"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