What qualities should a dentist possess above all others?

"I believe that the most important quality for a dentist to possess is integrity. A dentist with integrity will always put their patients' needs before their own financial interests. They will treat their support staff with respect and be dedicated to bettering themselves and their craft. 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 working on building my empathy skills by taking on volunteer experiences outside my comfort zone and carefully examining any unconscious bias I may possess."