Australasian Dentist Magazine Sept-Oct 2021

Category 144 Australasian Dentist Karen Wong. She is a smiling, happy, popular, dentist. I spoke to her and I learnt two things. Her journey to Hobart was circuitous. The future of dentistry is looking good. Alan: I get the impression that you enjoy your work and you are happy with your job and I want to find out why. Karen (laughter) Alan: Nothing wrong with that. We like that. Can we go back in time? You were born in … Karen: Malaysia, the part close to Indonesia, not Singapore. There’s a lot of bush around there. You get orangutangs. Alan: So, when you were growing up in Malaysia you had a regular dentist. Karen: No, actually. Alan: What did you know about dentistry? Karen: I knew nothing about dentistry. I always wanted to be a doctor like my sister and my uncle. But my elder sister finished her medical school before I finished high school and she advised me not to do medicine but to go for dentistry because if she could choose again, she would have done dentistry. Alan: When you were young you must have occasionally seen a dentist. Karen: The school dentist and they are very scary. Laughter Karen: The school dentist comes to the school and we had a tooth brushing exercise and we had to brush our teeth in front of the school dentist. Karen: I went to school in the UK for matric and I had to choose where and what to study and my sister said do dentistry. She said it’s better for women; better for your family. It’s a nice job. You don’t have to be on call. Alan: You studied in Belfast. Karen: I really enjoyed those five years. It was hard but worth it. Alan: Tell me something about Belfast. Karen: Northern Irish have really cute accents. Alan: Where did you go after uni? Karen: Scotland. They have got lovely, lovely accents. Karen: The area where I worked was pretty tough. I spent a lot of time educating them. Most of them just want to pull their teeth out because it’s easier. Alan: How did you go from Scotland to Tasmania? Karen: I was planning to move to be closer to my family. But Covid came. The borders were closed. My sister didn’t know when the borders were going to open up again. We have no idea when we are going to see each other again. It was the middle of the night, I was sleeping. My sister called me and said pack a suitcase, go the airport straight away, and buy a one-way ticket to Melbourne. Right now! Forget about all your stuff. Just rush right now and you’ll get the last flight into Australia and I did that. And that’s why I ended up in Melbourne. Alan: Why Hobart? Karen: I am a temporary resident so I have to work in rural areas. Alan: How often do you see your sister? Karen: Every weekend. I fly to Melbourne. Alan: Every weekend. I find that a bit unusual. Karen: To me family is the most important. My mum is living with me in Hobart. Alan: Does she go to Melbourne with you? Karen: Yes. Alan: When you go back to Melbourne at the weekend what do you do? Karen: Shopping and watching movies. My sister is starting up a new business. Catering for post -partum ladies. Alan: How do you find the Australian accent? Is it easier to understand than the Scottish or Irish accent? Karen:My sister has been inMelbourne for quite a while and she speaks with an Aussie accent. Alan: Can we go back in time to a young girl at school in Malaysia. What would you tell her about life as a dentist? Karen: I really enjoy what I am doing now. I sometimes think about what if I had done medicine. Alan: Can we stay with this young girl in Malaysia. What did she know about Tasmania? Karen: Nothing. I’d never heard of it. Alan: And Australia? Karen: Kangaroos and very poisonous animals … like snakes, spiders and sharks. Laughter Alan: And koalas. Karen: Yes, they are nice. Alan: Today after a day’s work, why have you enjoyed yourself? Karen: The patients are very nice. They appreciate what you do. Alan: Where do you see yourself in the future? Karen: I think I will settle in Tassie because I like Tassie ... it’s the pace in general. I like what I’m doing now. Alan: You’ve got a good place to work. Karen: Yes. A good place with good people. u Dr Alan Carlton shares a coffee … with Dr Karen Wong My aim in this column is to understand the dental community. I want every section of the dental community illuminated. Everybody has a story to tell. Everybody has a story worth hearing. The full complement