Saṃsāra: Restoring Patient Confidence by Redefining How We Practice Dentistry

Abstract

In the words of Charles Darwin, “it is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change”. Since the start of the year, the novel coronavirus has affected the lives of millions of people around the world [1]. This includes dentists who have to face the same scenario and a greater risk because of the proximity to patients in which they normally operate. As lockdowns around the world are being relaxed and dental practices are starting to reopen, another concern faced by most practitioners is the lack of patients because of the risks of cross-infection. The novel coronavirus has caused extensive damage to both life and economy and it has also given us a chance to adapt and make changes to the way we do things. There is a word in Sanskrit which comes to mind, Saṃsāra, which basically refers to the cyclicality of all life, matter, and existence. The term implies the concept of reincarnation and reimagining a new life.