As the world is slowly progressing towards the more equal and equitable treatment of genders, it’s sometimes easy to forget that it’s not a march in lockstep. Instead, many people are cutting their paths through their circumstances, progressing in the same general direction. Dr. Sandra Garcia Martin 's course is leading her through her profession – dentistry.

In the UK, where Dr. Martin is practicing, women dominate dentistry. Data from the country’s General Dental Council show that women made up 50.2% of dentists in 2019 and 76.6% of DCPs, or dental care professionals.

“Dentistry is unfortunately very ego-based. ” Dr. Sandra Garcia Martin explains there isn't much teamwork going on. “It’s all about individuality.”

For Dr. Martin’s small revolution within dentistry, that ego-driven approach was one of the first things that needed to be tackled. Having grown up in a community with strong women who supported each other, Dr. Martin’s vision of care, progress, and interaction with her co-workers, many women, is a bit different than the industry standard.

“I am a team person. I love my team; they're my family because I spend more time with them than with my own family,” she says. “For me, it's essential that there is empathy and the human side of connecting with people.”

Dr. Martin’s idea of female empowerment also includes a conscious effort to improve oneself. This can include everything from developing a morning routine for self-care and starting the day right, to attending professional seminars with people like Tony Robbins. Exploring one’s spiritual side is a welcome addition to the mix – Dr. Martin found hers in practicing Naam yoga. There are so many things to do. The work never needs to end.

Her search for self-improvement also guided Dr. Martin toward helping others. Seeing that many of her colleagues are having trouble finding the time and covering expenses to fly out to different classes and seminars, she decided to start her own.

“It’s a veneer course people can watch in their home and have everything explained and shown to them in high-quality video,” Dr. Martin explains. “It was also important to me to show the complication that can arise because the course simply wouldn’t be well-rounded without that. It’s very important to be vulnerable and honest in your profession.”

Dr. Sandra Garcia Martin shows the same humanity, vulnerability, and honesty when dealing with patients. On a lifetime quest to give people their best smiles, she’s always been careful to stay on the ground, work with the patients through their fears, and calm their nerves. “I don’t think I’m necessarily the best dentist out there,” she explains. “But when a patient sits in my chair, I ensure they get the best that I can offer – and usually that’s enough.”