A reason to smile

Ahmed Fuaadi Hisham Bakti chose Dentistry for a deeply personal reason. The 23-year-old Year 3 NUS Faculty of Dentistry student grew up intensely self-conscious and insecure about his misaligned front teeth, which caused him to shy away from smiling in social situations.

“But things changed after getting braces and seeing the impact my orthodontist had on me. This inspired me to want to do the same for others. Even while wearing braces, I found myself willing to smile a lot more. The day I took off my braces, I felt my confidence spike!” he recounts with a laugh.

The human touch, the healing touch

But it was only after completing his National Service that Fuaadi affirmed his choice and calling – through an eye-opening shadowing stint as an assistant at a dental clinic. He elaborates: “I was captivated by the work of being a dentist, the hands-on nature of the career, and above all, the interactions between dentists and patients. Even though I didn’t get to partake in diagnosis or treatment planning, I valued the opportunity to simply assist the dental professionals through their procedures.”

Even as a Dentistry student today, the human interaction along with the problem-solving that comes with the field remain Fuaadi’s greatest passion, as he witnesses different specialties come together to solve a health problem in a holistic and collaborative manner.

Of head and heart matters

Citing his mother as one of his key shaping influences and strongest cheerleader since he was young, Fuaadi attests that her unwavering support and encouragement have been a key reason for his pursuit of Dentistry. He shares: “My mom is a very accepting, compassionate, and non-judgemental person – these are now the traits I seek to foster in myself.”

When asked about the three key traits essential to being a good dentist, Fuaadi lists without hesitation: responsible, compassionate, and knowledgeable. He observes: “Many patients dread seeing the dentist, so being a compassionate dentist definitely helps to alleviate those fears. Besides dental phobia, many patients also fear over- or under-treatment by their dentist, leading many to seek a second or even third opinion. Having a sense of professional responsibility will rectify this. Last but not least, I think it is necessary for a good dentist to constantly upgrade themselves with the latest dental knowledge and technology.”

To dispel a common stereotype of Dentistry, Fuaadi shares that Dental students are not just focusing on molars and incisors. “We don’t just study teeth. We actually study the same curriculum as Medicine students in Years 1 and 2, delving into human anatomy and all its systems, for example,” he clarifies.

The rigour and joys of working with hands

For Fuaadi, his biggest learning curve in clinical work this year has been patient management – learning to understand their perspectives and expectations. Besides sourcing for his own patients, the Year 3 student has done a gamut of dental procedures such as extraction, scaling, polishing, and fillings. “The rigorous coursework and focus on practical training have also allowed me to gain valuable insights and skills from trained professionals that have deepened my understanding and passion for dentistry,” he shares.

For prospective students who are considering whether to pursue Dentistry at NUS, his advice is simple and rooted in his personal experience: “Shadow a dentist before you decide. I reached out to my own dentist and asked for such a placement so that I can truly experience the ground realities of a clinical situation - it was both eye-opening and enlightening.”

Juggling many balls

The Year 3 NUS student admits that his biggest struggle was managing the heavy academic workload and Hall CCAs in his Freshman year. With daily 9am to 4pm classes, followed by CCAs until 10pm, Fuaadi found it challenging to keep up with his commitments. “Since very few Dentistry students lived on campus, we really didn’t have a reference point to compare notes or learn how to manage our time back then. Now I prioritise a lot better, and would pick hall CCAs that work around my academic schedule. I have also become better at balancing time with friends, family, or sleep, in order to train for competitions, rehearse for performances, or to study for exams,” the Kent Ridge Hall resident reveals.

Yet, the multi-hyphenate talent and life of the party would not trade his packed calendar for anything. In fact, his best advice to NUS students is to make the best of their undergraduate years and explore everything they have an interest in. A model, dancer, and singer, Fuaadi credits his residential experience as the highlight of his NUS years, having performed in a myriad of Hall productions such as Amplitude for Choir and Acapella, Dance Uncensored, as well as being the choreographer and pageant director for other productions.

Joy of life on campus halls

The sporty Dental student who did gymnastics in Primary school, also participates in softball and track and field CCAs, including competing at the track and field Inter Hall Games. He shares: “Despite my hectic schedule, my enthusiasm for holistic growth has encouraged me to embrace activities outside of the classroom, both in my faculty and my hall.”

In his free time, Fuaadi enjoys playing the piano, as well as recording English and Mandarin pop song covers for TikTok. The songbird who grew up singing with his whole family on their car rides, shares that he used to be in the school choir. Of course, refuelling is never far from his mind too, as he divulges that his favourite hall activity is grabbing supper with his friends after their hall CCAs.

The best people bringing out the best in me

Beyond the holistic growth that has shaped him to be the best version of himself, Fuaadi is most appreciative of the people in his life – hall mates, classmates, faculty and staff. Describing the culture of the Faculty of Dentistry as stimulating, and the people as helpful and open-minded, the optimistic and resilient student fondly reminisces about the tight-knit fraternity with seniors buddying up with juniors to help them in their work.

“I especially want to mention my senior Shao Min, who has been my role model in how she has juggled her school and hall commitments so well. Besides the meaningful relationships with my classmates, my other essential support system is my tight circle of hall mates, especially Daryl Tan WeiHeng. He has been such a pillar of comfort and strength during my stressful periods,” he recounts. 

Prevention better than cure

On how he sees his future development, Fuaadi aspires to become a compassionate dentist that patients will feel comfortable with. In addition, he wishes to delve more deeply into preventive oral health — an area he has a passionate interest in.

“I volunteer with kids from lower-income families, providing them with tuition, and enjoy great rapport with them as a befriender. It’s natural that even in the area of dental work, I would like to work with youths, some of whom experience dental issues stemming from a lack of oral health care when they were younger,” the floss advocate reasons.

On the number one thing he wishes patients would be proactive about, it would be flossing, due to its importance. He asserts: “Brushing can only rid plaque and food debris on the top and sides of your teeth, but bacteria build-up occurs between your teeth. That is why flossing is so important: it is the cheapest preventive practice there is to avoid oral health issues down the road.”