Recently, the dentists at Sol sat down to answer some questions about their personal philosophies, talk about how they got to where they are, and share a glimpse into the life of a dentist…
Q: When did you first know you wanted to become a dentist?
A: After having a very difficult wisdom extraction performed by a very compassionate and caring dentist I completely felt the need to explore this field more.
His professional and caring manner for people influenced me significantly.
Q: Are teeth the first thing you notice about someone?
A: Teeth are not the first thing I notice at first, but being drawn to them I will notice them at one point or another.
Q: Who were some of your influences that you looked up to when starting your career?
A: My best friend growing up started dental school before I did. At that time I was working on my engineering degree, and watching him enjoy the nuances of dental school solidified my decision.
Q: How important is it to continue learning and adapting with new technology in your field?
A: In our day and age, if you’re not aware of what technology will be used tomorrow, you are already behind the curve. I thrive to keep up not only with new technology, but I also make sure top be aware of all new research and treatment standards that my patients can benefit from. Being a life long learner is crucial in dentistry, in my opinion.
Q: What is your personal philosophy around dentistry?
A: Always keep a patient centered approach a priority. We must always remember there’s a person attached to that tooth.
Q: Where do you see the future of dentistry headed?
A: The future of dentistry is the brightest it’s even been. With increasing global reach of dentists to various patients around the world and using the latest advancements, we can hopefully have many preventative procedures for our youth to help them maintain a healthy and natural dentition.
Q: What would you say are the 3 singularly most important ways to keep your teeth healthy and happy?
A: Brush/Floss , Healthy Diet, and Routine dental check – ups.
Q: What advice would you give to someone opening up a practice today?
A: Open a practice with one goal in mind: Treat the community like your family and keep a patient centered approach at all times. Dentistry can be a stressful and difficult career, but all that is negligible when your patients appreciate you because you care for them.
Q: What is most challenging/rewarding about what you do?
A: The most rewarding thing in dentistry is having a patient change their perceptive on dental visits from being terrifying to now looking forward to them. Many patients instill trust in me to make their treatments comfortable and free of anxiety and I take it upon myself to ensure they have a pleasant experience.