Choosing a Career Path: Dental Medicine Over Medicine and Pharmacy

Many aspiring professionals find themselves in a dilemma when it comes to choosing a career path. In this article, I will share my personal journey and why I chose dental medicine over medicine and pharmacy, despite both being esteemed medical fields.

My Personal Experience and Journey

As I grew up, my oral health was something I took for granted. It wasn’t until high school that I started to care about having teeth. I would perform the usual teeth care but didn’t go for braces, teeth whitening, or even flossed daily. However, my 20s were filled with anguish after I found out about my prediabetes, which later escalated into Type 2 diabetes. My early 30s brought another challenge: during my first cancer screening, I discovered oral cancer. A wonderful and caring dentist at a local free health clinic was instrumental in identifying this serious condition. I remain eternally grateful for his support.

A Career in Dental Medicine

Now, I wear dentures for life, which look almost real until I take them out at night. Initial thoughts of implant surgery have been set aside due to the high costs. Despite this, my loved ones still see me as a great husband, father, and superhero, even without real teeth!

Is Dental Medicine My Passion?

Some people pursue careers due to passion and others due to other reasons. In my case, I pursued dental medicine because I was good at it and had no other options. However, if I had to start over from scratch, I would certainly make different choices. Personally, I would prefer a career in engineering. But dental medicine has satisfied me for many years.

Life in Dentistry

Becoming a dentist for 35 years has brought both advantages and challenges. The opportunity to work autonomously and achieve a great work-life balance, coupled with the financial stability, cannot be understated. However, running a dental practice has been a tough part of the profession. Despite the challenges, I find great joy in my work.

Regretting the Choice?

No, I do not regret my career choice. Dental medicine has been my vocation and my dream career. I fell in love with the profession during college and was willing to overcome numerous obstacles to achieve my goals. I would most certainly make the same career choice again, even if it did not offer the same financial rewards as it currently does.

Why I Prefer Dental Medicine

Compared to medicine, I do not enjoy the hospital environment. Making something for a patient without immediate patient interaction does not appeal to me. Similarly, pharmacy requires a significant retail aspect, which I dislike. While optometry interests me less, I believe my current path in dental medicine best aligns with my identity as an engineer, artist, surgeon, and beautician all at once.

Conclusion

Deciding on a career path is a deeply personal journey. For me, dental medicine has been the perfect fit. Despite its challenges, it has provided me with a stable and fulfilling career. While I have considered other paths, dental medicine remains the cornerstone of my professional life.