What do you feel is the most important quality a dentist should possess?

"I believe that the most important quality for a dentist to possess is integrity. A dentist with integrity always puts their patients' needs before their financial interests. They will treat their support staff respectfully and be dedicated to bettering themselves in their craft. Integrity is an essential quality for me, so I am actively working on increasing my integrity level in various personal and professional situations. I show integrity by keeping my appointments and commitments and fulfilling my promises."

"I believe a dentist should possess empathy, above and beyond all other attributes, as this will carry any helping provider throughout their career with the right directives. Without understanding my patients' concerns and complaints, I would be doing them a significant disservice by simply providing 'textbook treatment.' I have already been building my empathy skills by taking on volunteer experiences outside of my comfort zone and carefully examining any unconscious bias I may possess."

You may want to answer with several qualities a dentist should possess, but the interviewer asks what you feel is THE most essential quality. Choose what you think is the most important and assure the interviewers you also have that trait.