Saltus Summer Magazine 2013 Page 45

FOR MANY

people, going to the dentist can be a

daunting experience.

In fact dentist Dr. Devon Binns says he often

has to deal with timid patients and the hardest
thing about his career is undoing the common
misconception that all dental procedures have to
be painful.

"When dealing with anxious patients, there are

all sorts of tricks and diversions we use to get the
patient to let their guard down," he explains. "They
usually come down to sleight-of-mind distractions
to shift from apprehension to comfort. One thing I
constantly have to `unteach' many new patients is
that they do not have to wait until something hurts
before they come in to see me."

Devon says his practice, DaVinci Dental Services,

has several thousand patients and the historical
demands for dental care not only in Bermuda, but
worldwide, have long established the discipline as
one of true stability.

"I would definitely encourage young Bermudians

to consider dentistry as a career choice," he says.
"My best career advice for students at Saltus today
would be to use the unlimited research resources
now available to not only become familiar with the
academic path required to achieve career goals, but
also to seek advice on the demand their degrees will
have in their intended workforce."

While at Saltus, Devon, who completed the

Senior Year programme in 1994, was selected by
the School to represent Bermuda as a Rotary
Exchange Student in France. upon his return to
Saltus, he was made Head Boy and selected as
Scholar-Athlete of the Year as well as Overall
Outstanding Teen of the Year.

He also has four caps with the Bermuda

National Soccer Team during a brief period
between work and school.

His favourite subjects at Saltus were Biology

and French.

Devon, father of S1 Essien, attended Howard

university in Washington DC from 199498,
receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/
Chemistry. He went to Nashville's Meharry
Medical College, where he gained his Doctorate of
Dental Surgery before going on to teaching hospital
Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New

York, for his General Practice Residency.

The most rewarding part of his job, he says, is "a

toss-up" between alleviating pain and improving a
patient's self-esteem through cosmetic makeovers.

Devon, who enjoys martial arts, playing piano,

golfing, cooking and travelling, lives by the "hard-
work-and-no-excuses (ever!) code." But he admits
his job does have its challenges and is often relent-
lessly demanding.

"From the minute I walk into the office to the

moment I put on my jacket to leave, it is truly
non-stop, and I know I have given my all," he said.
"My typical day is always based around treating
patients, but the running of the business actually
occurs during very brief stints as patients are being
anaesthetised. It can become quite hectic at times,
but for right now it works for me because I still
have the energy."

--Helen Jardine

Hard work, no excuses

Dr. Devon
Binns / '94

`From the

minute I
walk into
the office,
it is truly
non-stop'

S A L T U S M A G A Z I N E

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