“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
For me, this phrase encapsulates the most important lesson I’ve learnt in 10 odd years of practicing as a dental surgeon. This principle has become the pillar of my dental practice.
When I first graduated from National University of Singapore in 2006, I viewed dentistry purely as a science. I was solely focused on the technical aspects, as such I spent a lot of time learning from the best dentists around the world, flying even as far as The United States of America in my quest for knowledge and upgrading myself. My role was that of a technician’s — to diagnose and solve. Gradually, I came to realize that as a dentist, caring for patients was also an art. Several arts, actually. I learnt the art of listening, intently, to what my patients wanted, feared, and hoped.
