I am a cosmetic and general dentist and the owner of VIP smiles. I do routine check-ups, cleaning, diagnosis of gum disease and abnormalities, root canals, and smile makeovers: teeth whitening, veneers, everything from A to Z. The latest craze is called "the snap-on smile," an appliance that snaps on to your teeth and hides imperfections such as discoloration and crooked or missing teeth.

EDUCATION | BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan; DDS from the University of Maryland.

HOW TO GET STARTED | The competition is tough. In order to get into dentistry, you need a GPA of 3.5 or better and a strong background in math and science, especially science. You have to take a dental admission test, DAT, to get accepted into a program.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Manual dexterity- you have to be good with your hands. People who are artistic tend to be good in this field. People skills- you could be the best dentist in the world, but if your patients don't like you, they won't come in. The ability to manage stress is key.

how I got started | I got started in this field because of my own dental experience. I was not happy with my smile when I was a young girl. Kids made fun of my crooked teeth. When I was in high school, my dentist asked if there was anything I'd like to change about my smile. My mom was a single parent working at GM, but I convinced her to make the sacrifice and let me get braces. To improve a person's smile literally changes their life. My self-esteem went up as, for the first time in my life, people complimented me on my smile. I was 16 years old, and I decided I wanted to be a dentist so I could make others feel the way I did.

why this job?| Because at the end of the day, not only am I making people feel and look good, but Im keeping them healthy. I feel like I was born to do this. When patients come in, lacking confidence because of how their teeth look, I can say I know what you're going through and I'm here to help.

why I love this job!| I get to meet all types of people from all backgrounds- it's a relationship business. I get to watch their kids grow up. I love being a part of someone's transformation- it's great to help someone who's not happy with their appearance gain the confidence of a rock star! And I love being able to educate people about the importance of dental health, being able to help them preserve their overall health and even save their lives, because gum disease can lead to serious disorders.

my typical day| I start the day by meeting with my staff and discussing the needs of the patients we'll be seeing that day. I see about one patient per hour. The atmosphere at my office is great- there are TVs and DVD players in every room to help everybody relax and be comfortable. My work day ends about 7PM. I go home and cook supper, or go out to eat. I serve a number of people in the entertainment industry, so I get invited to a lot of cool events!

what they are | Dealing with people, trying to make everybody happy. Staffing issues. Dealing with the insurance companies. In dental school, you don't learn anything about the business side of dentistry, so that's a challenge. And it's challenging to educate people about the importance of dentistry- it's a necessity, not a luxury.

all about growth | It's comforting to know that healthcare is something that will always be needed. The potential for my own business to grow depends on me and how I promote the business.

my website| http://www.vipsmiles.com/index.html