By Cynthia Devendran
I loved the idea of art from a young age. Whether it was finger painting, stringing together beads to make a bracelet, or putting together a felt collage – creating something that was made all by myself brought me sincere comfort as a child. As I grew up, I continued to appreciate the limitless nature of art. It was like a blanket of warmth embracing my inner core of imagination, and I felt content.
When submitting my personal statement for dental school applications, I wrote about my passion for service and my earliest interest towards dentistry during an orthodontic appointment where they took my impressions for braces. I was fascinated by the purple oozy material and how something so similar to slime was being used in a dental practice. As a pre-teen, I pondered on how I would love to pursue a field that combined health and art. However, I didn’t realize how crucial aesthetics and attention to detail was in this field until I started dental school. It’s when I realized that quilling had served as a valuable asset to my commencing years at NYUCD and that my appreciation for art had come full circle.
Quilling? Many people have no idea what it is. I had no idea what it was either until four years ago when I was scrolling through Instagram and a 3D looking piece made me pause. I had never seen anything like it and I was captivated and wanted to learn more. Quilling is an artwork that uses thin strips of paper to create a variety of designs. The creations are endless due to the versatility of methods to style the paper. It could be rolled, folded, layered and more. The first quilling I ever made was for my sister. I wanted to create her name with waves within the letters and floral patterns around it. It was no easy endeavor – the tedious folding, gluing and meticulous placement awakened a whole new skill that I never knew I needed.
Quilling enriched my hand skills and manual dexterity which I was very grateful for during my first year of dental school. Becoming competent in using hand pieces and instruments was difficult, to say the least, but I stayed hopeful that my experiences would come to be an advantage. Soon enough, we were flying through all the Class I -V practicals, conquering wax- ups, border molding custom trays, mastering crown preparations and the list goes on. In each milestone, I did my best to replicate the ideal standards for the fundamental outcome, but I understood that none of my work would ever look exactly like my peers. Every student and professor embraced his or her own style and working method that coincided with their perspective of efficacy. Being exposed to different techniques and appreciating the multitude of approaches in undertaking procedures made me value this profession beyond its intentions. As future dentists, we adhere to medical guidelines but we also choose routes that respect our individual aspirations and capabilities. This is also pertinent in patient care as each person is treated according to their personal preferences in addition to their physical and medical needs.
Since my first quilling, I have improved and crafted numerous custom pieces. I create pieces that incorporate my customers' envisions, while also including my unique approach that I believe will complement their requests. Quilling has not only enhanced my care and appreciation for fine hand work, but has also helped me in patience, guided me in equity, as well as respect in patient care, and ultimately has instilled in me the importance of dedication for craftsmanship which I am truly grateful for.
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