Dr. Cristina PĂCURAR

I have always wanted to work in a multidisciplinary team and in a clinic like DENT ESTET. Today, my wish has come true. Another very pleasant and constructive experience was when I obtained the Erasmus+ scholarship for two consecutive years, where, for the first time as a student, I met the medical team and the clinic I wanted to be a part of. After the Erasmus experience, I didn't want to work just anywhere, and I expressed these desires somehow, but most people discouraged me, telling me not to have high expectations, especially at the beginning of my career. Over time, I realized that it is very important not to stop believing in what I want and to work to achieve those great results I aspire to.

With this attitude, I always saw the glass half full, and immediately after graduation, I saw a recruitment announcement on social media - dentist at the DENT ESTET clinic in Sibiu - that was my clear moment. And that’s how it began.

I have several. I am lucky! The first is, of course, the mentor who doesn't know he was my mentor but excellently exemplified the power of example: Prof. Dr. Emeritus Ioan Lascăr. Then, during university, I met someone who supports and guides me even now, Dr. Cristina Molnar-Varlam, Head of Department - my family from Târgu Mureș, where I graduated.

Also in university, I had another mentor whom I admired for his empathy and involvement in our development in the first year of studies. He taught us Molecular Biology, an extremely difficult subject, but he made us understand and learn it very easily: Prof. Dr. Ovidiu S. Cotoi.

Later, I began to realize how much these mentors could influence and motivate me in every stage of my professional life.

I continued to seek references when I started working, so I am part of a large multidisciplinary team - a key pillar in such a clinic and profession, where I learn every day. At DENT ESTET, I had access to the direct support of more experienced colleagues, and I am grateful for the unconditional support I received, including the mentorship program of the renowned Prof. Dr. Paul Maló.

I mentioned the first impactful people for me since I decided to attend the Faculty of Dental Medicine, but I say with great pride and joy that my main role models and balance have been and still are my mom and dad. I am glad to talk to you about this because if you had asked me a few years ago, I wouldn't have been able to say this so clearly, and I would have regretted it.

It is a challenge, and I love that no clinical case is the same. I am active, determined, effervescent, persistent, demanding, organized, and through my profession, I develop my patience even more. When I work and go through meticulous stages, I have incredible patience, which even surprises me.

There are moments and people who have been impactful for me; that's how I function. A course that captured my attention and made me want to improve my approach to clinical cases was Dr. Smaranda Buduru’s course - Dental Occlusion, Practical Applications in Prosthetics - Cluj Napoca, Romania.

Emotional empathy is what motivates us to help others. Without emotion, it would be almost impossible to have relationships with each other, which make life so satisfying. The doctor - patient relationship is essential to truly achieve the perfection of a smile. Empathy doesn't follow a script. It's just about listening, respecting space, preventing judgment, and connecting emotionally.

I believe the answer is very subjective. A successful result in aesthetic dentistry means that I have met all the aesthetic requirements and proportions, and the patient is satisfied. To give a more pertinent and realistic answer, success can be measured when you have a difficult, complex case with a patient's anatomy that you cannot influence because we are not gods, but specialist doctors, and yet you manage to solve that case successfully both functionally and aesthetically.

Due to the times of evolution and continuous research, there is now a treatment solution even for the most complex cases thanks to the advancement of digital technology. At DENT ESTET clinics, we have the most advanced technologies and exceptionally trained doctors whose training is continuously invested in. In Romania, there are still gaps in medical education. As a result, patients come with many problems they are unaware of, and when we go through the treatment stages, they are surprised to learn that their condition has a solution. Now we have solutions, and technology helps us a lot in this regard.

The future looks even more digitalized and efficient than it already is. By actively participating in courses with renowned speakers, having a multidisciplinary team with whom we hold medical meetings and discuss treatment options, we are practically in a continuous learning and development process. Digitalization comes as an extension of us, allowing us to collaborate more efficiently and ultimately optimize with beneficial results for the patient.

All cases are important and impress me with their complexity. From the first visit of patients to the clinic, I can visualize the outcome of the case, and I get excited because it is wow! I think simply being involved and determined in the work I do makes me see these steps leading to the final stage before going through them and transmit my enthusiasm in a certain way to the patients, and they feel it and gain confidence. Often, I also realize the impact this change will have on their lives because a smile is a very important accessory. At the end of the day, we are all human, and it is natural to empathize with each other; we need that.

Jovial, "the doctor who answers the phone anytime," confident, passionate, involved, "you always welcome me with a smile," "special" - this is how my patients' messages sound.

I like listening to people who have something to say; they inspire me greatly. I follow some interviews, podcasts, and social media accounts because I appreciate people who have an argued opinion from which I can learn something. I like going to unique, peaceful, less commercial, and crowded places - sometimes I appreciate the hustle and bustle; I am not completely against it. For example, I appreciate a full stadium of fans at my favorite band's concert or the crowd at the premiere of a new theater show. The energy of a summer beach party or a vinyl at sunset in the most famous spot on a Greek island is unparalleled. I think I have learned to take the necessary dose of good from every activity I choose to participate in, and somewhere, there must be the "exercise of balance," as Tudor Chirilă said.

I like reading, romantic comedies, love flowers, enjoy driving and listening to music. I am that person whose favorite part of the day is the morning between 6 and 8 when not everyone is awake yet, when it's still quiet and the air is fresh. I consider myself an organized person, and mornings help me organize my ideas more clearly. Whenever I can, I start my morning by going to the gym, then the day continues with a good coffee, another aspect I can't part with in my routine. Talking with you now, I realize there is much more I could say, but let's leave it for next time.