Meet Dr. Norman R. Dzingle

 Mt Pleasant dentist, MT Pleasant dentist, Mt. Pleasant MI dentist, Norman Dzingle DDS  

Credentials:

Graduate of University of Michigan, DDS

Under Graduate work at Wayne State University

Lumineers Certified Dentist

Membership:

MDA- Michigan Dental Association 

Mt Pleasant Chamber of Commerce

9th District Dental Society President 2009-2010

ADA- American Dental Association

Central Michigan Community Hospital - Staff

 

 Dr. Dzingle was recently featured in an article written by Staff at McLaren Hospital.

Central Michigan Life
                       Your Central News Source Since 1919

 

Staff Report | Academics, Student Life

Local dentist offers students unique chance for real world experience

By Jessica Fecteau || March 22, 2011

                                   Central Michigan Community Hospital 

 

                                  
                                 Pre-dental students (Chris Pankow, Mike Schepansky, Joe Szymczak)

stand in the operating room with Dr. Norman R. Dzingle, center. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pankow)
Pre-dental students at Central Michigan University are getting hands-on experience despite the College of Medicine’s continued delays.
For the past six years Dr. Norman R. Dzingle has given pre-dental students the opportunity to gain real-world experience by working at his general dentistry, cosmetic and comprehensive family dental care practice in Mount Pleasant.
“After putting in time and earning a place in the office by showing dedication and determination, the doctor will allow students to assist in the office (during procedures and surgeries) and at the Central Michigan Community Hospital,” Milford senior Michael Schepansky said. “It’s a huge opportunity that not many people get the chance to do.”
Schepansky said he was first given a hands-on opportunity when the doctor called him during an emergency.
“At first I didn’t realize the opportunity I was getting, then I got there and it was a lot to take in,” Schepansky said. “Job shadowing can only let me see so much, so being able to assist up close was really intense and exciting.”
Taking part in procedures is a rare opportunity for pre-dental students and unheard of at other offices, Dzingle said.
Williamston senior Chris Pankow  said students are given experience in both the dental and business side of dental offices.
“We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard because we are representing Dr. Dzingle,” Pankow said.
Dzingle said students are guided through procedures with extensive explanations and he teaches them necessary people skills for taking care of patients.
“I tell the students why I did this and what this means during procedures,” Dzingle said. “We are using sophisticated equipment, so it takes a person more intelligent and motivated than average. They are seeing things that few dental students ever see.”
CMU alumnus Joe Szymczak of Grand Rapids said there is a very close relationship between the staff and everyone is willing to cover for each other when exams roll around.
Dzingle looks for students who are mature enough to know it’s a lot of mentoring but it is also job and hard work.
“I go to Central’s pre-dental club meetings when I look for future employees because it’s a great place to find motivated and intelligent students who are willing to work,” Dzingle said.
Szymczak feels he now has an edge over other dental students after working for Dzingle.
“I know the instruments, tools and procedures that you don’t learn in class,” Szymczak said. “Working there has helped me know for sure that this is what I want to do.”

 

Check out our Front Page article published in the Morning Sun.

The Morning Sun, local news, sports and weather serving Clare, Gratiot and Isabella counties
Serving Central Michigan

Teeth run in family's blood
Published: Monday, June 20, 2005

                              
Jeffery and Jeremy Dzingle are pursuing careers in dentistry and got their start working in their father Norman's dental office. (Sun Photograph By LISA YANICK)

Here comes another gold nugget!

That's what the Dzingle children hear every time their father, Norman, is about to impart his nearly 30 years of dental experience to them.

Eldest son Jeffrey may groan and shake his head in mock embarrassment when his father utters those words, but the recent dental school graduate doesn't throw those nuggets away.

"Being in the dental office all those years made dental school a lot easier," Jeff said. He graduated in 2005 from the University of Michigan dental school. "People in my classes were apprehensive about seeing people clinically. I wasn't."

The Dzingle family, however, isn't content to leave it at the proverbial Dzingle & Son. Norman Dzingle, DDS, with the help of his children, is creating a legacy.

Of the other four Dzingle children, each is pursuing a career in the health care field with three of the four pursuing some form of dentistry program. And they all got their start working in the dental office.

"They've all done something here from working the front desk to re-calls to grass cutting," Norman said.

The sole daughter and eldest child, Jennifer, who lives in Kalamazoo, is studying to be a dental technician, having started training at her father's office at the age of nine.

Jeremy, the next eldest son, is in his second year of dental school at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. Jeremy is working in his father's office during the summer break from school.

 "It feels good coming back here, but it's kind of like being summer schooled by your old man," Jeremy said. With two more years of school ahead, Jeremy is looking forward to joining his brother and father in the Wisconsin Street practice. "It's like a residency."

Next in line is the rebel son of the family, Jared. Attending Central Michigan University, as did his older brothers, Jared plans to transfer to Ferris State University and pursue a career as a pharmacist.

But his time working in the office and watching his father served him well.

"Jared said, 'I've seen what you go through and it's not for me,'" Norman said with a ready smile. "It's not always easy. It's stressful and there are a number of business things to take care of, like dealing with insurance companies."

The youngest of the Dzingle clan is Jonathan, a junior at Mt. Pleasant High School. While working the front desk of the family business, Jonathan is considering whether he can pursue a 6-year program in dental surgery at Case Western Reserve. That would shave two years off the typical education for dentists.

Even Norman's wife, Marilyn, works in the health care field. She's a registered nurse.

While some people prefer not to work with family members, the man who began the practice in 1977 couldn't be happier.

"It feels great," Norman said, barely able to keep his lanky frame in his seat. "As with any professional, when I can download 30 years of experience to my sons and daughters, few will be able to touch them.

"As health professionals, they will be unsurpassed."

Both Jeff and Jeremy agree they are getting a huge step up on their peers.

"Dental school doesn't prepare you for the business side," Jeff said. "It's part of why I came back. It would have been a lot tougher starting a practice on my own. Running a practice is the other 50 percent."

High energy and an irrepressible sense of humor may characterize Norman Dzingle, some of which has obviously rubbed off on his sons, but maintaining high quality dental care is his passion.

"I've always said, patients may complain about a lot of things, but never let them complain about the quality of your work," Norman said. "You have to take a hard line on quality. That's why we are here and why will maintain a legacy."

Jeff agreed.

"I treat every patient as if that was me in that chair," he said. "What would I want in my mouth? What would be the gold standard for care?"

Joining a family business, especially in a highly technical field, can pay dividends for both the family and their customers.

"It's a lot easier coming back because you know each other's character and know what you're getting into," Jeremy said.

Even with a near certain influx of new dentists in the years to come, Norman doesn't plan to retire anytime soon�or maybe ever.

"I enjoy hassling the people too much to retire," Norman said. "I love bantering with the patients."

Jeffery and Jeremy Dzingle are pursuing careers in dentistry and got their start working in their father Norman's dental office. (Sun Photograph By LISA YANICK)

 

Central Michigan Life
                       Your Central News Source Since 1919
Staff Report | Academics, Student Life
Pre-dental students assist dentist with surgery, prepare for future careers 
By Ben Harris Senior Reporter            Published Friday, December 2, 2011 

Three pre-dental students had an opportunity to practice their field in a way not usually accessible to under graduates.

Travis Cordell, James Singer and Kevin Donovan assisted Dr. Norman Dzingle in preforming dental surgery last Tuesday at Central Michigan Community Hospital, 1221 South Dr.

The patient was placed under a general anesthetic and 15 tooth extractions were done. Cordell, a Mount Pleasant senior, said two of them would assist Dr. Dzingle at a time by suctioning and keeping the patient's tongue and lips out of the way while Dr. Dzingle drilled. The third person handed instruments to the others and observed.

 

"We just rotated so all of us could get a chance to assist, and then during the whole thing we got to learn a lot. I mean, Doc's really good at talking through everything he does and telling us why he's doing it," Cordell said.

    Singer, a Macomb senior said he is grateful to Dr. Dzingle and CMCH for the opportunity.

    "Doc explains all the techniques he's learned over the years, and he's practiced for more than 35 years, so he has picked up so much since dental school," he said. "A lot of people go into the healthfield without going in and seeing blood; you don't really know how you're going to react to it. I know some people who have completely changed career paths because they couldn't do it."

    Singer said the surgery took about three hours, and the patient needed all their teeth extracted to have dentures put in. 

    "This time, the patient wasn't awake, and with any of my other experiences of assisting, it has always been at Doc's office and he has only used local anesthetic which is like a shot you get in your mouth," he said.

    Singer said he and Cordell have been working for Dzingle since February, with Donovan being hired later.

    "It was a great opportunity, and I didn't think I'd ever get to do something like that as an undergrad. It really gave us some insight in the different areas of dentistry, and some exposure to things we had not seen before," Donovan said. "And to get up close and personal like that is awesome."

    Donovan, a Williamston senior, said working at the office with Dr. Dzingle is better than job shadowing because he gets to see everything that goes into the business.

    "When you shadow, usually, you more or less just see a certain degree of it. You just see the procedure, but with this job we're able to see the whole nine yards and everything that goes into it," Donovan said. "That's really eye-opening and helpful to me in deciding whether I want to do it or not. It's a really cool opportunity."

 
(Front) Travis Cordell, (Middle) Hospital personnel, Dr. Dzingle, James Singer, (Back) Kevin Donovan