EDITOR’S NOTE
Main character? Or NPC?
Over a recent lunch with colleagues, the discussion centred on the upcoming 2024 US elections; in particular, how the moment slang words are adopted in the “corporate” world, it marks a decline of the word’s colloquial use. At the risk of doing the same, I found the two terms in the title remarkable apt when thinking about the topics raised in this issue. First, a quick summary. “Main character” is used to describe scenarios where one is placed at the centre of attention, while “NPC” refers to the lack of agency and control one experiences through the course of life. Do these words feel relatable in the dental profession? Sometimes, the stress and expectations tied to the profession leads to undesirable strains in one’s mental health. With the Medical Protection Society (MPS) gearing up to turn the spotlight on mental health in October for World Mental Health Awareness Day, chair of council Graham Stokes Dr Stokes encouraged practitioners to always think long- term, looking beyond immediate gains but at the overall trend of one’s career (p.21). Similarly, stigma about mental health is another pervasive issue in the profession, at times posing a barrier to seek help and support when needed. Assoc Prof Hopcraft believes that mental health should be cared for in the same vein as physical health, where open conversations should be encouraged and normalised in both personal and professional settings (p.23). At the other end of the spectrum, 2024 sees VITA Zahnfabrik with “main character energy” as the company celebrates its centennial anniversary with a year-long calendar of activities. Schnakenberg Bernd, global head of Sales and Marketing, reflected on the company’s milestones and affirmed its commitments to users for the next 100 years (p.25). Monikaproy Meekiatichaikun, CFO of Hexa Ceram Dental Lab, shared about the intricate dance between heritage and innovation that has enabled the company to the forefront of the digital dental laboratory revolution in the culturally rich province of Chiang Mai (p.46).
Regardless of “main character” or “NPC” moments, highs and lows are to be expected in both our professional and personal lives. Personally, I find “The Rule of Thirds” useful in navigating this journey. Taught by her coach, Greek Olympian Alexi Pappas puts it nicely in her 2021 autobiography Bravery : “When you are chasing a big goal, you are supposed to feel good a third of the time, okay a third of the time, and crappy a third of the time...and if the ratio is roughly in that range, then you are doing fine.”
James Yau Assistant Editor James Yau
CORRECTION
Due to a translation error, an error was made for the article ‘Future dentists in Hong Kong will face difficult challenges’ in the Dental Asia July/August 2024 issue . The paragraph in the second column which reads “Second, one licensed dentist in Hong Kong … in a wide variety of treatments.”, should correctly have been translated to the following: “Second, patients in Hong Kong are protected as they can only be treated by licensed dentists whereas in China, some treatments are allowed to be performed by trainees who are under the supervision of a licensed dentist.”
The correction has been reflected in the e-book of the issue.
www.dentalasia.net
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
Under The Spotlight: Running the marathon of a dental career Clinical Feature: Troubleshooting common problems in case finishing for clear aligner treatment Behind The Scenes: Tradition meet technology at Hexa Ceram: The digital evolution of dental craftsmanship in Chiang Mai
Front cover credit Top image: freepik Bottom image: Hexa Ceram Dental Lab
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4 DENTAL ASIA SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
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