Dentistry as an Art Form

By Lavannia Raguthu

My journey towards dentistry did not start at home. I am not from a family of dentists —my father is one of thirteen, more than half of which are MDs. The pressure to pursue medical school was exhausting growing up. While always intrigued by STEM subjects, I had a passion for the arts. Playing violin and painting were two of my favorite things to do in high school. As I grew up, however, the arts began to have less of a place in my schedule, which started to fill up with core classes and advanced placement curricula. But this is precisely why in 10th grade, I decided I wanted to be a dentist. Dentistry is exactly that to me, an art. When people think of the health field, words “art” and “creativity” don’t always come to mind. Something like “science” or “math” would seem to be more fitting. But to me, working on a scale as small as we do within dentistry is impressive; the mechanics, precision and repetition. It mirrors the technique in playing a difficult piece; the dynamics, codas, rhythm, harmony & tone, all put together to form something marvelous. A piece of art, one might say.

Painting and playing the violin both involve honing in on one’s dexterity skills. This could range from anything such as mastering a difficult piece to getting a particular stroke precisely within a certain border. This dexterity in combination with creativity is precisely what carries over into part of what makes a great dentist. Creating a unique smile for each individual patient that fits his or her wants and needs, crafting accurate life-like prosthetics, thinking of and creating new ways for the dental field to progress more in a patient centered approach; all ensure long-lasting, safe, and beautiful dentistry.

Dentists will of course know the base science behind procedures of healthy vs. unhealthy oral cavities, but it is through the practice of observing and continuous correct clinical judgment that one develops a keen eye. It is said that a keen eye for detail determines the quality of a patient’s final result, despite science’s obvious contribution. It is through my experiences within the arts that I hope to help mold me into a better dentist; one that can successfully combine the words like “science” & “math” to “art” and “creativity” every day in practice.