My ambition began early in life. I knew I wanted to become a dentist. I structured my high school years around obtaining good grades so I could get into dental school, I worked hard and my dedication paid off when I was accepted into James Cook University.
I was often asked, why dentistry? What is it that attracted you to this field? I would think about my response carefully. Why did I want to be a dentist?
I realised that I had chosen dentistry to help people, but I wasn’t really sure what that meant. More truthfully, and a little bit shamefully, it was because of the lifestyle that I saw many dentists have. It seemed to me that many dentists were working normal hours, charged a fortune, and lived a privileged life. It was one of the driving factors as to why I joined the profession.
As I continued to develop into a well-rounded dental practitioner at university, I realized that dentistry was going to throw a lot of obstacles my way. The glory days were over. Dentistry had turned into a competition, a blood bath of practitioners undermining one another to get ahead, all wanting to be the best, the most successful. Their aim was no longer about optimal dental care, it was about making money, being better, even the best. It was a confronting realisation of what the profession had become.
When I finally graduated dental school, I entered this world. I didn’t know what to expect. I had positioned myself well and secured a job in my home city of Sydney. I worked in a practice that was part of the problem. It was taking advantage of young dentists, pushing treatment, and milking patients. It was a difficult time for me - I was young, trying to carry out the best treatment for the patient, while also having management on my back to meet quotas. I left after a year.
I changed from full time to part time so I could see how other practices were managed and run, to see if they were different. I work in a small private clinic, and I decided to get back into Aboriginal health as it was a heavy focus at university. I found that I enjoyed the community spirit that was often seen. I found life became much more balanced but there was still that overly resounding pressure to compete, to be better, to be the best. It wasn’t being driven by the practices themselves but from the dental sphere. The continuing posts about business management, being a successful dentist, making more money, selling treatment, dentists attacking dentists - the pressure never stopped. It was draining to say the least.
It all came to a standstill during the middle of July 2016. I had a very eye-opening health scare. I was faced with the idea that dentistry could be taken away from me.
My thoughts immediately changed from the pressure of being better, being the best and changed to my family, my friends, my life. They changed to what was important. The focus was no longer about the money, the lifestyle or the financial success. It was again thinking about, why dentistry? What is it that attracted me to this field? How could I be in someone’s mouth all day? I had to think about my response carefully. Why did I want to be a dentist?
I looked back at my previous achievements and my focus on assisting those in need. I reflected on the people I met over the years from all walks of life. People that were patients, clinicians and new friends. I realized that I wanted to be a dentist to “help people” but still did not know what that concept meant.
Then it came to me, my oath on graduation. I feel this was a perfect example of why I wanted to become a dentist.
“I recognize that the practice of dentistry is a privilege, granted to me by the community. I commit myself to practising with integrity, honesty, humility and compassion.
“I will assist my patients to make informed decisions that reflect their beliefs. I will treat with consent and uphold confidentiality.
“I will not permit considerations of religion, race, gender, political affiliation, nationality, sexual orientation or social standing to intervene in my duty to my patient.
“I dedicate myself to the compassionate service of humanity. I will oppose policies in breach of human rights and will not participate in them.
“I recognize the limits of my knowledge and will act to maintain and increase my understanding and skills throughout my professional life. I will acknowledge and try to remedy my own mistakes and honestly assess and respond to those of others.
“I commit myself to pass on my profession by teaching others, as those who have gone before me. I will respond in a professional way to the opinions of my colleagues.
“I realize that I will be faced with challenges throughout my dental career, and I will approach the ethics of each situation individually.”
James Cook University – College of Medicine and Dentistry
It has taken a health scare to realize why I am a dentist and what I want to achieve in the profession I want to represent. By writing this article, I want my colleagues to realize that dentistry is a profession whose aim is to help people by following the fundamental principles that were outlined on my day of graduation. By following these principles, I know personally, that my aim will be to treat the patient for the patient’s wellbeing as opposed to my own. I will live my privileged life through the smiles I put on people’s faces rather than the monetary value. Through following this oath, I will become better, I will become the best dentist I can be. I challenge you to do the same.
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