Christina Barry Greene, DDS
Christina Greene is originally from Long Island, New York, and moved to Dallas, Texas in 2012. Her husband is from Portland, Oregon and they say they met in the middle in Dallas. She did a year of research at the dental school before starting at the dental school in 2013.
She married her husband Chad in 2018. They have two twin boys that were born 1/3/21: Zachary and Connor. They have two Persian cats and a show dog named Chloe. Chloe also is a trained therapy dog. They enjoy traveling especially to national parks, working out, being active outdoors, hiking, participating in dog shows, and mentoring other students.
Profession:
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Alma Maters & Graduation Years/Degrees:
Boston University, BA Psychology, Minor Chemistry, Pre-dental 2010
Long Island University, MS Biomedical Science, 2013
Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Surgery 2017
Dallas VA Hospital Residency, 2018
Preferred Pronouns:
She/Her
Hometown:
West Islip, New York
Where do you work, do you have a specialization, and are you working with a specific population?
I own my own dental practice in Keller, Texas. I work with upper to middle class families. I enjoy implant surgeries and oral surgery as well as cosmetic cases.
Can you share your journey about how you became a dentist? Have you always known you wanted to be a dentist? Is there a specific moment/experience that solidified your career choice?
I was always interested in a field in medicine and I wanted to be able to help people with their overall health and self-image. As a young child, I had quite a bit of dental work since I was born without two of my top front teeth. I knew how much dentistry helped me and I wanted to be able to help others.
My favorite part of being a dentist is working with the patients and helping them achieve their goals. The best advice that I would give to patients would be to keep your dental appointments and hygiene visits. It is easy for us to find issues when they are small before they become big. Usually, there is an easy way to fix small problems.
What does a typical day look like for you? Who do you work with most closely or collaborate with frequently? What does your work-life balance look like?
I work with a great dental team. I have two dental assistants, two hygienists and two front desk girls. It takes a village to run the office and provide superior care to 15+ patients per day. Technology is also important, I have the newest and most innovative dental technology. I offer same day crowns as well as digital 3D imaging.
What are some challenges in your profession that you did not expect while you were in undergrad/dental school?
Insurance reimbursements control much of our profession. Dentists have not received an increase in insurance reimbursements since 1999. They do not teach you about that in dental school and it often is not discussed with pre-dental students. Organized dentistry is important to try and combat this.
How has COVID affected you and others in your profession?
In Texas, it has not impacted my profession much. In fact, more patients are working from home and are motivated to come to the dentist.
Can you share a memorable story or patient interaction during your time in dental school or in your profession?
During my residency working with the veterans was most memorable. These individuals desperately needed dental care after giving everything for our country. I enjoyed changing their lives and smiles.
What are some specific things you remember doing to prepare for applying to dental school?
The DAT score is more important than you think. I asked dental students that were in their first year what they used to study and that was a game changer for me. Shadowing a dentist is also important and helpful.
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun?
- Mentoring other dental students
- Dog Showing
- Working Out
- Spending time with my twin boys
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with our pre-health students?
Learn to balance school and fun. It will only help prepare for the most studying you will ever do once you get into dental school. You need an outlet besides just school.