Interpersonal Relationships In Dental Care

With a firm grip on a straight elevator and a confident countenance, the dentist carefully loosens the patient's second premolar in its bony socket. Afterwards, he trades me the straight elevator for extraction forceps and uses it to wiggle the tooth, eventually pulling it out. Subsequently, I take a large suction tube and remove the excess blood; at the same time, the dentist gazes at the tooth, looks at me and nods.

It was this day at the free clinic where I encountered my enthusiasm for extractions and other thrilling oral surgical procedures; however, it was when the patient sincerely thanked me for assisting in the removal of his painful tooth that I experienced intense satisfaction. It is this yearn for fulfillment through compassionate

dental care that ultimately reminds me why I am persistently pursuing this career.
Nevertheless, I consider the importance of interpersonal relationships, the opportunity to educate people, and the flexibility that embodies the business of dentistry enticing. Thus, it is the assortment of these three features of dentistry blended with my passion for oral care that makes the dental profession the perfect choice for me.
Through my shadowing experience, I have realized the strong effect interpersonal relationships has on the growth of a dental career and how it resonates with my desire to share and connect with people.

This was made evident to me this year when I asked a dentist how he amassed a large patient base, and he said it was primarily through word of mouth. At first, this wasn’t very compelling; however, I recognized he had a particular niche for effortlessly communicating with his patients, and it was then where I made the association between how much one invests in the well-being of another and success. Moreover, he developed his relationship with the rest of the community by attending social events, being a vocal member of his church, and networking with other dentists. Thus, it was both the quality of the interaction and the desire to continually meet new people that positively impacted the growth of his practice and career, and it is this correlation I find so

attractive.
Furthermore, choosing to spend the time building a caring relationship with my patients will offer me the opportunity to incorporate a joy of mine: teaching.

I never considered this as a main selling point to dentistry as a career until one day I reflected on what makes me happy. I thought about the charm in leading a study group, helping my friends understand a topic, and attempting to answer medically-related questions my mother spontaneously throws at me from time-to-time. Likewise, I thought about the variety of information dentists impart to their patients, and how I value those moments.

Interestingly, it was a dentist who shared with me how flexibility characterizes the business of dentistry and how it relates to the privilege of giving. As the old adage goes, true happiness comes from giving. This is why I want to invest in the lives of others by establishing relationships, spending more time with people, teaching, helping people regain a sense of self-worth, and the list goes on. Having the freedom to set my own schedule, choose what skills to practice, and what technologies to incorporate will let me focus on what truly matters, helping others reach

happiness.
In just this past year, I have progressed ever closer to becoming a well-rounded individual. Through my coursework, claimed by USF College of Medicine faculty members to be rigorously equivalent to the first year of medical school, and through my involvement in cancer research, I have expanded my biological and medical knowledge. In addition, I have advanced in other dimensions by investing more effort into the improvement of my health, exploring and strengthening my convictions, and meeting many diverse and wonderful people along the way.
A faculty member at my university once said, “pursue your desires with no regrets.” I’m happy and confident in saying that through all these experiences, I am now closer than ever in accomplishing my aspirations. For these reasons, I believe I will not only make a great student at a professional school, but a great, compassionate, and caring dentist.