Narrative Essay About My Smile

My first exposure to dentistry, out of the chair, came when I began babysitting for a dentist. He worked on the weekends, and his daughter and I would tag along. Initially I stayed as far away from the dentist chair as possible, but later, I became curious, and gradually observant. By the time I reached high school, I was intrigued by every aspect of dentistry. The procedures quickly turned from one of torment into something more familiar. Coming from a family of engineers and contractors, I recognized the doctor’s instruments because they were similar to tools I had grown up watching my father use. I began to think of dentistry as performing small scale construction in a small hole. Performing such intricate procedures while simultaneously utilizing my mind and hands both excited me and complimented my detail attentive personality.

I began my first observation April 22, 2016 at Valley Smiles Dental Care at 8 am. As soon as I entered into the practice, client began to come in steadily. The first client I had the privilege of witnessing was a young man who was a victim of drug use. His use of drugs practically destroyed three of his back teeth. Therefore, the doctor planned to do a root canal and then create a crown. The

When I was a child, I have always wanted to be an orthodontist. I love to see people smile, especially when they are confidently smiling without any hesitation. I remember when I was ten years old, one day, I got scolded by my parents due to waking up late for school. I was very upset as I walked to school. I was facing down at the ground the whole way to school. Without realizing what was surrounding me, I accidentally bumped into an older sister. At that instant, she turned around give me a bright smile and said, “Good morning, little sister. Be careful as you walk okay?” Her positive attitude and cheerful smile gave such a lively energy within myself. I would never have thought a beautiful smile could lift my mood in such a way that I hadn’t

“Don’t be afraid. You can squeeze my hand anytime you feel pain”, said the dental hygienist. I was seven years old and due for a cavity filling. Unsure of the process, I felt uneasy. As I sat waiting for the dentist, tears began rolling down my cheeks.

When I was about 5-years-old, I was the only one in my Kindergarten class that was not frightened of the dentist. I was the only child for as long as I can remember who absolutely adored going to see my dentist; I thought it was better than going to the Science Center, which was a big deal for a child in my generation. Growing up, I watched people’s faces twitch with (terror, panic, dismay) as I explained that it was my ultimate dream to become a dental hygienist. “What if a child bites you?” “The human mouth is disgusting! Do you not realize the horror of this occupation?” Listening to people question and insult my dreams only enhanced my dedication to this occupation even more. I was determined to prove them wrong; to prove that this was

She was urgently needed the dentures as she lost almost all of her teeth due to periodontal disease. I had trouble communicating with her as she seemed so wary and upset when she first came into the clinic. However, after her several office visits, she recognized me as her granddaughter and often brought me candies. I couldn't be any happier when I finally saw her with a white and a well-arranged teeth and with a big, satisfied grin on her face. I can say that dental services can be challenging, but I can also say that it is a rewarding career which will bring me a great achievement.

In the book Smile there was a character named Raina Telgemeler, she had to get braces. Raina thought that she didn’t need to get braces because her teeth looked fine. When she got braces she had felt insecure because of the way she looked, she thought that everyone will make fun of her and tease her. In the end when she got her braces taken off she felt more confident than ever. I can relate to that because when I had gotten braces I never wanted to smile for anything. I was self conscious that I had food stuck in it or just in general I felt different because I got my braces on at such an early age. After I had gotten it taken off I was beyond happy because it felt like my confidence had just went up so much. Getting braces is something that

“Over four million people in the U.S. wear braces, and 25 percent of these individuals are adults. If you have a misaligned jaw or out-of-place teeth, be sure to ask your dentist if braces are right for you.” (A Biographical Portrait of Edward Hartley Angle, Nov. 6)

ith a weary face and sweaty palms, I walked into the gloomy dental offices as a yearly ritual. The intimidating environment of the office made me feel knots in my stomach. As a child I never enjoyed visiting dentists because I was convinced that these humans were merciless people who could not care less if I was in pain. Ironically, the lifetime career I seek for now is the career I disliked before. The decision to become a dentist developed when I had the desire to give children a better experience and a different perspective on professionals of this field. From my experience, the dentists were not gentle and did not give me time to collect myself before pulling a tooth out. Orthodontics is a profession that I am pursuing since I have consistently desired to work in a healthcare career that enables me to help people by using my interest and talents in hand motor and communication skills. I strive for perfection and work patiently, as well as diligently, which will help me throughout this profession. There are skills that I need to obtain such as shadowing or volunteering in a dental office, which is also part of the educational preparation needed for dental school. All of these talents combined are essential for a typical day in dentistry in which I need to create a safe and comfortable environment for the excessive amounts of patients daily

The clinic had to remove those teeth with cavities since it did not have the means to do fillings. Not only that, the children there lacked the knowledge of what a toothbrush was. In that moment, I thought to myself and decided that I will ensure that the children and the people of Lima will obtain the best quality of healthcare MedLife had to offer. I then taught the children how to brush their teeth. I will never forget how cheerful they were opening their mouths so wide. These were the moments that made me want to devote myself to medicine and make a greater difference in the

After almost a lifetime of going to orthodontist appointments for myself, I began to realize what a great job becoming an orthodontist would be. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I had began the first stage of braces. After that, I was given instructions of how to properly take care of my teeth, such as which foods I couldn’t eat. I did not enjoy the entire experience throughout the years, but was relieved when they were removed before my first year of high school. Then I put on my retainer, and discovered it was like having braces

The experience gave me a deeper insight into the field of dentistry as well as the bonds that can develop between a dentist and a patient. I enjoyed the art of dentistry and it's significance on a patient's total confidence and health. During my time in the office, I was introduced to a truly remarkable patient. This patient was deaf, blind, and paralyzed. Although he was significantly impaired, he was a very consistent patient and cared very much about his smile. I would see other patients, who did not suffer such handicaps, be very negligent when it came to their dental care. However, this man was determined in learning about keeping his teeth healthy. Although, he was not able to see or hear, he would trust the dentist in performing all the necessary procedures. This man knew people were often scared to approach him because of his handicaps. Yet, he believed that if he were able to smile, these people would lose the unnecessary fear they had of him. This patient was significant to my experience because he offered a humanistic appeal to

After what seemed like an eternity, my braces were removed my sophomore year of high school, skyrocketing my poor confidence. After I stopped hiding my smile, I became fascinated with anything that dealt with teeth. The relationships formed with my dentist and orthodontist, the new smile I was constantly showing off, and the plethora of whitening strips I went through all lead me into realizing that I wanted to become an orthodontist and help people with their confidence.

When I was 10, my orthodontist voiced concern over the way my jaws were growing in. He suggested we see a maxillofacial surgeon. 10 year old me was absolutely terrified. Most people went to the orthodontist just for braces but not me, why not me? My unique bite caused

Lucy Grealy tells a story about not fitting in, unbearable pain that takes up residence in one’s head as loneliness and confusion, questioning what things mean, being scared and lost in your family, enduring intense physical pain, and most importantly, figuring out who you are. Lucy had no idea she might die, even though the survival rate for Ewing’s sarcoma was only five percent. She does not present her parents as overly afraid for her life, either. Her autobiography is not a story about the fear of death, but about such courage and anguish. Lucy shows how she falls under the spell of her disability, allowing it to control her life and dictate her future to a greater extent than it would otherwise. Having a disability means that