As a student we keep on mugging theories and applying theoretical knowledge to the practical … but less we realize that while we are treating patient’s ,we are solving their long term suffering. One heartfelt moment and a gesture by my very aged patient made me realize the sense of achievement by delivering her the complete denture. The ‘A’ grade given by a professor has also not given me the sense of achievement what I got by simple delivering a denture to my patient who now could eat and speak properly.
As dental students, we spend years memorising theories and learning how to apply them in practicals. Often, we fail to realise that beyond textbooks and examinations, we are actually easing someone’s long-term suffering.
One heartfelt moment with a very elderly patient made this clear to me. After delivering her complete denture, her smile, gratitude, and quiet relief spoke louder than words. For the first time, I truly understood the meaning of achievement in dentistry.
No ‘A’ grade given by a professor ever gave me the sense of fulfilment that I felt when my patient could finally eat and speak comfortably again. That moment taught me that true success in dentistry lies not in marks, but in the lives we improve—one patient at a time.
What was your proud moments?
MBH/AB
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The first time you realize that all the hard work that you have been putting in was worth it is when you see first hand the difference it makes to the quality of life for a patient.
this is so touching! Grades stay on paper, but a patient’s smile stays in your heart forever. That first ‘thank you’ from a patient who can finally eat or speak again is the real graduation. Proud of you for finding the soul in dentistry!
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Identifying a major drug interaction and escalating it and stopping it ,prevented major consequences in the patients and saved him.
True. Even the look of relief and gratefulness after an extraction or emergency access opening when they’re relieved of pain. And let us not underestimate the trauma caused by a dental pain, those who’ve experienced know how even a lowest scaled pain could bother you the most. Even when a patient, comes with a broken front tooth, carrying the weight of judgement of his appearance, walks out happy, satisfied and confident, that’s a victory for us too.
So yes, we don’t conventionally “save lives” and people find it as an excuse to call us “dentists not doctors”, but we give them the most beautiful reason to smile, to laugh and to live.
Patient satisfaction is one of the most fundamental incentive for us to continue as clinicians.