Singelyn, DDS, in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where she still works today. For the past 27 years, she has worked with his son, also named Robert Singelyn, DDS. Rosen practiced clinical dental hygiene for 30 years, before moving into a new role as treatment coordinator. While Rosen did not want to give up clinical practice, issues with her musculoskeletal health made this change necessary.
“Although I stopped practicing dental hygiene, I still keep my dental hygiene license current. As treatment coordinator, I work at the front desk making appointments, dealing with insurance, answering phone calls, handling prescriptions, keeping the schedule filled, sending out letters, sending and receiving X-rays via email, calling doctors’ offices about premedication, checking orthodontic cases, ordering retainers, working on difficult treatment cases, helping patients get financing, and so much more!” Rosen says.
Over the past 45 years, Rosen has remained steadfast in her devotion to being the best at whatever is set before her. She is a believer in lifelong education, and remains up-to-date on developments in the field of dentistry and dental hygiene. With such longevity in the same practice, she knows her patients, their parents, kids, grandchildren, cousins, and friends.
Rosen is an important mediator between the front and back office. She makes sure she knows what patients’ insurance plans will cover before they come in for treatment. The Singelyn practice allows for 1-hour new patient examinations during which Rosen is present. She takes X-rays and completes periodontal charting before the dental hygienist and the dentist see the patient. “This is a great way to get to know new patients and their concerns. I always try to make new patients laugh at some point to help them relax,” she notes.
With two daughters, two stepchildren, and four grandchildren, her husband Howard M. Rosen continues to encourage her to retire, but so far, he has not been successful. As Iris explains, “I have wonderful relationships with our patients and I laugh and cry with them on a daily basis. And I love the interaction with my coworkers, who are like family. I love my work!”
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. February 2019;17(2):10.
