Why Would Anyone Want to Be a Dentist?

The other day I was asked to explain why I chose to become a dentist, and if it has been a rewarding career. This was for a newspaper article that hasn’t yet been published, but I thought I would share it anyway. It was fun to put into words how I feel. Hope you enjoy it, too!

Why I am a Dentist

Can you think of a better way to spend every day than to work with fun people and have a plethora of interesting people stop by to visit you, too? Can you think of a better way to spend your life than to have the opportunity to develop many meaningful and often intimate relationships that can span decades? Can you think of a better way to spend your career than to be able to help people look and feel better and then to be rewarded by smiles of joy and gratitude?

Well, I can’t.

And that’s why I love being a dentist…even after nearly 30 years of practice.

Dentistry is a perfect blend of art and science encompassing the knowledge of a doctor, the skills of a surgeon and the creativity of an artist. It is as much an avocation as it is a vocation.

I love what I do and do what I love. So, keeping up with new trends, techniques and cutting-edge technology is as much a joy as it is an obligation. (Avid sports fans have a ritual to scour the newspaper for the previous day’s developments. Golf and skiing enthusiasts search for the latest developments in equipment design.) For me, the technological evolution/revolution is exciting to behold…new tools to enhance treatment outcomes-new toys to play with.

Dentistry for me is a wonderfully rewarding profession and each day is a new adventure. For those seeking a career, my advice is to find something that gives you passion; the rest will just fall into place. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Next Halloween, stop by the office and you’ll see the entire staff in costume…just for fun.