#1 The Beginning

For years, I felt alone.

Alone in front of the dental chair, alone with my mistakes, alone with my doubts.

Alone, even when surrounded by people.

This blog was born after something unexpected.

In March 2025, I was invited to give a lecture at the University of Coimbra, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Dental school. The very same university where I was trained, and one of the oldest in the world.

For the first time, I decided to share my story without filters: the failures, the fears, the years when things didn’t turn out as I’d hoped.

Something happened after that talk. Many people began to write to me, colleagues, students, even experienced professionals. They all said the same thing: “Thank you. I saw myself in your story. I’ve felt that way, too.”

That’s when I realized something important: Dentistry can be a profoundly lonely profession.

Especially in the early years, when nobody chooses you, when the system doesn’t welcome you, when the demands are overwhelming and recognition is scarce.

We are trained in technical skills, but rarely in emotional resilience. We learn to care for mouths, but not for ourselves.

Sometimes, that can be devastating.

It’s no coincidence that dentistry is one of the professions with the highest rates of burnout, anxiety, and even suicide.

With this series, my intention is simple: that at least one colleague might feel less alone when reading it.

These stories are not advice. They are not magic formulas. They are moments from real life. Some may remind you of something you’ve lived through. Others might be a glimpse of what’s still ahead.

I hope you find a sense of companionship in these lines.

And if you ever feel like you can’t go on, remember: no one gets far without having first felt lost.

Welcome to this space.

And thank you for being here.

Bruno