keili

this post is to serve as a reminder to myself :)

was talking to chin nam the other day about how as 5th year students, we (maybe only me lol) subconsciously rank ourselves by the difficulty/complexity of the treatment that we are doing. for example, if someone is doing a bridge or a post and core or even a simple molar endo, we subconsciously have that little bit of envy and think ‘wow he’s up to that stage already!’

and its so funny how we (or maybe only me) as dental students compare ourselves based on the tasks we have. and subsequently categorised people as better dentists because they are doing more complex stuff.

yesterday i had a full day clinic. and it was really pleasant. granted i didnt do much. but the feeling that you re helping patients, giving them answers to their questions, thinking for the own good, being nice to them, always smiling to them, and being a good listener to them was incredible. i think in 5th year, you get to act a bit like a dentist and it gives you a great confidence in talking to patients.

its so funny how i think i actually treat my patients better than some of  my friends haha. seriously. i am so much a nicer person in the clinic. and i feel good about myself in the clinic.

i really like it when the patients really sincerely thank you, even though you didnt do much. it makes your feel like you ve done something right. it gives me an instant confidence boost. that i dont need to be doing bridges or crowns or anything like that to feellike you re a good dentist. [though you still really need to have good skills too, but thats the technical side to being a good dentist]

so yes, i still need to fulfil certain criteria to graduate this year. but in the midst of the business and stress, i need to rememeber that, being a good dentist is not about the distinctions or the technicality of it, but its about serving the patients, being nice and friendly to them and thinking about their own good above yours, even though they are strangers.