Nov 17
Alexis Tomaszewski knew she wanted to be a dentist by the age of 12. When she got to dental school, however, she realized that although she had the clinical and hand skills for dentistry, she struggled with multi-choice tests, which led to her essentially flunking out the first time around.
Alexis thought about not returning to dental school, but after stepping back to get some clarity and rediscovering her purpose of opening up an ADHD-friendly dental practice, she returned to school in full force, this time with a lot more intention and positive emotions. Her imposter syndrome and RSD were and are still there, but keeping sight of her purpose has allowed Alexis to push through the negative thoughts even when things get hard.
Alexis’s goal to create a comfortable, shame-free, and fun dental experience for ADHDers is admirable (and much needed!), and her story is a great reminder that, when we align ourselves with our purpose, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
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"I just feel so zen, so at ease, and so able to come across in a way that makes the patient feel very comfortable."
- Alexis Tomaszewski
"I think what I want to share with my patients is that I kind of go into... I'm not sure if it's a mode of hyper-focus or what it is, but I'm someone who I would not describe as calm most of the time in my life. However, whenever I'm with a patient, I just feel so zen, so at ease, and so able to come across in a way that makes the patient feel very comfortable."
- Alexis Tomaszewski
"Many patients with ADHD avoid going to the dentist because they're afraid of being shamed, and they have a good reason to feel that way."
- Alexis Tomaszewski
- Alexis struggled in dental school due to undiagnosed ADHD, failing several courses and being placed on academic probation.
- Alexis discusses her academic performance, artistic talent, and social experiences in middle school and high school.
- Alexis struggled with ADHD in dental school, flunking out her first semester. After diagnosis and discovering her purpose, she returned to school with renewed confidence and improved skills.
[27:28 - 31:46] ADHD and Dentistry
- Alexis discusses how ADHD affects dental practice, including sensory issues and repetitive behaviors.
- Alexis aims to make dental appointments more enjoyable for adults with ADHD by incorporating fun elements like TVs, prizes, and flavored impressions, rather than the traditional boring experience.
- Alexis struggled with imposter syndrome upon returning to school after repeating a year, feeling like they don't belong and are not as smart as their peers.
- Alexis prioritizes empathy and understanding patients' needs, approaching each as a unique puzzle.
- Alexis emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy for individuals with ADHD, particularly in disclosing their needs and advocating for themselves.
- Alexis shares her experience with ADHD and how she manages it through a brain dump technique she learned from a podcast.
