Inspired by Compassion: My Journey to Pursue Dentistry

Watching a documentary on CNN about surgeons travelling to Nepal to improve the lives of cleft pallet sufferers ignited a spark in me to study dentistry. My heart broke hearing that the cleft pallet sufferers were not considered part of the community. Fortunately, the surgeons suggested that after the operation they could be reintroduced into the community. This made me realise how subhuman they could have felt with this defect. It was then, I decided to pursue a career in dentistry. I felt that I wanted to give a new lease of life to someone one day.

To understand dentistry and as well make my path easier, I undertook a prolonged period of work experience and benchmarking at Pearl Dental. From this period at Pearl Dental, I learned that to be a successful dentist, excellent teamwork between the dentist and the staff was the key. Additionally, I learnt communication skills from the dentists who talked to their patients according to the patient’s level of understanding. Besides, I learned that adaptation of correct tone and body language is necessary for patients understanding since it helps patients to relax and enjoy treatment while eliminating nervousness. Truly, academic qualification though necessary, is only a small aspect of what makes an excellent dentist. Nevertheless, empathy and understanding are extremely crucial while interpersonal skills are at the forefront of dental care. During my time at Pearl Dental, one patient who required a root canal procedure caught my attention. The patient appeared upset since he had a broken tooth and was not sure if something could be done to alleviate the condition. A dentist calmed the patient down and explained the available treatments and the patient chose root canal surgery. This eased the patient and gave her self-esteem. This taught me the importance of people skills which since then I have worked hard to develop.

Moreover, I undertook a summer job at Bombay Stores which helped me develop customer service and manual dexterity skills. It was essential to speak to customers according to the service they required while prioritising customer all the times. Though some were abusive, this helped me develop endurance and resilience which makes me the most qualified candidate for this course. Additionally, from my work history, I have learnt detection and management skills which have given me the ability to effectively ascertain individual’s issues and which I believe would be important in this course of study. I also participated in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (D of E) where I gained valuable leadership skills.

Furthermore, I pursued A-level which I believe will help me in dentistry Psychology. A-level has assisted me to develop cognitive abilities through various tasks such as analysing and calculations in mathematics. Through the study of Biology, I learned the human anatomy and dental formula which I believe are crucial in this field of study. Chemistry, on the other hand, taught me spatial judgment and memory skills through conducting experiments and measuring solutions. Moreover, I have excellent management skills, which is reflected through the independent research I undertook whilst conducting my EPQ. From the study, I learnt that a vape can be used as an alternative treatment for stopping smoking, therefore, stopping further tooth decay. I am aware that dental awareness has increased over time due to cosmetic innovations and the need for self-satisfaction leading people to seek cosmetic surgery.

Therefore, offered a chance, I will work hard to broaden my dentistry knowledge as well as gum health. Besides, I know that this course is a challenging field, but worth-attending. I am, therefore, looking forward to different professional and academic challenges during my study at your institution. This challenging environment will help me acquire and develop relevant skills to tackle some of the challenging situations in my country as well as internationally. With the increasing teeth weakness, decay and deteriorating gum health, it is my interest to start my international dental health care to cater for humanity

Finally, during my free time, I like spending time with my family especially my brother who is in his final year of medicine and my sister who is studying a Paramedic Course. Both are my mentors in this field of study. I like having them around during the holidays. I also like reading and playing football with my friends.