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Maintaining proper dental care prevents various oral health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath.
Moreover, it leads to improved appearance, better eating and speaking, cost savings, and social well-being.
That is why after seeing her parents neglect their dental care, the board exam top 6 started dreaming of becoming a dentist.
Repeated failures in life should not define our future success.
This was the journey of Maria Cristina J. Dimas, a dentist from Meycauayan, Bulacan, who ranked 6th in the May 2023 Licensure Examination for Dentists with an 82.30 rating.
She graduated with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from National University-Manila on November 16, 2022.
In an interview with PEP, Tina shared that her dream of becoming a dentist started when she was young, as her family frequently visited the dentist. Her parents, who had neglected their own dental care, didn’t want their children to experience the same.
Although she initially wanted to pursue medicine, like one of her siblings, she chose dentistry for its shorter duration. However, in her 4th year of college, financial difficulties forced her to pause her studies. Dentistry is a six-year course, so she worked for a year to save up before continuing her education.
When she returned to school, Tina faced many challenges. Her classmates had already graduated, and she had to adjust to a new environment.
She struggled with several subjects, and during practical sessions for tooth extraction, she experienced setbacks, including a patient who left her and numerous rejected cases. It was during this time that Tina almost lost hope in her dream of becoming a dentist.
Upon graduation, she was uncertain about taking the board exam immediately. However, she eventually filed for it and committed herself to an intensive review, studying from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day until the last week of April.
Tina confessed that she never aimed to be a topnotcher; she just wanted to pass. She admitted that the five-day board exam was physically and mentally exhausting, with a heavy emotional toll. The experience was nerve-wracking, and she was in disbelief when the results were announced.
On May 16, 2023, Tina shared a heartfelt post on Facebook, expressing her gratitude to God and her family, especially her mother.
Contributed: Ricks de Leon
