Implant + Perio Clinic

People occasionally ask me whether I still enjoy being a dentist. After all these years, the honest answer is yes. But perhaps not for the reasons people expect.

I imagined dentistry would be about teeth

When I first entered the profession, I imagined dentistry would be about teeth. I soon discovered it was really about people. Over the years, I have worked in different healthcare systems, different environments and different types of practice. Like many dentists, I have experienced periods where the pressures of the profession felt overwhelming.

There were times when the administrative burden seemed endless. Times when the pace felt relentless. Times when I went home exhausted. I suspect many healthcare professionals will recognise those feelings.

Yet through all of that, one thing never changed. My sense of responsibility towards my patients. Even on the most challenging days, I never stopped caring. I never stopped wanting to do the right thing. I never stopped feeling that every patient sitting in the chair deserved my full attention, honesty and effort.

Passion and responsibility are not always the same thing

Looking back, I realise that passion and responsibility are not always the same thing. Passion can fluctuate. Energy can fluctuate. Enthusiasm can fluctuate. Responsibility should not. The longer I practise, the more I appreciate that good dentistry is often built on small moments rather than dramatic transformations.

It is the nervous patient who finally feels comfortable enough to attend regularly. The patient who has avoided smiling for years and gradually regains confidence. The person who arrives in pain and leaves feeling relieved. The patient who returns years later and tells you that everything is still working exactly as it should. Those moments never become ordinary. They are still the reason I enjoy coming to work.

Technology, materials and procedures

Modern dentistry often focuses on technology, materials and procedures. All of those things matter. But what continues to inspire me most is the human side of the profession. The conversations. The trust. The relationships that develop over many years. The privilege of caring for entire families, sometimes across generations. The knowledge that somebody has chosen to place their trust in you during a moment when they feel vulnerable. That responsibility is something I continue to value deeply. Perhaps that is why my view of dentistry has changed over time.

When I was younger, I was often focused on the technical side of treatment. Today, I am just as interested in how patients feel when they leave the practice. Did they feel listened to? Did they understand their options? Did they feel respected? Did they feel cared for? Those questions matter every bit as much as the dentistry itself.

Running a dental practice

Running a dental practice brings its own challenges. Healthcare is constantly evolving. Patients’ expectations evolve. Regulations evolve. Technology evolves. Yet the principles that matter most remain remarkably simple.

Treat people honestly. Listen carefully. Keep learning. Take responsibility. Do your best. After all these years, I still believe those principles are worth protecting. And perhaps that is why I still love dentistry. Not because every day is easy. Not because every treatment is perfect. But because helping people will always matter.

About the Author

Dr Sanaz Tehrani, DDS (Germany), is the Principal Dentist and Clinical Director of Implant & Perio Clinic in Marylebone, Central London.

Having qualified from RWTH Aachen University in Germany and practised for many years in the United Kingdom, she continues to believe that dentistry is, above all else, a profession built on trust, responsibility and care.

Implant & Perio Clinic is located at Implant & Perio Clinic, Portland Place, Marylebone, near Harley Street, London W1.