Introduction
Growing up in Kuwait, I used to admire doctors in their white dust coats. I longed for a day when I would join them in serving the many people who were frequenting the local health center. My desire was to be a health professional, but I was not sure of the exact discipline to pursue. My interest in a career in dentistry started during an oral care outreach program in our school in which dentists used to visit our school on monthly basis to give a health talk and free oral care. Currently, I am on a scholarship in the U.S. and I got a chance to interview Dr. Anthony, a dentist working in a public health center.
Main body
In the interview, I asked Dr. Anthony how he developed an interest to be a dentist. He stated that since his childhood, he wanted to make a difference in the world though he was not certain what career to undertake. It was during his first year in high school that there was a community volunteer program in which he got attached to a public healthcare facility that served residents from low socio-economic backgrounds. During the program, Anthony told me that he worked in a dental unit to record the biodata of patients visiting the dental unit. Seeing the important tasks the dentists were doing to return smiles and love to the people, Dr. Anthony told me he was amazed and developed an interest to serve the community as a dentist.
It was at this point of the interview that I asked Dr. Anthony how the interest to be a dentist transitioned to a career choice. My host pointed out that during the attachment he interacted with the doctors working in the unit and inquired what dentistry was all about and its significance. He narrated to me that it is through the answers he got from the interactions that he realized that just like the other health professionals, dentists play a critical role in the provision of health care to patients.
He also realized that many people could not access dental care. Dr. Anthony told me that these revelations and his long-term interest to make a difference in the world convinced him that dentistry was the best career for him. Also, Anthony learned that the work of a dentist was both an art and science. I enquired to know what he meant in relation to the aspect of dentistry being an art and a science. He answered me that it is a science in that it deals with the health of the people and art because sometimes dentists are required to design models for replacing removed teeth. He told me this was a common practice in cosmetic dentistry.
I then asked him about the subjects he majored in high school. He explained to me that he majored in biology and chemistry. The reason for majoring in biology was because it gave him the basics of the concept of life, such as how various organs of the body are interrelated and the aspect of disease-causing organisms and how they relate to oral health. Also, Dr. Anthony told me that chemistry was also a critical subject because it forms the basis for the general health practice.
He gave an example of how dentists use various cleaning products for mouth wash and the prescription they give to their patients. He stated that dentists need to have a clear understanding of the composition of the products in order to avoid endangering the lives of their clients. I asked Dr. Anthony whether the subjects prepared him adequately for dental school. His answer was an emphatic “yes”. He stressed that biology and chemistry are prerequisites for subjects that are learned in dental school. He gave examples of pharmacology, anatomy, microbiology, and physiology.
When I asked the years he had been in practice, he chuckled and said, “Since my days in high school when I fell in love with the practice.” He then explained to me that 2016 was his seventh year after graduating from dental school, but he has been in dental practice for six years. He confirmed to me that he was comfortable working in the public health facility. He said that his life goal was to make a difference in the world.
Thus, working in a public health facility provides him with the best opportunity to achieve his goal as he meets people from different socio-economic backgrounds. As a result, he acknowledged that he feels satisfied whenever he returns a smile to a patient. Being in the public health facility, Dr. Anthony retaliated that he is best placed to offer care to the poor people who cannot afford dental care in privately owned facilities. He emphasized that being a public health practitioner had given him the satisfaction he wanted in life.
I then wanted to know the most positive and least positive aspects of his career. Anthony informed me that there are many positive things. He stated that dentistry has helped him to improve oral health, appearance, and the general quality of life for many people. Also, Anthony enlightened me that his career as a dentist entails working as a team and hence he has gained essential skills for interacting with different health professionals. Regarding the least positive moments, Anthony gave an explanation of how he gets demoralized whenever he thinks of the many people across the globe and even in the U.S., who cannot access dentists.
He gave an example of some minority groups in the U.S. who have no medical cover for oral health. I then asked him whether he is attending any education program. He informed me that he is not but hopes to enroll for further studies in dentistry next year. My final question to Dr. Anthony was to find out his favorite types of dentistry. He stated that he had developed an interest in the general practice as it enabled him to provide holistic care to different people who have oral issues. However, Anthony clarified that in dentistry there are no limitations and that everyone is at liberty to specialize in various areas of interests.
Conclusion
The interview with Anthony was very informative; it gave me insights into the career of a dentist and the important roles played by the dentist in enhancing the health of the community. Having moved from Kuwait to study in the U.S., I can attest that the interview gave me a snapshot of my dream career. I understand the importance of studying and working hard to fulfill my dream that will help me make a difference in Kuwait just as Dr. Anthony has been making a difference here in the U.S.