Ah, yes, the dental school personal statement.
When preparing my application, you have to answer this exact question within the confines of 4500 characters. That’s one measly single-spaced page of hey, this is why I want to have this job for the next forty years of my life. I had difficulty verbalizing why I want to spend four years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on becoming qualified for this specific career, especially since I can’t say I’ve known since childhood that dentistry is for me.
Even though I knew for a fact that this is what I want to do, as I sat down to write my personal statement, I didn’t know where to start. I Googled why dental school, why dentistry, and why should I be a dentist, changing every search link from blue to purple. Because my path leading to the decision on dental school was not direct, I struggled to tell a cohesive story that summarized how a bunch of little experiences came together to point to dentistry.
Finding My Narrative
Articulating my reason for wanting to become a dentist became easier after doing a personal exercise in which I asked myself why in response to any reason, until I found my core reasons. I definitely recommend questioning every reason you think of, as it was key in finding my narrative.
Ultimately, I boiled down my answer to why dentistry? to four main factors, the first three of which I included in my personal statement. The one I didn’t include, the last reason, is a business/monetary motivator. While this reason to pursue a job is as valid as the first three, it’s the one that both admissions committees and applicants recognize, but neither acknowledge during the application process. Let me know if you don’t agree with this, but this is what I’ve noticed from the cycle.
My Reasons for Pursuing Dentistry
So, why do I want to be a dentist? I want to…
…incorporate art into my everyday life. I love drawing, ceramics, nail art, painting—any activity that requires creativity and fine detail. Dentistry involves this same artistry that I use with my hobbies. Instead of resulting in a pretty picture, though, the outcome is a person’s healthier mouth.
…produce immediate results. General dentists complete most procedures same-day. I love the fact that someone can come into the office and leave an hour or two later feeling pain-free and confident.
…help my community. This is a typical answer cited by applicants to any health professions program, but dentists in particular have the opportunity to see their patients for life. I want to be there for little Sarah’s excitement over her first loose tooth, her apprehension about braces, her cosmetic procedure before her wedding day, and for her own child’s first visit to my office. I want to help my community and feel like an integral part of it, too.
…be my own boss. When I get out of dental school, I want to work as many hours as possible to gain experience, grow a patient base, and establish patient trust. When I start a family, though, I want to be present during my children’s childhoods. Being my own boss and setting my own hours will be a challenge, but one I am looking forward to tackling.
My Essay
When drafting my personal statement, I found it useful to look at previous applicants’ essays. Please use this as inspiration, but don’t copy it (that wouldn’t look so good for you!)
My first exposure to the dental field was less than ideal—actually, it involved me losing consciousness. The morning before my initial shadowing experience, I foolishly did not eat breakfast, and not even my feigned toughness could combat my body’s vasovagal response to seeing the bloody tooth extraction in front of me. Despite such a shaky start, this initial glimpse into dentistry served as a catalyst for my sincere interest in becoming a dentist, an interest that has since developed into a passion. Though my decision to become a dentist arrived circuitously through my pursuit of creative hobbies, my values of community and giving, and my dedication to serving disabled and elderly people, looking back, it is obvious how these individual interests and experiences throughout my life have culminated into a passion for dentistry.
As an avid artist, I am happiest when I create. Whether it is perfecting a nail-art design or making pottery, I love any activity that requires creativity, intense concentration, and meticulous attention to detail. Fortunately, my current job at a dental practice not only allows me to practice artistry in both my dental assisting and marketing roles, but also leads me to better understand the art of dentistry. Daily, I notice parallels between my hobbies and the dental field: the acrylic mix used for temporary bridges requires the same precise powder-to-liquid ratio that is needed when forming acrylic nails, and firing a crown is identical to firing a hand-thrown cup. I enjoy dentistry for the same reasons I enjoy art: the process requires fine detail and the final result is both tangible and aesthetically pleasing. To have the opportunity to incorporate my knack for creating art into my everyday work is one of the primary reasons I aspire to be a dentist.
Granted, many careers involve creativity, design, and manipulation of materials, but only dentistry contains these components along with a key aspect that drives me: helping others. I grew up surrounded by caregivers (my mother and father are physicians), and so from a young age, I began to appreciate the involvement my parents have with our local community and the satisfaction that accompanies serving others. I am aware that working in healthcare can be exhausting and stressful, but from watching my parents, I know it is absolutely worth the work. Through dentistry, I can educate, heal, and even save the lives of my neighbors. This desire to help my community has driven me to give my utmost effort in my job and classes, and it will absolutely continue to motivate me for the rest of my future career.
After college graduation, my interest in dentistry developed into a deep passion as I began working as a general dental assistant for Dr. D. Through this experience, I have found that while I enjoy working with all patients, it is my enthusiasm for serving our disabled and elderly patients that ultimately fuels my passion for dentistry. When ninety-year-old Mr. W came in because he had fallen down his garage stairs and needed a restoration on one of his last remaining natural teeth, my heart ached as I covered him with a blanket, held an ice pack to his head, and calmed his wife while we waited for Dr. D to begin treatment. When Ms. F, a woman with a speech disorder, came in for a crown recementation, I directed my questions toward her instead of just her caretaker. Her smile confirmed that my patience and acknowledgement made her feel involved and integral in her own care. Similarly to Mr. W and Ms. F, many people need immediate dental care not simply to gain self-confidence, but in order to nourish their bodies, tell their stories, and live their highest quality of life. I want not only to comfort the people of my community in their times of need, but also to serve them by providing tangible improvements to their mouths and health.
I aspire to be a dentist because I crave a lifetime filled with artistry, community, and service for those who require care the most. As I continue my work as a dental assistant, I am galvanized to take action by the experiences of our patients and the challenges that they face, motivated by knowing that my future skills and expertise will serve them. To me, the ability to provide care, compassion, joy, and self-confidence to the members of my community is the very definition of success and self-fulfillment. This is why I want to be a dentist.
Overall
I’m sure my reasons for why dentistry are similar or even identical to other pre-dental students, and I’m positive that as I begin school, my primary motivators will shift and grow. It will be interesting to uncover the aspects of dentistry that only enforce my passion for the field as well as the ones that I’ll want to change.