Next Gen of the Month is a monthly Q&A with a dental student or new dentist where we ask them about their experiences and accomplishments thus far in their dentistry journey. This month we are featuring Dr. Max Silver, a recent dental graduate who provides IV sedation and a voice actor who uses his talents to alleviate patient fears.
Would you be able to tell me about why you decided to pursue dentistry?
First and foremost, I should say that my mother is a dentist. She graduated right after I was born. I was actually in her belly in during convocation. So, I like to say that I went through dental school twice. I was definitely inspired by her work and what she did every day. And then when I went through school, I really enjoyed the sciences, enjoyed learning what makes things work on a biological level. I am also an extrovert who enjoys interacting with others and making people laugh. I was looking for something that might marry those two things. Being exposed to dentistry through my mother, I took a deeper look at it, and I saw it as a very versatile career. It encompasses science, some art, business. It’s hands on. You also have the opportunity to help others. I think it really is what you make it. And I saw it as an opportunity to do exactly that.
What would you say your favorite memory was from your experience at dental school?
Dental school is a challenging number of years. It’s definitely a sacrifice. So, I would say the best memories are just spending time with your classmates and really forming those bonds. And past that, the first time a patient thanks you for your work and shows appreciation. That is when you truly understand how much of a privilege it is to be able to help people for a living. I would say that there was one patient in particular – she came with tremendous anxiety of the dentist. She hadn’t visited someone in decades. Long story short, we ended up transforming her smile and she was brought to tears towards the end. It’s not something that you could really prepare for or really know how it’s going to make you feel until it happens. And that was a really transformative moment for me and a feeling that I wanted to keep chasing.
Can you share how you got into voice acting?
Of course. As I said, I was extroverted, and I always loved making people laugh. From a young age, I was always doing voices and impressions and I was a bit of a class clown to be honest. As I got older, everyone used to tell me you should do comedy or you should do voice acting. I never listened to them, and I went into sciences. During undergrad, I called my mother to tell her I found a part time job. She was surprised to hear that I was the newly minted varsity sports announcer.
For the next four years, I announced all the sports for the university, including basketball, volleyball, football, rugby. I even had the chance to announce for some professional leagues. This made me realize how much I enjoyed using my vocal talents, and I decided to record a demo reel, found an agent, and started auditioning for TV and radio! I may even have skipped a class or two during dental school to go to some auditions. I was lucky enough to record commercials for some awesome brands including Rogers, Disney, and Peoples Jewellers. I really enjoyed that side of my life. It provided a different outlet other than teeth.
I actually used my voice when I started a small charity during COVID called Calls for Kids. Essentially, I paired up with a number of children’s charities where I did FaceTime and phone calls with kids – who were either in hospital or underprivileged – as their favorite character. I have puppets like Sesame Street and Mickey Mouse. And I would use these puppets and just make their dreams come true with their favorite character. I actually still use those puppets today with some of my youngest patients.
Do you use your voice acting skills as a dentist? Is there any crossover?
For sure, I use it all the time. The most common use is with pediatric patients. I am definitely not a great ventriloquist so wearing a mask definitely helps with this. Using my impressions to allay their fears, make them feel comfortable and even get a laugh really helps ensure a positive experience, which is key to a good relationship with the dentist as the child ages.
Growing up as the oldest of five, I’ve always been around kids. So, I’ve always enjoyed trying to make the experience in the dental chair as easy as possible. And that includes adults too. Sometimes adults will ask me about my voices, and I’ll get a laugh out of them for sure. I also happen to treat a lot of patients with fear and anxiety because I mostly focus on IV sedation and surgery. So, I definitely try and lighten the mood with the voices.
Do you have a favorite or least favorite procedure to perform since you’ve graduated?
After graduating dental school in Toronto, I went on to do a residency in Edmonton, Alberta. This was a great year that taught me a lot. I received my IV sedation certification, learned a lot of surgical procedures, including wisdom teeth and implants, and gained valuable experience seeing patients in a hospital setting. This helped me gain skills and confidence that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. With that being said, my practice is focused on surgery and sedation. Under the name, Silver Sedation, I work at various practices in the Ottawa area, bringing all my own equipment and staff offering sedation and surgery at people’s clinics.
So, I think my favorite procedure would be wisdom tooth extractions. There’s nothing more satisfying than getting a tooth out.
Do you have any advice for future dental graduates?
I would say keep up the hard work. It’s definitely worth it. This career is truly a privilege and the result of all your hard work is going to pay dividends for many years to come.
Lastly, find mentors and lean on them. I would not be where I am today without mine.
You can reach Dr. Max Silver at Silversedation@outlook.com!