Welcome from your Google Dentist
The first thing people ask me when they find out where I work is how many hours I spend at the office. I live there, I tell them. They look at me with sympathy: yeah, I've heard the hours are brutal. No, I explain, I actually am the first person who lives on campus, in a little apartment right next door to my office. That's because I'm Google's first full-time on-site dentist. I just started a few weeks ago and am just catching my breath long enough to start this online diary, because everyone also asks me about my blog. They usually ask it when their mouth's full of cotton, so it took me a while to know what they were talking about.
How did I get here? I graduated from USC dental school a few years back and was working in an office in LA. The weather was great but the whole place a little soulless so when a friend of a friend mentioned the Google opening, I was intrigued. What kind of company has its own dentist? (More on that in a minute.) In addition, you had to be willing to live on campus and handle emergency calls in the middle of the night. Given my ongoing single status I jumped at the opportunity and came up to Mountain View to check things out. Where are the mountains? I asked, but that didn't throw them a bit. The interview process I went through was more intense than I've ever experienced before. At one point I had several guys & gals in a room and they're asking me to diagram on a whiteboard a particularly complex root canal procedure with twin impacted molars. I'll tell you that was more stressful than doing the actual procedure.
I guess I kept it together well enough and I got the job. At this point they give me basically a clean slate to design my office and living quarters. I've got a couple state of the art articulated chairs in there, all the usual drills and suction, x-ray, and so on, plus amenities like flatscreens and wireless internet for the busy employees who come by my office. They put up a sign, "Google Tooth (Beta)" with my own logo; I think the Beta is an inside joke. We opened for business a few weeks back and pretty soon I had a steady daily dose of traffic for teeth cleaning, fillings, crowns, and a couple root canals so far. Nights and weekends are pretty quiet but I do get an occasional toothache or chipped tooth from an evening frisbee game.
After they hear this people usually ask why we need our own dentist, or they roll their eyes about supposed extravagence like the well-known free meals at work and so on. Actually, I'm surprised more companies of their size don't have their own dentist. Just do the math (I had to do some math in my interview also): with 3000 employees visiting the dentist twice a year on weekdays, that's 24 patients a day, which is more than a full load. Do you want those people staying at work or leaving the office for several hours each time? On top of that, the after-hours service is key because people here are night owls, and a dental emergency could leave someone unable to work for quite some time during a key product release.
Anyway, that's just the start of it, so I'll be sure to post more stories about my experiences, the relative dental health of various execs, and so on. A couple of engineers have already offered to work their 20% time on an x-ray browser so they can explore high-res tooth maps from their desktops. And that's the tooth.
posted by Sam Gustard, DDS @ 8:52 AM
54 Comments:
Dr Sam, thanks for the great weblog and the job you did on my teeth last week. your stories kept me laughing so i look forward to more posts from you!
Dr. Sam, me duele mi diente canino derecho, que hago?
Dr. Sam..
you don't work at Google.
we've never heard of you?
Don't you have anything better to do with your time than design silly hoaxes like this?
This comment has been removed by the author.
I've always wanted to be a Dental Hygienist but I'm terrified of the dentist! i don't know what it is about the chair that makes me squirm. When I was there the last time I had 4 cavities! My appointment to get them filled is tomorrow, can anyone show me there's nothing to be afraid of??
i like google, so i like you. i guess this is therapy for adentist, since they have the highest rate of you know what.
Good Luck!
Hi Doctor, my name is Miguel and Im living in Mexico, I find your story so great!!! I will work in USA in 1 year aprox, I am in a IDP program and studing for NBDE part II. If you need someone to work with you let me know ok? I´ll be great to work with google!!!
First of all I like to congratulate you for your job in Google. I think you are enjoying to work with Google. Thanks for sharing your experience and feelings with us. Best of luck.
Interesting story on how you ended up working for google. Good luck google dentist. Thanks for sharing your blog.
Instead of calling your blog "That's the Tooth", how about something a little less cliché such as... wait for it... wait for it... "The tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth"?
Thanks for providing your nice information. I like your site!! I invite you to take a tour on my dayodental website for more details at Dentist In Mexico
A fantastic read….very literate and informative. Many thanks
Lawrenceville dentist
Hello mate, I want to thank you for this nice blog. Would you mind telling me some secrets for a succesful blog ? Which could attract some visitors than it normally does. Please come visit my site Teeth Whitening Kits when you got time.
Wow! You must have been so proud to be working in Google, if friends ask you, where's your clinic? You can simply reply, hmmmm it's in Google. ahhahaah! Good job, doc! Google is so lucky to have you on board too. 3000 employees, whew! That's more than a handful. Well, I'm glad that I have a reliable dentist in Memphis TN, too. He specializes in gum diseases and even sleep apnea. Memphis residents are so lucky to have him around. Well, thanks doc for sharing your experience! I'm glad I came across your blog. I had a blast!
Drum Beat Machine for Beat Makers, Make your own beats. The Best Beat Making Software program, download to make your own original hip hop beats. Beat Machine
Silly Bandz Direct is the official UK site for the #1 US craze Silly Bandz you can purchase the complete Silly Bandz Collection such as the Justin Bieber Silly Bandz, animal silly bandz and Princess silly bandz. collectable bracelets
I'm looking for best dentist who can help me with my teeth.
I've already found some reliable info at http://dentistakron.org/
I consider second opinions before deciding where will i consult my problem. Hope you can help me.
Thanks in advance :)
Jairen -"I'm looking for best dentist who can help me with my teeth. " Hi if your looking for a good dentist try this site that Ive found called dentistas such as many information and dentist you can find . i hope this will help
This article was great. I found the best dentist in long beach and he’s got an excellent staff that will give you care and compassion.
I moved to CA about a year ago and needed to find an Encino dentist that could help me. This was the one that worked!
When I needed a dentist in cypress ca I knew that these guys were the ones to turn to. My neighbors all said that they were the ones that could give gentle care to my kids.
I really like your post.
Many blessings to you. When I needed help finding women’s sober living orange county I knew that there was help out there.
Best Skin Care Products - I like exploring the experience and knowledge of your exact contemporary. Thanks for sharing information.
Google earth is my favorite !!
That's very creative. If only you can use Google Tooth to find actual dental offices like Google Maps, haha. That would be something, wouldn't it? You can instantly check the dental location on your Ipad.
I reaed your article..I like it
Best dentist Kailua
When we moved I didn’t know how I was going to find a los alamitos dentist but, then I came across this office and they were wonderful.
Thanks for sharing the idea there would be some apprehensions from segment but i am up for it.
teeth braces
Very nice article! It really made me interested here. Thank you for bringing more informative post. I can't wait to read more of your blogs
Really a great post.I liked it and i will share it with others too.
India Dental Tourism enables international patients to save on dental treatments while exploring India. Dental Implants India is the best destination to save without compromising on quality.
Dr Rajnish Anand is a renowned Dentist who has started a dental tourism portal .
You can visit the portal at http://www.tourismdentalindia.com
India Dental Tourism enables international patients to save on dental treatments while exploring India. Dental Implants India is the best destination to save without compromising on quality.
Dr Rajnish Anand is a renowned Dentist who has started a dental tourism portal .
You can visit the portal at http://www.tourismdentalindia.com
Generally I don’t learn post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to check out and do it ! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice post.
Dentistry armadale
Thanks for sharing the idea there would be some apprehensions from segment but i am up for it.
emergency dentist London
Nice and useful blog.I am very impressed from your blog.I will share your blog with my friends .Thanks for sharing and keep it up.
When I was looking for a mental health treatment centers I didn’t know where to turn. I finally went with this center and they helped me save my life.
Great tips. Definitely something I'll be using for myself, and for sharing with others.
If you live in the area and need top dentists then this is where you’ve got to go.
This article was great. I found the best costa mesa cosmetic dentist and he’s got an excellent staff that will give you care and compassion.
This article was great. I found the best costa mesa cosmetic dentist and he’s got an excellent staff that will give you care and compassion.
If you live in the area and need top dentists then this is where you’ve got to go.
If you live in the area and need area dentists then this is where you’ve got to go.
This article was great. I found the best costa mesa cosmetic dentist and he’s got an excellent staff that will give you care and compassion.
If you live in the area and need area dentists then this is where you’ve got to go.
Thanks for great information you write it very clean. I am very lucky to get this tips from you.
Dental implants Waterford CT
I am angry because google dental sent me to the wrong address for Dr. Scott Nakahara in Honokaa, Hi . I thought Google was dependable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you live in the area and need area dentists then this is where you’ve got to go.
UN FREAKEN BELIEVABLE.. I did the same thing when I Graduated from dental school in 2005 from UC San Fran...I work as the "company dentist" for DMV. Were talkin over 5,000 emloyees who work 24/7 in the new high rise headquaters in Sacramento. I actually need an associate dentist to help me . I am over whelmed with patients and responsibility. What drives me nuts is, ontop of all the meat and potatoes dentistry.... all the clerks want total cosmetic makeovers....every body wants a B-1 smile ...ITS JUST KRAZY!
PS whats with all the MESICANS on this thread??
Tr?ng rang nha khoa thu?ng du?c dùng nhu m?t bi?n pháp thay th? cho rang b? m?t d? khôi ph?c v? ngoài và ch?c nang rang c?a b?nh nhân. Nghiên c?u tru?c dó dã ch?ng minh r?ng vi?c th?c hi?n tr?ng rang nha khoa làm phá v? mô trong vùng tr?ng rang c?a b?nh nhân, do dó các bác si nha khoa thu?ng t?p trung vào k? ho?ch di?u tr? c?a h? d? duy trì m?t cách c?n th?n mô xuong và nu?u c?a b?nh nhân xung quanh vùng tr?ng rang.
rang nha khoa
Thank god we have nowdays cosmetic dentistry. Improvements in your smile can really change your social life and rise your self confidence. Therefore, it's very important in my opinion.
dentist cancun
At South Mountain Dental, Whitening can be used to whiten stained and discolored teeth, or simply to enhance a dull smile.
draper dentist
I am lucky reading you. Nice blog.
Thank you,
Family Dental Services Kailua
Post a Comment
<< Home