Personal Narrative Analysis

    To some orthodontistry is just an ordinary cosmetic change, but for me it’s both a learning experience and a life changer. Getting braces has certainly benefitted my life. My new smile created from the works of orthodontistry has allowed me to gain confidence with my smile. Before I stepped foot inside Thacker Orthodontics, I used to be self-conscious about my own smile that I would try to hide it while photos were taken. Nevertheless, when I started the process with braces, it was astonishing observing the slow but subtle changes of my teeth. Watching this process uphand enabled me to learn about the impact a smile possesses. When my braces were removed and I saw the results I couldn’t help but smile.

My interest to become an orthodontist developed as I was an undergraduate. My crowded teeth had been perplexing me ever since I was a teenager; it was not until I was 22 that I had the opportunity to seek orthodontic treatment. When I met Dr. Al-Kharsa, I was impressed by how caring and concerned he was with each of my problems and insecurities. He explained the course of treatment in detail, its cost, and the difference it would make on my teeth. He failed to mention the positive impact it would make on my life. With only minor discomfort, I saw and felt my teeth align within months; I could clean them easier. The whole shape of my mouth and smile changed; the results were so dramatic that everyone noticed. This hugely improved my self-esteem.

I remember sitting on the stiff bench staring down at my well-worn white converse and I heard kids screaming so loud it was piercing through my ears. I turned over to the girl next to me that was going through the same thing that I was. I told her “don’t worry you’ll get the smiii… Before I had time to finish my sentence, the orthodontist assistant took me to the dental chair. She told me it wasn’t going to hurt and everything will be fine.

I turned around towards the kitchen where slews of blood had spurted across the room. Little white hunks of tooth were dispersed on the floor. This can’t be happening, I convinced myself. I rushed up the stairs towards the massive glass mirror and reluctantly opened my mouth. I had to pinch myself at the sight of two massive missing fragments that had been a part of my molar teeth. When I examined even closer, I perceived another two that were chipped off at the edges. In panic, I clutched a paper towel and held it over the bleeding clefts and lied back down on my bed.

It was Spring Break. I was getting more and more nervous, despite my parents saying “You’ll be fine.” “No I won’t.” I thought. This was my first major medical procedure, so I had no idea what to expect. Then, the big day came. I went to the orthodontist, and it smelled the same, except for the citrus smell from the orange I just ate. I saw that there was a bit more people there, and I assume that they also took advantage of the break for their appointments. I could feel the sweat going on my face as I heard them call, “Nathan Szymanski.” I went into the procedure room, and sat down. I was extremely nervous, and the procedure hadn’t even begun yet! I still had a few tests to go through. I did a few tests, like them taking a mold of my teeth, and then they were ready. I sat in the chair, and they put a few things in my mouth, including a thing to hold my cheeks open, and one of those tubes that sucks away the saliva. I could hear the “Hiss!” of it. My first thought was “This hurts.”, but it soon died down. I was surprised to not have been given any surgery medicine. It wasn’t nearly as intense as I thought. In fact, it was even more boring than before. It took around an hour, but I felt like it took forever. I remember just staring at the ceiling for an hour, thinking that this was more boring than scary. At that point I knew that I would get through it. Finally, it was done, and we went home. Despite me leaving, that wasn’t the

Having heavy anterior crowding as a seven year old child, I was constantly conscious about my smile. Because of minimum-to-no dental care and oral hygiene awareness in India, my initial experience with dental care was very unnerving. getting bullied and consciously reminded of unaligned teeth seemed as a better option to a seven year old that to get dental treatment done. Nearly after a decade, my personal experience with a professional orthodontist changed my views about the profession

Picture this: you are 14-years-old, it is 4:30 AM, and your alarm clock is going off to begin your day. Rushing out of the house, you grab any food you can scavenge while simultaneously brushing your teeth. From 5:00 to 6:30 AM, you train before school starts, and then enter seven hours of learning. Following the school day, you train again from 2:45 to 7:00 PM. This is a glimpse of my day as a student athlete.

I’m lying down on the orthodontist chair with the top of my mouth feeling slimy like a snails back. After my plate, I had for 2 and half years was removed. When I touched the top of my mouth with my hand I felt like vomiting because that’s how weird it felt. Then in the background I heard that in an X-ray the dentist was chatting to my mum about there not being enough space in my mouth for other teeth to grow so I had to get some of them removed. I was like oh no this won’t feel good. I just got my plate out and now I have to get 4 teeth removed and bracers. I’m thinking about how my mouth is going to ruin my childhood.

With fondness, I will always remember when I first began to consider dentistry as a future profession. My childhood mentor Dr. Spigner was having a weekend workshop for his patients, at this moment, I was exposed to dental education at its full capacity. While there we learned how to properly brush and floss our teeth, the benefits of tooth hygiene, and how fillings are applied to adolescent teeth. After learning these helpful tips, I wanted to share my newfound information about the importance of

A year ago today, I made one of the best decisions in my life. A year ago today, I was nervously trying to figure out how I would ask you to be my girlfriend. Even though knowing you would say yes, I was still nervous. From the day I met you, I knew right away that I loved you, I felt something that I had never experienced before in my life. God has crossed our paths for a reason baby and I'm so grateful he has done so. This past year has been nothing but the best I've ever had. From our first date to Color Me Mine to our most recent, Casacde Drive-in. We've both been through it all this past year. From our good times and bad times together. I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime, best friend, girlfriend, and baby girl. Our song, "Say

My life has truly been transformed by Dentistry; it has boosted my confidence and aligned me with the career path of my dreams. Early on in life, every aspect of Dentistry captured my heart. Learning to cope with my embarrassing smile inspired me to want to help others by giving them what they always dreamed of. Knowing I have the power to make someone's dreams come to life is the reason I wake up each morning with a drive and desire to achieve my goals. While striving with a strong focus, packaged with confidence and sincerity, I will pursue my passion through demanding training. I not only plan to be a hardworking, determined and ambitious student, but with my skills as an orthodontist, it will further my ability to be an active member in

She started to put cleaning powder on my teeth which felt like sand or chalk. I washed all of it out of my mouth and went back to the chair. Later she put the cheek retractors and the mouth guard to keep me from swallowing any of the materials. After that she put a paste on my teeth that tasted like sauerkraut that had been expired for a century. I was listening to music for the rest of the time and didn’t really pay any attention to what they were doing. Finally, the hour was up and I could leave. She said to take a look in the mirror and rinse out my mouth. I walked over to the marble counter with a mirror hanging above. I smiled quickly and my braces flashed in the mirror that glared back at me. I looked like Willie Wonka when he still had his head

I found myself exhausted after working at construction during a scorching hot morning and the time had finally came for lunch. Once I and my coworkers arrived at the restaurant, me being somewhat a regular made my order quickly and sat down in chair next to where the ingredients were chosen. Just as I sat down I noticed a business man who was choosing what he wanted on his sandwich, and in the meantime a woman had just walked in the door of the restaurant and placed her order. She then immediately walked over and stood next to the guy choosing what he wanted just as he was asking for some extra hot sauce. The woman looked to be somewhat in a rush, considering she just pulled what some comic book geeks would call a Barry Allen. The business

When you upload a video to Youtube, Google attempts to transcribe the speech into subtitles, usually with comedic consequences. I am able to add the correct subtitles at the correct times of the videos.

Though I faced several emotions on that day, I now understand that we as dental therapist does not only deal with teeth but we also deal with humans who have feelings. This incident has definitely changed my knowledge towards parent’s behavior and technique in managing them. In dental school, most parents are open and accepting but not in the placement I had. This incident thought me to be more confident in dealing with parents and to always be safe when treating patient. It is no doubt that some parents are very