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One of the Tri-Valley’s most accomplished authors might not be a household name on pop culture bookshelves, but two generations of dental assistants and hygienists couldn’t get through college and career the same without her work.
Pleasanton’s Linda Bartolomucci Boyd just marked the ninth edition of her “Dental Instruments: A Pocket Guide”, released by her longtime publisher Elsevier on April 29. The process of updating her book every three years is a passion project and a way to give back to the industry she loves.
“My continued inspiration is to pass on to everyone to follow your passion and you’re your dreams!” Boyd told me in an interview last week. “Before the final edits I pray over my book that it will in some way inspire others to follow their dreams even though my book is a technical book about dental instruments and equipment.”
“This textbook is the book of the industry. Many instructors tell their students that this book is their dental bible. Keep it on your night stand at night,” Boyd said.
“The reason for the format: Students want to learn in an easy, quick way. Students also use this format as a study guide to test themselves because of the way the book is designed,” she added.
A former dental assistant and now emeritus professor at Diablo Valley College, Boyd pursued her first edition when she was helping lead the community college’s dental assistant program around the turn of the century.
“There was not a book that was just dental instruments and equipment,” she said. “Therefore, I developed a way to teach the instruments. I laminated 5×7 cards and Velcroed the instrument on one side with a number on the other side so the students could test themselves. I had a legend to test themselves.”
After receiving recognition from the American Dental Association during an accreditation visit, and being urged by her students to write a book, Boyd took a sabbatical, researched across the county, linked up with Elsevier and the “Dental Instruments” pocket guide series was born.
The newest version follows the same familiar presentation – “spiral-bound, flashcard-style, flip-chart format”.
“The book includes over 750 photographs and drawings of basic and specialty dental instruments, paired with monographs describing each instrument’s characteristics, functions, order of use, and CDC sterilization guidelines,” Elsevier said in its promotional packet.
“New photos include updated dental equipment to emphasize new technology in the dental field including 3D printing and AI technology,” Boyd added.
The books continue to solidify Boyd’s reputation in the industry locally and nationally.
“Linda is the consummate educator and professional. Students would always look up to her,” said Timothy R. Farley, DDS, who practices in Dublin.
Farley has known Boyd since dental school in 1985. “She’d bring DVC students to SF to be mentored by dental students for experience,” he recalled.
“Along with now being my patient of 40 years, she’s shared her journey of education and publishing through all the editions of her instrument book,” Farley told me. “Her connections to our profession are deep. Most DA schools use her book, and it’s probably the most thorough for those students both now and before.”
“We have become mutual mentors and colleagues for such a long time. I’m fortunate to be in her circle of dental practitioners,” he added.
With the ninth edition now available online, Boyd will soon be advancing on book promotion activities such as speaking engagements, appearances in college classrooms and social media posts. She’s also beginning work to prepare for writing the 10th edition.
“Research entails going to seminars, dental meetings locally and beyond. Well, and of course the internet and podcasts,” she said, noting that colleges want textbooks updated at least every three years and it takes about two years to write and edit her books from contract to publication.
“Teaching the next generation to have a career and a profession is a passion of mine,” Boyd added. “This creates a solid lifestyle for this next generation to be self-sufficient in life. There is much self satisfaction in the dental profession to help patients. It brought me such joy and satisfaction to teach students all of the great things I have learned in this profession.”
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the associate publisher and editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What A Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
