Theodora Glykou
- Medical Representative
- DentQ Greece
- She is our first employee in Greece, since September 2022
- Worked in dental sales since 1995
An interview with Theodora Glykou
Hello Dora! To begin with, tell us a fun-fact about yourself.
I was born in Athens, and when I was ten years old we relocated to the USA. There was no Greek school there, so although I could hardly speak any English, I started to learn in a regular American school. But, as a matter of pride, and since I wanted to please my parents, it was very important to me to excel at school. So, I worked very hard, and by the end of that year, I was ranked first in my class. It was a very challenging period, and my classmates couldn’t communicate with me at the beginning and made fun of me. But the teachers, who noticed my efforts, became my first friends. Eventually, by the end of the year, my classmates could smoothly communicate with me, and many of them learned to appreciate me, and became my friends. This desire, to excel in whatever I do, still motivates me today.
What languages do you speak?
I speak Greek, English, and some French and Italian. At our primary school in Greece, we learned French as a second language. And when I returned from the USA at the age of 27, I became a tour guide in Italy. I wanted to excel in that as well, and I did not want the tourists on our bus to realize I am a rookie. Therefore, I spent every night in my first months as a tour guide talking to our bus driver, asking him dozens of questions about the places we planned to visit the following day. I wanted to be prepared, and nothing could stop me. During those long conversations and learning sessions with our poor bus driver, I picked up some Italian, and still have it till now.
What is the thing you love most about your job?
First and foremost, the contact with people. With dentists and their teams. I was lucky to work for 27 years so far in selling dental equipment and services to dentists in the center of Athens, where the leading dentists work, and I really love it. I learned a lot from these dentists, who appreciated the fact that I wanted to learn as much as possible about everything dental. Many of them still work with me ever since, for more than 20 years now.
I was actually so eager to learn that I even asked to be allowed to observe surgeries and complex dental procedures at some hospitals, and was granted permission to do so. I wanted to see how the equipment I was selling was used in the operation room. That taught me a lot, and after my first two years as a medical rep, dentists started to ask me if I studied Dentistry. This, of course, felt great at the time, since it was important to me to become very professional and to gain comprehensive dental knowledge, so I would be able to answer doctors’ questions and manage to sell well.
Which dental technologies excite you?
I am fascinated by dental implants. I am thrilled to see how implants can bring back a smile to elder faces, enabling the patients to regain their childhood smile. This is so much better than dentures!
Today, multiple implants can be placed in one surgery, thus much faster than before. A friend of mine had 8 implants placed in one day, without any complications. This is something that could not have been possible when I started my work in the field. It’s amazing!
How do I practice work/life balance, and what do I like to do in my free time?
If I have a lot of work, I work! I am a bit of a workaholic, but I really enjoy my work, so it is a meaningful part of my life, and my balance.
Out of work, I love hiking in the mountains and going to the beach as much as possible in the summertime. The blue color of the ocean always makes me relaxed and happy.
A tip I have for dentists (based on my experience):
Be open to technology! This is mostly relevant to older dentists, since the young ones who were “born into technology” do not know any other way.
Also, from the very beginning of your career, focus on quality, not on quantity. Purchase high-quality equipment for your clinic; it will make your work easier and improve outcomes. Provide high-quality treatment, and in the long run, you will have a flourishing clinic with many patients attending.
How will dental radiology change in the coming years?
Dental radiology will provide more support and helpful insights to dentists in the future. Many dentists, even those who have worked with implants for many years, ask me if they should start working with surgical guides. I think they should, since scans that include surgical guides can help plan and perform implant surgeries better, faster, and with higher success rates. The learning curve for any new technology does exist, but overcoming it is very rewarding.
