Meet Dr. Cutler Frandsen, DMD, Gunnison, Utah.
Dr. Frandsen describes meeting community needs in Rural Utah, as well as challenges faced while paying off student debt.
Meeting the community’s needs:
- “This patient has not had a full set of teeth for years, and the remaining teeth were in very poor shape. The patient had difficulty eating. I was able to provide the extractions and immediate denture fabrication for this patient. It was great to be able to see the patient with a full smile and a new prosthesis that can hopefully be life changing for them. The patient is still currently trying to adjust to their new dentures.”
- “A patient had called in as an emergency with a broken front tooth. Broken anterior teeth are one of my favorite things to fix for people. I was able to see them shortly after they had broken their front tooth. They were nervous about how the tooth would look. Breaking a front tooth is traumatic for many people who have experienced it. I explained to the patient that I had broken my front tooth as a teenager and that the only ones who know are my dentist and myself. I was able to repair the broken front tooth for the patient and show them the results in the mirror. The patient was amazed that you couldn’t really tell the tooth was ever broken. It is one of the most rewarding experiences in dentistry to help patient’s regain confidence after experiencing something that can be traumatic like a broken front tooth.”
Challenges of student debt:
- “Student loans are always a challenge. It has been great to have the 0% interest on student loans during the pandemic. It has allowed me to make some good progress on paying down my student loans. Even though I have made some good progress, looking at the amount of money owed for student loans can sometimes be overwhelming. I feel confident in my ability to pay off my student loans because of how I taught to manage money while I was young.”
Loving Rural Utah:
- “I am loving the community that I am living in. Rural Utah is a place unlike the larger cities in Utah.”
- “My family has been able to make great friends in the community and look forward to finding more ways that we can contribute over the years.”