Inspiration

Kids. “Children have a different outlook on life,” Dr. Tingling says. “It’s refreshing to work with them. They express honest feelings and give you straightforward answers. They make my job much more fulfilling; working with them keeps me honest.”

Favorite Aspect of Dentistry

Demonstrating how the most important things — diet, brushing, flossing — are crucial to maintaining a healthy mouth. “A child’s first dental visit is my favorite,” she says. “A child’s eyes are open to everything; they soak it all up like a sponge.”

Biggest Challenge

Parental intransigence. “It can be hard when parents deny the importance of dental health, or pass their own poor dental experiences onto a child.”