Day in the Life of Trevor Schnepf

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I graduated in 2009. My wife and I have two kids, Miller and Finley. My partner and I practice in St. Albert.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I remember seeing Top Gun as a young kid, and I knew right then that I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I guess we know how that turned out.

Do you have a dental hero?
There have been a great number of people who have influenced me... far too many to list here. We had a couple of great clinical instructors in school, and I had a class full of exceptional people who I admire. As a student, I met many dentists who've left a lasting impression on me, and I am lucky enough to continue to meet some fantastic people as I go. Just when I think I'm starting to grasp it all and getting skilled at what I do, I meet someone who proves that to be entirely false.

What is your favourite thing about being a dentist?
As corny as it sounds, taking care of people really has been the most rewarding. Most people really appreciate what we do and I think we all forget that from time to time.

What's your favourite procedure?
Is there really anything better than seating a crown and it fits perfectly and looks great? That's my favourite by far though my staff would argue that I prefer talking.

What has this crazy time been like for you?
Oh wow… this has been... let's call it an "opportunity." I'm sure most of us went through the same range of emotions and experienced the same fears and concerns over shutting down our offices. Once the dust settled, I became a stay-at-home dad to kids in grades 1 and 2. The first day at home, I made a list of the things I would do with my free time to better myself and complete some jobs around the house and for the practice. The second day, I threw away all my lists and questioned the paternity of my children as I tried to figure out how to become a school teacher, principal, janitor and counsellor. Teachers aren't paid enough.

How is your practice doing during this crisis?
Our emergency calls are coming at the same rate as they did prior to the office closure, but of course, we are directly treating only a small percentage of those. The office itself is getting some much-needed attention and some upgrades here and there. We have been reaching out to patients through different mediums to stay in contact, providing updates and generally checking in to let them know we are ready for them once we are back to work.

How are you coping?
I think, like most people, I am managing okay, but I miss the routine of work more than anything. We have done our best to schedule our days at home to be as routine as possible and that seems to make the biggest difference. I would tell you that I've been working out and eating healthy every day and that wouldn't be a complete lie, but I'm enjoying spending time with my kids, and it seems like no matter what the sun continues to rise the next day whether we are stressed out today or not.

Did you have this kind of business interruption incorporated into your plan?
We have a little bit of a rainy day fund for this kind of thing, but I would say that until we are back to work and functioning "normally" it's hard to tell how prepared we were. These things come down to expenses and cash in the bank, and I'd simply say that your expenses can never be too low, your lifestyle too simple, and your bank account can (almost) never be too high.

Any advice for up and coming practitioners?
I'd repeat the basic idea of living small and saving large if you aren't already — advice I could definitely use myself! And of course, we aren't going through this alone. Reach out to friends and family to offer help but also to ask for it as well. Use the time to reflect on your practice, your relationships, family, yourself… all that Dr. Phil stuff. Start with "I'm happy when:" and "I experience less stress when:" The last thing I'd say is like every bump in the road, this is an "opportunity" for a little perspective on life and what is truly important. We will be back to work eventually, so do the things now that will allow us to look back at this time and say, "I'm glad I had that time to…"

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