Introduction to Dentistry
While I was pursuing my Master of Public Health degree at McMaster University, I completed a course project on access to oral health care for Hamiltonian seniors. That was my first exposure to dentistry, but from a public health perspective. After successfully completing the project, I was introduced to a public health dentist by my professor. My initial meeting with that public health dentist ignited my interest in clinical dentistry. In the months to come, I spent hours shadowing dentists in different regions of Toronto to gain a deeper understanding of the profession. What stood out to me was the ability of the dentist to provide a service that can immediately relieve pain for the patient.
At that time, I was interested in dentistry, but I was not sure if I was ready to commit to the strenuous application process given that I was already completing a graduate degree. That winter, I travelled to Pakistan to see extended family, and throughout the trip, I was reflecting on whether to apply for dental school and write the Dental School Admissions Test. I recall in January 2019, I was taking a nap in the airport lounge on my way back from Pakistan when I had a dream that I was working as a dentist at one of the offices I shadowed at. I got up and registered to write my DAT in 4 weeks – right at the airport.
Introduction to Public Health
My graduate degree was quite a fruitful experience. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of public health research and practice. My master’s thesis focused on using geospatial tools to explore access to water for a rural Kenyan community – we used discrete choice analysis to predict which community waterpoint a particular household would access based on various factors such as physical terrain, water quality, as well as the education and income of the women in the household. In addition, as a part of my graduate diploma in Water Without Borders, Institute of Water, Environment & Health at United Nations University, I had the opportunity to investigate menstrual hygiene management in humanitarian crises as well as gain on-the-ground experiences in exploring water access in Ghana. The highlight of my public health journey was working at Hamilton Public Health for their project on HIV/ Hepatitis C among Hamiltonian injection drug users. This particular experience was eye-opening – it pushed me to thinking critically about my own biases pertaining to injection drug use and the impact of socioeconomic determinants of health on one’s quality of life.
Combing Dentistry and Public Health
When I started dental school, I found it quite challenging to keep up with my public health interests. However, during the summer after first year of dental school, I had the opportunity to work with the Global Child Dental Fund (GCDF) in a research capacity. In collaboration with researchers and practitioners from all over the world, we dove deeper into identifying evidence on infant oral mutilation – a common practice in many parts of the world (mainly India and some East African countries) where developing tooth buds are extracted in infants as they are thought to cause fever and diarrhea among infants. The paper summarized clinical guidelines to manage an infant oral mutilation case when presented to a hospital as most of the hospitals in rural areas do not have dentists on site. Additionally, the paper also briefly touched upon education, community engagement and global advocacy to eradicate infant oral mutilation. To me, this paper was a blend of all my interests – dentistry, public health, and research.
As much as I missed my involvement with public health research, my enriching experiences with patient care filled my cup in other ways. I had the opportunity to work on many complex cases. One of the most impactful cases that I worked on was for a gentleman who lost most of his teeth in a motor vehicle accident many years ago. This, as well as the physical disability, led the patient to lose their job at the time. Over time, the patient’s overall health was affected by familial and socioeconomic factors. The patient was advised by their social worker to seek comprehensive and affordable dental care from University of Toronto’s dental clinics. My professor and I were able to secure funding to cover the cost of the patient’s treatment. The patient’s entire treatment took around 7 months to complete due to its complexity and, before I graduated, I was able to provide the patient with their new smile. To me, it was a full-circle moment. My interest in socioeconomic determinants of oral health led me into dentistry and I was able to witness the impact of poor oral health on my patient’s whole life. At the 1-week post-insertion follow-up, the patient brought cookies for me as a token of gratitude and said, “I am never going to forget all that you did for me, Zoha.” And it was clear that I was never going to forget this patient.
Looking forward, I am intrigued to begin my journey as a general dentist providing comprehensive dental care to my patients and their families. As an impact-oriented individual, my biggest goal is to continue to change lives through my clinical practice, teaching, research, and advocacy on both local and global levels. Having gained extensive leadership experience as the president of my class council for three years and as the president of the UofT’s Dental Students’ Society in my 4th year, I am excited to get involved with leadership roles in the profession, community, and eventually at my own dental practice.
About the Author
Zoha Anjum recently graduated from University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry from the Doctor of Dental Surgery program. Prior to pursuing dentistry, Zoha completed her Masters in Public Health from McMaster University and is interested in building a career at the intersection of dentistry and public health. Zoha also served as the president of the Dental Students’ Society during her time in dental school and has supported many pre-dental students with their journey into dental school. Instagram: @zodentistry. LinkedIn: @Zoha Anjum