Chronicle 11 : Women Dilemma
Navigating Dress Codes and Gender Norms in Dental School: A Woman Dentist’s Perspective in 2025
The first time I started dental school, I was happy about the fact that there were many women in the class. I was glad that I was getting into a profession that was more women friendly. I was very thrilled that so many women thought this was a profession where they could make a mark. Interestingly, women whatever profession they are in, have to adapt and change. Women always have to multitask — they need to be doctors but also be pretty ones. They have to appear and talk more mature than their men colleagues. Many mothers who multitask have to rush all the times and still look very presentable.
In today’s fast-paced and image-conscious world, especially in the healthcare and dental professions, the intersection of gender, safety, and style remains a hot topic for Gen Z and Millennial dentists entering the workforce.
I saw and imbibed a few changes when I was in dental school in my country and in dental school in this new land. Back home, when I first started, Salwaar kameez was the most commonly worn dress for most occasions. So, it was the dress for school as well. Many women were and are still comfortable wearing this dress for work. This dress, though comfortable, came in various designs. But very few wore them full sleeved. The white coat for dental students were half sleeved and with a short sleeved or sleeveless salwaar kameez, these women were never protected from body fluids and needle pricks when treating a patient. The most complementing shoes with this dress were sandals or open toed shoes. There again, the chances of injury doubled in a new student’s perspective. What if a sharp instrument fell and injured the foot?
In 2025, where personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control protocols have become more strictly regulated globally due to post-pandemic standards, student attire in dental schools is under increasing scrutiny. Institutions are now promoting universal dress codes regardless of cultural attire to prioritize safety in clinical settings.
Saree day was very common in India. Women wore ethnic traditional wear on certain days to work. I remember that at that age, I was still new to saree and I struggled to even walk with that 7 yard cloth wrapped around me! It was a socially accepted thing that women who wear a saree were more traditional and more mature. They were more respected among the Indian patients. But little did these patients realize that their doctor was thinking more about her dress unwrapping and embarrassing her when walking or her beautiful dress getting ruined by blood stains! I could not find the foot pedal under that drape of clothing and did not realize if I was pressing on the right one most of the time. If I remember correctly, half of my friends did not work on patients on saree days!
Modern dental schools, including those in India, are now reassessing the cultural vs clinical debate — encouraging ethnic expression on non-clinical days while emphasizing ergonomic and safety-conscious clothing during patient care.
In the US, once I started school, I was always wondering if women had a common dress code. The laws were more set in place that the body should be fully protected. Most women just opted for scrubs, the most widely and safest clothing option for men and women. But some including me opted for formal and semiformal clothing. The formal and semi formal clothing had to follow some standards: Cover and protect the body fully. Women found it easy to follow that rule in winter because they had no other option. They were double layered from head to toe! Fully covered shoes, pants or stocking for legs and fully sleeved shirts were very common. Come summer, things changed. Peer pressure demanded some skin being shown! Then came the hidden skirts from closets with ballerina shoes. Stockings were supposed to be worn with the skirts but were missing on many. I always thought it was a hindrance to wear them.We had a dean for OSHA and related personnel safety at NYU. He toured the school and picked on students who were not upto standards. Many students hated him! We ran and hid in the nooks and crannies if we were not following proper protocol. While it was fun and exciting tricking him then, what he said keeps ringing in my ears all the time. After graduation, I am on my own and I can trick nobody!
Today, AI-driven dress code audits and smart PPE compliance tracking are making their way into dental schools, making it harder to bypass safety regulations. Apps now monitor adherence to clinic protocol, raising awareness among students to think beyond fashion and prioritize function.
Having open hair always is very presentable but not when treating a patient. The patients do not relish the idea of the doctor’s hair falling into their mouths! Many students did make an extra effort to gel their hair and still have them open (less chances of hair mishaps) and others just tied up and saved the trouble. There still were ones who worked with their hair loose and almost caught fire fabricating dentures!
In 2025, healthcare wearables and risk alerts are now being incorporated into smart clinics, but the basics like tied-up hair, closed shoes, and long sleeves remain frontline defenses. Appearance still matters — but safety comes first.
With all these observations, I have decided to opt for either scrubs with sports shoes or full pants with socks and ballerina shoes for work. I always have to wear a fully sleeved coat to protect my hands and tie up my hair most of the times for work. I have had bad hair days and disheveled ones too! It is very challenging for women to strike a balance with being presentable, compete with peer pressure and be professional all at the same time. But women do excel with all these limitations. There is no set rule and there is a very fine line that can be drawn here to enforce safety rules for women. But most of them know and can realize what’s best for their safety.
Many female dentists now use social platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn to share their experiences balancing beauty, professionalism, and patient safety. The #WomenInDentistry and #DentalDiaries2025 hashtags highlight stories like these — of confidence, compromise, and courage in the white coat.
Interestingly, men have a better chance with these injuries. Most of them wear full sleeved shirts for school and they have formal shoes on. So the body is fully clothed and protected. They have short hair and less hair fall chances and fire mishaps. They could get up disheveled and still come to school or work because they can brush their hair in a jiffy! Peer pressure demands some deodorant and that’s workable. No skin showing for men, so life can be less complicated. The patients don’t seem to prejudice the maturity of men based on clothing. I am sure men have their qualms too. If I were to be a man, I would think differently from the other perspective?
As dentistry embraces inclusion and equity in 2025, more male students are now acknowledging the unconscious privileges in dress codes and safety expectations — a conversation that is essential for gender-sensitive education and clinical equality.
Author: Dr. Meenakshi Umapathy, a dedicated General Dentist, embarked on her professional journey in India before expanding her horizons in the United States. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the esteemed New York University College of Dentistry and now specializes in pediatric dentistry in Indiana. Since 2017, she has been a valued practitioner at Monarch Dental, bringing her expertise and compassionate care to young patients.
Through her evocative narratives, Dr. Umapathy shares her rich experiences practicing in both India and the U.S., offering profound insights into the evolving landscape of dentistry. Her blog, originally published on DentistryUnited.com in 2012, has been thoughtfully republished, ensuring that her wisdom continues to educate and inspire dental professionals and enthusiasts alike.