I was asked the other day, “What is your favorite thing about dentistry?” Teeth in and of themselves are not overly exciting. There are dentists that love teeth, but I think they are kind of weird. For me, the best part about dentistry is the people. My patients and my team are the ones that make my job enjoyable. I love working and laughing with my team and patients. I love that my team reads my mind and that we can work together like a well-oiled machine! I love the look on my patients’ faces when we fix that broken tooth, or get them out of pain, or get through a squirmy child appointment.
On the flip side, the toughest thing about dentistry can be the human element too! It is hard helping people through stressful situations. It is hard when people cry. It is hard giving tough news. But when I am stressed working on a child who is pretending he is a roaring dinosaur, I remember that these people are also my reason for working. They are my favorite thing about dentistry.