Personal Narrative: A Career In Dental Care

It was my first year in dental school when I stood up amongst my classmates to recite our dental oath at the end of our white coat ceremony. In this oath, I pledged to be a student doctor that encompasses the values of integrity, service, and excellence towards all of my patients. The emblem on my white coat displays the greatest significant value to me, our school motto: “Worship of God through Service to Mankind.” Placing the needs of others first for the greater good is my definition of service. In the underserved community, several barriers may hinder the access of care. Through service, a bridge is formed to combat these obstacles. My passion and commitment to serve those with limited access to healthcare are due to my personal experiences …show more content…
Consequently, my passion for a career in dentistry stems from positive experiences with practitioners during the time as a patient at one of the Philadelphia Health Centers. Waiting for what seemed like hours to be seen by one of the providers, I remember being a little nervous, but also intrigued. While externing at the Indian Health Services dental clinic at the Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Hospital, I’ve noticed the long line of patients waiting to be seen with the look of anticipation for treatment. I’ve treated patients needing extensive restorative procedures. There was one patient who was extremely anxious about the dental appointment. Notwithstanding, his fear of the dentist was managed and successfully restored his carious lesions through quadrant dentistry. In the end, he was thankful for making his appointment less daunting. This experience reinforced the idea of establishing rapport with patients as essential to in vulnerable …show more content…
My experiences and background kindle my flame to serve. I am humbly grateful for the opportunity to acquire knowledge of comprehensive oral healthcare and to provide dental services to society. Moreover, an additional year of experience through a residency program will provide extensive training in treating various patients through a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to oral health care. The program will increase my efficiency and a well-versed dentist. I aspire to collaborate with organizations in the community to explore preventative measures to bring public awareness to concerns. The satisfaction that I know that someone could benefit from my aid is vastly rewarding. I hope one day, to create beautiful smiles filled with healthy teeth and building a strong personal relationship individually and within the