The Three Prostho-teers: How 3 students got accepted into the same prosthodontics residency
Part 3: Enerel Otgonbayar (Eva)
1. Introduce yourself, where are you from/ grew up/ hobbies?
My name is Enerel Otgonbayar but I go by Eva. I was born in Khentii and raised in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I spent majority of my childhood alternating between the city and living a traditional nomadic lifestyle in the countryside of Mongolia. Mongolia is beautiful, and I would highly recommend anyone to travel there, preferably in the summertime unless you enjoy -30°C weather. I then spent four years living in London, England before moving to Colorado at the age of ten. Colorado has been home since.
Hobbies? Hmm dental school keeps me busy but during my spare time I love to spend quality time with family and friends. I also enjoy staying physically active through weight training and outdoor activities.
2. When did you know you wanted to go into Prosth?
To me dentistry is a combination of all my passions: art, medicine, engineering, and most importantly; helping others. Coming into dental school I knew I wanted to focus more on cosmetics and the artistic aspect of dentistry but it wasn’t until my second year of dentals school that I started pursuing a residency training in prosthodontics.
During the summer semester of my second year, I got to work very closely with Dr. Nguyen as my instructor for Esthetics and Fixed Prosthodontics Lab.
I still remember this day very vividly; I went up to Dr. Nguyen to grade my #9-11 FDP prep and she took a quick look at my typodont and said:
“Eva, have you ever thought about specializing in prosthodontics?”.
My instant answer was “YES! Without a doubt”
When Dr. Nguyen recommends you become a prosthodontist, you go become a prosthodontist!
Dr. Nguyen paved the path for me to really start looking into residency and expressed to me the challenges and rewards that come with it. She has become a pillar in my journey and one of the incredible mentors that have helped me get to where I am today.
Prosthodontists are the teachers in the field of dentistry, they understand everything to it’s core from biomechanics and materials, to having the skillset to meticulously engineer a treatment plan for any complex case through to help of other specialties to deliver the best outcome to the patient. I am confident residency training will help me achieve this.
3. What was the interview portion like compared to other specialties?
Prosthodontic residency interviews are different from any other specialty interviews in that they like to ascertain the interviewees handskills. In addition to the traditional interview process, there was always a handskills portion at all of my in-person interviews. Some included waxing teeth to prepping an onlay, single crown, and fixed prosthesis.
4. What are you most excited about in residency?
I am most excited to learn and grow as a clinician! I am eager to enhance the skillsets I have developed during my time here at CUSDM. I am also excited to start my residency training with my fellow two classmates. It is rare you get the privilege of training at one of the best prosthodontic residency programs in the nation, let alone with people you have already created a bond and close relationship with during dental school! I think the fact all three of us classmates who applied to prosthodontics this year matched into the same prestigious program speaks volumes of the type of training we receive here at CUSDM and I am forever grateful for that.
5. What advice would you give to dental students interested in residency?
Deciding to commit three more years to residency was not something I decided on overnight. I would recommend anyone to do their research and take the time to shadow a prosthodontist or any specialist they are looking to go into. With persistence and hard work anything is possible, believe in yourself and be confident!