The pursuit of excellence: Overcoming perfectionism in dentistry

Photo of Muhalab Al Sammarraie, D.D.S.

Dentistry represents the perfect intersection between scientific precision and artistic creativity. It is not simply about treating teeth; dentists are artists who blend their understanding of biological sciences with exceptional artistic skills to craft smiles that suit every face, making dentistry the beaming face of medicine. As dentists, our training involves working on extremely small areas, often no… Read More »

Breaking down barriers to care through portable dentistry

Photo of Sampada Deshpande, D.D.S., in front of van

I started working with seniors and patients with special health care needs last year. This was a result of my general practice residency, during which I learned how to care for patients with more complex needs. Finding care for many of these patients is especially difficult. Some patients are restricted because of resources or their support systems; others… Read More »

How the Well-Being Index has helped my mental health

Photo of Jarod Johnson, D.D.S.

As dentists, it is important for us to understand mental health illnesses are on a continuum, from mild or none to moderate or severe, and they are diagnosable and treatable health conditions. Everyone has a state of mental health and wellness, which can be good or poor or somewhere in between. Mental health and wellness can vary or… Read More »

How sisterhood and mentorship help navigate a career in surgery

Photo of Kristi Agari, D.M.D., M.D., and Kimiko Agari, D.D.S., M.D.

Kimiko Agari, D.D.S., M.D., and Kristi Agari, D.M.D., M.D., are sisters who received training in the same oral and maxillofacial surgery program. I interviewed both Drs. Agari to understand their journeys into a surgical career. Dr. Hung: It’s rare to see sisters who pursued a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery together and in the same residency program.… Read More »

Overcoming unnecessary fear, or why I ate bugs in Thailand

Photo of Drs. Ganter and McNeill

Imagine standing at a bustling street market in Bangkok, the air filled with exotic scents and the sounds of a vibrant city. In front of you is a vendor, his cart adorned with an array of unusual delicacies. He gestures toward a bowl of fried insects, a common snack in Thailand. For many, this scene epitomizes the very… Read More »

Managing student loan debt as a new dentist

Photo of Brittany Vacura, D.D.S.

As new dentists, we can all remember that gut-wrenching moment when we received an email from our loan servicer warning us that our payments would be due soon. Looking back at our time as dental students, we spent years learning the intricacies of prepping the most ideal class II restoration, administering anesthetic and memorizing mnemonics in order to… Read More »