San Diego Pre-Dental Community Analysis

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Growing up in Hong Kong under socioeconomic struggles, it has always been a distant dream to receive a college education. However, this dream became a reality when my parents and I immigrated to the United States to provide me with life-changing opportunities that they never had. Upon arriving in an unfamiliar country, my life was filled with frustrations as I struggled to overcome the language barrier and adapt to the American way of life. I am humbled to have a community aid me financially and emotionally as I become the first member in my family to graduate college. Through the UC San Diego Pre-Dental Society, I have discovered my passion for dentistry, and I plan to use my education to give back to those who are also in need.
Over my years of involvement with the UCSD student-run free dental clinics throughout the San Diego area, I have witnessed the need to provide quality and accessible healthcare to
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He initially came in for extractions due to his badly infected teeth. Even though we were able to alleviate his pain, he lost his confidence along with his teeth. It was noticeable that he no longer wanted to smile or speak when he came in to take impressions for his mandibular and maxillary dentures. However, he became more positive and less self-conscious about his missing teeth as we were getting closer to completing his dentures. His contagious smile lit up the entire clinic when he put on his new dentures, and I was inspired by the new confidence that he showed. He came back several weeks later for a follow up, and he could not believe how amazing it felt to smile and chew again. Patients like John exposed me to the humanistic aspect of dentistry that I value greatly because it is the most gratifying experience to better one’s quality of life through a