(By KELSEY DOMINGUEZ)

When it comes to her social life, Summer Jackson is excited about becoming 21 this May. But despite being in her early 20s, in terms of her professional life, she’s already notched three years of invaluable experience in the dental industry under her belt.

“I’m the worst patient. I know I work for the dentist, but when I’m in the chair, I’m scared,” says Summer, shaking her head.

She calls herself a control freak and describes herself as a very paranoid patient. If she had the choice, she’d be her own dentist and doctor.

On the other hand, at work, she feels nothing, if not confident, working as a dental assistant. She enjoys cosmetic work over restorative work because she feels cosmetic procedures yield more rewarding outcomes.

“A lot of people come in to get cosmetic work done because they’re insecure,” explains Summer, a dental assistant at a Westlake office. “I think confidence is essential for well being.”

She remembers a teenage patient who was hesitant to get a procedure done, and who was generally very standoffish, but once in temporary crowns the patient could not stop smiling. The patient’s mother described her daughter as a whole new person after their procedure. “I have stories for days. It’s insane,” says Summer with a smile.

She says what had attracted her toward the dental industry was her desire to make good money without extensive schooling.

Although it wasn’t what she expected, Summer feels completely transformed by her experiences as a dental assistant.

“The information I’ve learned in the short years I’ve been a dental assistant has completely altered the course I want to have my life go down.”

She considers her former desires as superficial and limiting: Prom queen arm-in-arm with her star quarterback boyfriend, eventually attending a university and joining a sorority.

A lot has changed in very little time for Summer, but she’s naturally versatile. She proudly says she’s not rushing into anything now, and that once she’s ready, she’ll be attending hygiene school aspiring to become a dental hygienist.

Some of her favorite advice when it comes to oral care? Simply, “You only floss the teeth you want to keep.”

(Editor’s Note: This story is part of our Featuring Texans series. The writer of this story, Kelsey Dominguez, is a friend of Summer Jackson, and submitted this piece as part of ACC’s News Reporting 1 course.)