Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Patricia M.A.Simons
Hi Dr. Simons, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I am a general dentist, and my niche within dentistry is providing optimal care to geriatric, special needs, and underserved populations. I am also a clinical professor and love dental academia. My mission in dentistry has always been to be a mentor, pay forward my knowledge to others, and to educate the community. This commitment inspired me to create my own series of dental education books. Growing up, I did not have easy access to dental care and my first time going to the dentist was my freshman year of high school. I genuinely wish I had a resource like this when I was a child to teach me about oral health from an early age. Now, I see this as my chance to provide that resource to the community. I loved reading encyclopedias growing up, and I do not think many children are even aware of what that is anymore, so I created my own “Toothlopedia”! I also always loved to write, draw, and paint growing up. I find it to be a beautiful thing that I can combine all the things that I love into my career and find joy in what I do. I started writing and drawing my book series at the end of December 2022 and self-published my first two storybooks in July 2023. I recently published my coloring and activities books that complement my storybooks in December 2023
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Part of my philosophy of life and what I always share with my mentees is to embrace the good, the bad, and the ugly of things that happen in life. It is all meaningful experiences and helped to build me into who I am today. To answer your question, it has not been a smooth road, but everything has been well worth it, and I would do it all over again. Some of the struggles along the way were trying to find the time to commit to my vision while also balancing being there for my family, my patients, my students/mentees, taking care of myself in the mix of that, and even trying to start a family of my own. In 2022, I took time to reflect on all of this and began to step back and prioritize what was important to me during that phase of my life. Once I did that, everything started to fall into place. Instead of devoting all my time to what others wanted me to do, I started to do the things I truly wanted to do for myself. Creating my own book series has brought me true joy because this is my way of leaving a lasting impact on the communities at large. I’ve had people tell me that maybe I am “reaching for stars that are too high” when it came to my vision or that my goals were a bit “unrealistic.” There were a lot of long nights, time spent at the library and coffee shops researching, days where I hit a wall on my storyline or vision; the trashcan was full of crumbled drawings on the days I chose to start over, the hurdles of finding the right team to help bring my book to life, the financial commitment, and much more. Ultimately, every bump along the way has been overcome, and I am very happy that I committed to my vision and saw it through. This is only the beginning, and there is more to come. I am grateful for the support of my husband, Gregory Simons, who gave himself the title as my “Chief Support Officer”, my family, and friends. I am also grateful for my team: Walter Legal, PLLC, Alyssa Erin Art, and Jenny Hubert Book Editing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
In December 2022, I started Toothlopedia, LLC. The purpose of this business is to develop/create and self-publish the following educational items: Educational book series for children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, geriatrics, special needs, and medically compromised populations. Additionally, coloring and activities books will be created to complement the storybooks in each series. Toothlopedia, LLC also provides educational services, namely, an educational speaker in the field of dental health (e.g., visits to schools, conferences, and other health-related events). Currently, book volumes 1 and 2 are available, along with my recently launched coloring and activities book. My current books target ages 6 and up, but I believe the entire family could benefit from reading them together. Eventually, this year, my characters are going to grow up, and I will continue the book volumes with my adolescent/teenager series. What sets my book apart is its interactive and story-driven approach to dental education. I purposely weaved important lessons into an engaging narrative to help children not only learn about the importance of oral health but also develop a positive attitude towards taking care of their teeth. Inspired by an encyclopedia format, there will be different volumes of the books over the years (aiming for at least 25 or more) to help readers build off what they learned in the previous volume. At the end of each book is a page of the words learned and a family quiz. The coloring and activities book is a great addition to the storybooks and is full of fun interactive activities. In Volume 1, dental terms A-E are covered, so readers learn about brushing, braces, cavities, crowns, enamel, and much more. In Volume 2, dental terms F-N are covered, so readers learn about flossing, fluoride, gums, etc. Each page of the books has a “Fun Fact” associated with it. And at the end of each book are the words learned and a family quiz. The Coloring and Activities book is full of activities such as connect-the-dots, word scrambles, word-find, tic-tac-toe, and much more.” I encourage parents and educators to use my book as a resource in promoting positive oral hygiene habits among children. At home, family members could read this book together at any time of the day (morning or evening), not necessarily in one sitting, and practice and implement some of the things learned such as timing how long they are brushing their teeth. They can quiz each other on concepts. Children can share what they have learned with their own local dentist. Schools could incorporate these books into their libraries or health programs. Dental offices could use this in their lobbies as children wait to be seen. I have families send me pictures or videos of their children engaging with the books together, and it brings me so much joy. One child told their mom that they brushed their teeth because they didn’t want their teeth to cry like in my book. I would love to ask the community to be part of Team Toothlopedia, help to spread the word and educate the community with me. Follow me on my social media pages:
-Instagram: @docstoothlopedia
-Facebook: Toothlopedia, LLC
-View my website at www.toothlopedia.com.
My books are available on Amazon, or they can contact me directly for bulk orders or signed author copies. I can be reached at [email protected].
Amazon Links:
-Volume 1: https://a.co/d/4skIqCL
-Volume 2: https://a.co/d/6vCMf5p
-Coloring & Activities Book: https://a.co/d/3q9nv3u
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
From a dental healthcare perspective, when reflecting on what I love best about our city, I appreciate the well-established network of dental clinics and practitioners who are contributing to the overall well-being of our community. However, it’s important to still acknowledge the existing gaps in providing dental care to certain populations. Despite the positive aspects, I feel that challenges still persist in catering to the dental needs of geriatric individuals, those with special needs, medically compromised individuals, and underserved populations. I also feel that there needs to be is a stronger emphasis on preventive measures and community education in a more comprehensive and inclusive approach. Recognizing and bridging these gaps is essential to ensure that dental health care remains accessible and beneficial to everyone in our diverse community.
Pricing:
- Inside Doc’s Toothlopedia: The Dental Office Book Volume 1- $14.99
- Inside Doc’s Toothlopedia: The Dental Office Book Volume 2- $14.99
- Inside Doc’s Toothlopedia Dental Coloring and Activities Book- $9.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.toothlopedia.com
- Instagram: @docstoothlopedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toothlopedia
- Other: Amazon Links: Volume 1: https://a.co/d/4skIqCL Volume 2: https://a.co/d/6vCMf5p Coloring & Activities Book: https://a.co/d/3q9nv3u
Image Credits
@cir-design
Miles Robinson
