Chronicle 10 : The White Coat

White Coat Dreams and Paranoid Dentists: A Journey from Nostalgia to Infection Control

I still remember one of those soap advertisements that aired just before I started dental school. A charming actor, dressed as a doctor, rode through the dusty city on his bike—white coat draped heroically on his shoulder. He reached home, used the soap, and magically became germ-free. That white coat, casually hanging on one shoulder, was more than fabric. It was status. It was style. It was a trend. And back then, I couldn’t wait to ride to college with my own white coat draped just like that, thinking people would look at me with admiration.

What I didn’t realize was the danger that came with it. That coat was a distraction. A dangling piece of fabric in traffic. An accident waiting to happen.

The white coat came in stages too. As a student, mine was a half-sleeved one. A short badge of identity. But when I became a junior doctor, I graduated to the full-sleeved version. Some professors thought it was unnecessary. They walked confidently through the clinics in formal wear—no white coat in sight. Eventually, even I left it behind. Back home, the coat slowly faded out of fashion. Infection control wasn’t a big deal. My father was just happy I wasn’t risking my life with that dusty coat dangling off my shoulder anymore.

Then I moved to the US. I started dental school here—and to my surprise, I was welcomed with something called a white coat ceremony. Was this a thing here too? Yes. But it felt different. This was a professional ritual, a gesture of trust, a rite of passage. Students wore white, professors wore blue. And everyone on the clinic floor wore full-sleeved coats.

In the very first week, we had a class on personal protective equipment (PPE). I remember thinking the Americans were paranoid. Overreacting. We—international dentists—exchanged sarcastic smiles and eye rolls. But the professor began in a serious tone. He reminded us that PPE wasn’t just about protecting patients. It was about protecting ourselves. I began to listen.

He emphasized full-body coverage, long-sleeved coats, mandatory eyewear, gloves, and covered shoes. As he spoke, my mind flashed back to dental school back home.

Back home, long coats meant hierarchy. Half-sleeves for students. But they offered little protection. I’d often go home with blood-stained sleeves. I’d wash my coat maybe once a week—if it didn’t look too dirty. I even brought them into the cafeteria or stuffed them into bags for days. But here, in the US, it was strict. Coats never left the facility. The school gave fresh ones every day. No coats allowed in dining areas. In private practice, disposable gowns were the norm. Disposable? That was a new idea altogether.

I remembered donating a couple of reusable gloves to my school when I started. They were sterilized after every use. If we had to remove them mid-procedure, we carefully kept them aside for reuse. Throwing gloves away? Unthinkable. We bought our own glove boxes. Here, I was using ten pairs of gloves per patient.

Eyewear became part of the daily attire in US clinics. I wore prescription glasses, so it didn’t feel like a change. But others quickly adapted. Back home, I wore cloth masks, hand-washed daily and carried in my already dirty bag. Here? One disposable mask per patient. Open sandals were common footwear for women in my country. Closed shoes were rare. Here, it was non-negotiable. Infection control trumped fashion. Even in the US, some women still struggle with this rule—but most manage. Men? Never had that issue!

So what do I call this obsession with PPE? Is it wastage or wise infection control?

At first, I mocked the system. I questioned the logic. I even criticized the paranoia. But slowly, something shifted. I began to appreciate the reasoning. I saw the wisdom. And eventually, I too became a paranoid dentist.

And I’m glad I did.

In a world constantly mutating with microscopic threats, I’ve learned it’s better to be safe than sorry. What once felt like overreaction now feels like self-respect. The white coat, the gloves, the eyewear—they’re not just symbols of our profession. They’re shields. And every shield has a story.

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.