ASDA Dental Dose Blog

Are you interested in dentistry? Before committing to hundreds of hours as a predental and then four years of dental school, you want to be sure that dentistry is your calling. In addition to confirming if dentistry is right for you, it's totally normal to have some questions about planning your predental journey and setting yourself up for success.

Though, being the first in my family to go to college, I was clueless about where to begin. It became evident that I needed to find mentorship and a supportive community, which led me to join the American Student Dental Association (ASDA)...

Becoming a registered dental assistant with the support and influence of ASDA has been a fulfilling journey, one that demands unwavering dedication, a solid educational foundation, and a deep-seated passion for oral healthcare. In this blog, I'm excited to share my personal experiences and the steps I took to attain this vital role in the dental field.

The trajectory of my life took an unexpected turn one evening when I received the news of my family's move to America, a prospect too promising for me to decline. Moving to the United States at the age of 15 marked an important moment in my life, an opportunity filled with both promise and challenges. While I recognized the potential positive impact on my future, the thought of facing language barriers and leaving behind my family and friends loomed large.

What do you do when asked a question you do not know the answer to? You Google it! As an incoming freshman interested in dentistry with no connections in the dental field, my big
question was “How do I get more exposure to dentistry?“. After a quick Google search, I found my answer: the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP).

Pre-dental students often face the daunting challenge of financing their dental education, with the cost of dental school being a significant barrier for many aspiring dentists. However, a promising solution exists within the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) offered by the United States Military. This program not only alleviates the financial burden of dental school but also provides invaluable opportunities for professional growth and service to the nation.