Dr. Debra Meadows has been practicing endodontics since 1993 and if you ask her, she will tell you she still loves every bit of it. This month, we sat down with Dr. Meadows to talk about her journey into the specialty, what keeps her passionate after more than three decades, and what she wants the next generation to hear.

What drew you to endodontics?

"I liked Endo in dental school, and I worked in the dental emergency room at UCSF. We got a lot of toothaches, and I enjoyed getting patients out of pain. It was very satisfying."

It was also the encouragement of a fellow female endodontist that made the difference.

"It took a little nudging from a colleague to support me. Another female endodontist. Just like with mentoring, it is very important to do that with the younger dentists and endodontists coming up in the field."

What has changed in the specialty over the years?

Dr. Meadows graduated from her residency at Loma Linda in 1993, when the field looked very different.

"When I was a resident, we had one microscope to share with the whole dental school. It was still hand filing. Rotary instruments were just coming out, and it was very scary transitioning because there could be breakage."

Today she sees technology as a true game changer.

"Now it is so easy with the NiTi files and microscopes. I think we get better outcomes from the technology. And 3D scans are a real game changer. You can actually see resorptions, see the missed canals on retreats. That has helped a lot."

What do you love most about endodontics today?

"We get patients out of pain and treat their needs and save their teeth. As we get older, people don't realize how important that is. Educating patients and the general public about our specialty is exciting. And the relationships I've developed with referring doctors over the years, watching their practices grow, that is inspiring to me."

She also finds deep satisfaction in her team.

"What I love now that I am a practice owner is watching my team grow. It is fun to watch the people you brought in to support you grow also."

What advice would you give to a young endodontist just starting out?

"Stay current. Don't just go with what you learned in your residency. Nurture relationships with fellow endodontists, have mentors, because most endodontists love what they are doing and love to share."

She also encourages board certification.

"I feel that strengthens our specialty. Go back and look at the literature and base your procedures on the research."

And for those already feeling the weight of debt and pressure before they have even begun?

"It is going to be expensive no matter what. But it is all relative to what is going to happen over all these years of your life. You are in a profession where you are able to pay it back.

You can find a job anywhere in the world. Everything is relative. Just take a breath and know that you are going to be able to make it."

Her final word is simple and from the heart.

"Just enjoy it. It is a great profession. You have flexibility, you don't have to follow everybody's pattern. You can do whatever you want. And continue to learn."

We are grateful to Dr. Meadows for sharing her story so openly. She is exactly the kind of endodontist this month is meant to honor.

Stay tuned throughout March as we continue featuring the remarkable women of the Endo Mastery community.