The age-old fear of going to the dentist has been a common one among adults and children alike. However, one Malaysian dental student seems to be changing the tide of how we view these professionals as a whole.
Dental student and member of the Faculty of Dentistry at Universiti Malaya (UM), Habib, recently shared what a day in his life looks like on his TikTok account @tomato_012. In the clip, Habib captured his duties which included needing to extract a tooth from a young boy.
Caring and kind, Habib’s method of approaching the child during the procedure was nothing short of polite and graceful. From asking the kid if he could inject him with medication, to guiding him through the tough moments, Habib even asked him throughout the procedure if he was in pain. Soldiering through, the child made it past the entire procedure calm and collected.
The kid even gave Habib a high five after the extraction was complete.
After the procedure was over, Habib opened a book of stickers for the boy and asked him to choose his favourite, sticking it on his shirt for being brave throughout the removal.
At the end of the clip, Habib asked the child if he would like some ice cream and the boy agreed to the offer. Taking him to a nearby convenience store, Habib allowed the kid to buy whichever ice cream he preferred, enjoying it after the daunting dental visit.
Receiving immense praise for his kind-hearted approach, many Malaysians commended Habib for not only speaking to the boy in a nice way, but encouraging him throughout the process.
“If we had dentists like this, we’d all be okay when going for extractions,” wrote one user.
Others also praised the boy’s bravery, saying that while he did not allude to feeling any pain, he put on a strong face for the procedure.
Some users also jokingly asked Habib if he could be their dentist, saying that they’d want ice cream after going through a similar extraction, despite being adults.
“Suddenly my teeth hurt,” jokingly penned another user.
However, one user who revealed themselves to be a dental surgery assistant, confirmed that doctors usually ask patients to eat ice cream after a tooth extraction, as it helps to stop blood from flowing out of the extracted area.
Watch the full TikTok clip below:
@tomato_012 Eskrim + sticker = best rasuah ever #dentalstudent #dentalschool #dentistry #paediatrics #babyteeth #teethwhitening #dentalstudentlife #UM #CapCut
♬ Bercinta Lewat Kata – OST Jatuh Cinta Seperti di Film-Film – Donne Maula
In a brief conversation with WORLD OF BUZZ, Habib expressed his hope that the public will grow less fearful of going to the dentist after watching his video, as it is a necessity for one’s health. With future dentists like Habib, we’d all be in good hands!
