DentiSight- Dr. Meghana Pasala (Part - 1)

More than motivation, it's always about getting into medicine. So, it's more of a choice. Then during my BDS, to be honest I was not very much into dentistry. It's more of "Alright, I secured the seat, so I need now study for the same".

Later, during my post-graduation, I developed a lot of interest in dentistry. More into orthodontics, like my post-graduation is in orthodontics, so I'm more into orthodontics now. Now I'm very passionate about it. Like I'm a very different person from that I was my BDS. But now after my post-graduation, my entire perspective of being a dentist has been changed. So there will be a point where you'll start developing a passion for one subject.

First, I would say my teachers because whatever we learn, I think, if our teachers are very passionate about teaching us, we will also automatically develop an interest in that subject. That is what I felt. My teachers have motivated me to be being interested in the subject.

I would say craftsmanship because you know everybody can be a dentist. You can be a general dentist, a specialist, or anything else but, what makes you different is what draws you towards delivering the best that you can do. There are always differences between any two dentists. Some might be doing well with general dentistry though they are specialists. Some people might be interested in doing more of their specialty. So, I would say how best you can deliver to your patients is what makes me more interested. Each and every case is different and how you deal with it is different. So on a daily basis, from different cases you get to know, you will develop more interest. Like you never know this is you might think it's a very simple case when you start. But once you get into the case and get the details everything every case turns out to be different and interesting. So I feel that is more interesting, the patients and their different complaints.

During our UG, we do a lot of lab work. That is something that makes me the least interested.

You are never 100%. For example, if we get a patient who presents with pain, it is different for different patients. Some patients, once you start the treatment, may show a better response. In acute cases, you can actually get better success. Whereas in chronic cases, they would have been keeping it for so long, and they would have room for different dentists. And in chronic cases, it is very difficult to get success. You cannot deliver 100% results to each and every patient. It all depends on the patients again.

Endodontics is my next favorite. I never intended to take orthodontics. I always wanted to get into prosthodontics or endodontics. Orthodontics was never my subject because I never used to get my wire bending approved. Frankly, the least interesting subject for me was orthodontics. But I don't know somehow destiny has a different plan. I got into orthodontics.

My first priority became orthodontics once I got into it. Maybe you start liking it once you get to know about the subject. So, I would be an Endodontist if I didn’t take Orthodontics.

I would say treating the patients is what makes me proud of myself, removing the pain or agony. I can tell you more from the perspective of orthodontics because I have seen many patients. You never know before getting into orthodontics I always used to wonder who would go for such a long treatment.

Because unless you are in their shoes, you never know what the patients go through psychologically. I have many patients who have never laughed or smiled. Like I have come across such patients. During the start of the treatment, we usually take external photographs and all. So when we ask them to smile, they never smile. And they used to tell us, like, never smiled in our life. So, that was the saddest part. And after the treatment is completed, when we ask them to smile they are very happy to smile. So when we see such results we feel proud of ourselves. We made them smile. That is what makes me proud.

My favorite is dancing actually, I like to dance.

I mostly like to binge watch shows. I watch a lot of shows. That is one thing that relieves stress and music. Sometimes if I'm very stressful, then good food would do.

I always wanted to go to Switzerland.

I always wanted to be a Pilot. I feel bad that I couldn't.

I read a lot of articles due to my post-graduation. So now, I subscribe to IDA (Indian Dental Association) and I also have an IOS (Indian Orthodontic Society) membership. I usually get articles like the one I am working on now. Everything is evidence-based. If you want to try a technique, you need evidence for that. If any patient presents with some complaint, there are 'N' number of ways to elevate that thing. So everything is evidence-based. I usually go search for some evidence whenever I get a new case that I want to try. I always look for Science Direct articles or there are many Google Scholar articles, there are many articles available. Social media has become an important tool. Instagram and LinkedIn have a lot of information.