Page 27 - Bulletin Vol 27 No 3 - Sept. - Dec. 2022 Final 2_Neat

Member Article | Giant Pumpkins and a Life Lesson

By Elyse Patrella

The Minnesota State Fair is a magical place. For 12 days each year, the state fairgrounds come alive
with food venders, carnival rides, and over 900 live performances. While eating fried cheese curds served
by the bucket, patrons can take in live butter sculpting, livestock competitions, and more. With this litany
of entertainment options, the Great Midwest Get Together draws nearly 2 million visitors annually, making
it the largest state fair by daily attendance. I finally checked this attraction off my bucket list this year.

While I unfortunately missed the llama costume contest (llamas dressed in costumes, not people
dressed as llamas), I did have the pleasure of attending an informative lecture on how to grow a giant
pumpkin. The topic seemed a bit dry, but I was lured in by the promise of free giant pumpkin seeds. The
hour-long lecture covering soil pH, nutrient requirements, and the pros and cons of fungicide went by
surprisingly quickly. The presenter, dressed in a pumpkin patterned suit, was engaging, and his excitement
was contagious. I had never before thought of myself as an award-winning pumpkin grower, but I was sud-
denly considering how I would get a 2,000-pound pumpkin over my fence.
This struck me as an excellent example of how much demeanor changes interactions. As dentists, we
have a unique opportunity to inspire patients to achieve a greater level of health. For a lot of our patients,
a visit to the dentist can seem like the worst thing in the world. An appointment can be met with ambiva-
lence, much less enthusiasm. However, imagine what a difference we can make if we are able to impact
how patients see the future of their dental health. It becomes easy to get caught up in daily responsibili-
ties and forget what an impact we can make. It is important to remember what becomes our everyday
can change someone’s quality of life. If sharing your enthusiasm can shift the perspective on dentistry
from necessity towards privilege for just one person, it will be worth it. So, spend a little more time think-
ing about the “why” of what we do and share that with your patients. If at first this feels as silly as wearing
a pumpkin patterned suit, persist, because even if it doesn’t connect with your patient, it might bring a
little joy to your own life.
The other valuable lesson this giant-grower enthusiast was able to impart was the value of communi-
ty. I now belong to an online community of giant growers. While I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact
that I don’t have space for a garden of giant plants, I still enjoy the view from the sidelines. Record-
breaking fruits are celebrated, and when a plant is lost to animal damage or cracks beyond regulation ac-
cepted depth or length, kind words from fellow growers expressing sympathy flood in. Much like den-
tistry, growing can be a lonely endeavor. Outside of competitions, growers often tend their gardens alone.
A dentist in a solo practice is similarly alone in his or her world. While online communities for dentists
abound, there is no substitute for in-person interaction. The dental society is an invaluable resource for
achieving a sense of community. Take the opportunity to connect with dentists who truly care about the
future of our profession.
I think it’s also important to remember to take breaks. You can’t eat, sleep, or breathe dentistry day
in and day out; sometimes you need to branch out. If you have an available 900 square
feet of soil, and a complete disregard for your water bill, growing giant pumpkins may
be for you. But, even if it’s not, take some time to learn something new because you
might find valuable lessons where you least expect them.

Elyse Patrella is the 2023 NCDS
Vice-President and Chair of the
NCDS Ethics Council.
Nassau County Dental Society ⬧ (516) 227-1112 | 27