Knitting Trust

Speaking with a slight Sichuanese accent, she slowly recounted her early days of clinical training. Her eyes gazing into the distance, as words recurring, the cherished memories flowed through.

“During a routine dental X-ray, an elderly patient I encountered was extremely anxious…She must be on the verge of breaking down; the simple act of holding a film plate in her mouth was unbearable. She gagged so hard each time she tried to hold it still,  seeing tears forming in her eyes.”

“I knew I had to do something. Instead of hurrying her along, I stopped and reassured her that many patients feel the same way, and that it wasn’t her fault. I gently helped her hold the plate still, and together we managed to complete the X-ray.”

“I thought that was the end of our story. But much to my surprise, a few days later, she came back to see me, carrying a small crocheted craft she had knitted herself,” she gestured to a small, knitted craft hanging from her bag. The shape was barely recognizable, as the wool fibers had frizzled with time.

“It wasn’t an expensive gift, but to me it meant so much. That moment truly inspired me— being a dentist is much more than procedures or techniques, it is also about patience, empathy, and giving comfort to people who may be in pain or fear.”

Perhaps this story stuck with her because her path into dentistry was shaped by many such people.

“I grew up in a family where my father and uncle were among the first to practice dentistry in China… that was back in the 1990s,” she recalled. “The field was just beginning to develop. During that time, dentistry was more like a craft than a regulated medical practice. As I grew up, the practice evolved, becoming more regulated and systematic. I was inspired to pursue this career as both an expression of science and art.”

She tapped her pen gently on an open notebook, like footsteps returning to the path she once walked.

“School was very different from my daily work. In school, I was mostly focused on technique— performing procedures, learning how to treat diseases. But when I stepped out of school, setting foot into the clinic, I realized that dentistry is as much about communication as it is about treatment. Pain, fear, and even embarrassment lay a heavy burden on patients. I had to do more of explaining, showing empathy, and helping them heal not only physically but emotionally.”

“Outside of work, I enjoy drawing. At first glance, it may seem unrelated to my work, but I’ve found that dentistry itself has a strong aesthetic element. Restoring a tooth or aligning a smile requires an eye for detail and beauty."

It is an art that requires precision, patience, and creativity.

Her paintings

She finished speaking, her story lingered in the background, seemingly to weaken the clinical buzz and whir of dental instruments . The gift from that patient, dangling from the zipper of her bag, is still a reminder: the real impact of a dentist is not only in restoring teeth, but also in restoring confidence and comfort in the emotionally wounded.