Dental School Personal Statement Examples

Personal Statement for Dental School

My underbite ran in the family so my parents recognized it early and began taking me to the dentist every six weeks, I was in elementary school. I fell in love with the dentist and the entire team, who became heroes in my eyes, I focused on them as role models for my future. The team at that dental office often joked that I should become a dentist and come back and help. By the end of high school, I began college as a biology major not just because of my keen fascination for the physical sciences, but with dentistry occupying most of the back of my mind. 

Throughout my time at UC San Diego, I spent every summer volunteering, shadowing, and serving as a dental assistant, learning a great deal about several aspects of dentistry. I paid special attention to the skill needed to sculpt a crown or create a perfectly fitting denture. I spent a long time studying how to drill an implant screw at just the right angle and depth. I admired the thought and effort that went into each tailored treatment plan. Thanks to these many experiences I have come to understand the big picture of dentistry skillfully and altruistically helping the patient to achieve a better quality of life.  

The dentist I assisted at my first health fair took the time to explain the reasoning behind his kindness. He shared with me his understanding of the circumstances of these patients’ lives which inspired his empathy and devotion. were likely in, and the worth of showing kindness to them. At times, he explained, a dentist has to go beyond their role as a health care provider and serve as an educator or a Samaritan. His words stayed with me and provided context for my reflections also helping me to see the big picture of Dentistry as a social service. I began to internalize the importance of empathy for every patient in the chair, as the vessel for giving patients the tools to succeed in their oral health and other areas of their lives. I have long cultivated compassion and I could not be more enthusiastic about preventive dental education. 

I further honed my appreciation for empathy only grew more rooted in my time shadowing Dr. Jimmy Tran. He showed me the interpersonal side of dentistry, demonstrating how a dentist’s ability to build rapport with their patients has a positive impace on all aspects of his office. He tailored the working environment for everyone around him, including his staff, for an outstandin experience for everyone involved. My time with Dr. Tran gave me a fresh perspective on the benefit of seeing people as more than staff or clientele. I began to understand that to treat patients for optimal outcomes requires that a dentist must consider their lives holistically with empathy and respect in order to arrive at the correct treatment plan. and first treat the person with sympathy and respect before their condition. Exploring the interpersonal depths of dentistry alongside Dr. Tran reinvigorated my motivation and enthusiasm still further my calling and mission. 

I have learned a great deal about many aspects of dentistry that go beyond or serve as a foundation for the patient’s chair. Through these opportunities, I have observed the complexity behind the fine motor skills of a dentist, realized the value of empathy for patient recovery, and seen the stellar results of solid interpersonal relationships with colleagues and patients alike. Each dentist I have shadowed has shown me a different side of dentistry, and shared with me their own interpretation of their unique role in the profession. I bring all of these experiences with me and reflect on all those who encouraged me along the way as I apply to dental schools. I hope to one day aid patients to realize their own healthy smiles, and through that make a positive difference in my life and that of others.

I especially look forward to someday having a patient with an underbite, so that I can pass forward the same transcendal experiences to which I was privileged. I especially enjoy learning the details of what correcting my underbite did for the quality of my life and its longevity.  

Thank you for considering my application. 

Dental School Personal Statement Examples