Resident Spotlight: Dr. Garrett Wingrove, DMD, FACD
Compiled by Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter
Dr. Garrett Wingrove is currently a first-year endodontic resident at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine in the MSD/CAGs program. The Paper Point‘s Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter recently caught up with him to learn more about his journey to endo.
The Paper Point: Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview and sharing your story with us, Garrett. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: Thank you for taking the time to sit down with me! It is always nice to connect with new people and colleagues from other parts of the country. I moved from Toronto Canada for dental school at Boston University. Following graduation, I completed a GPR at Montefiore in New York City which was incredible. After that, I was in private practice for almost 5+ years. Currently I’m halfway through my first year of the MSD/CAGS three year program at Boston University where I also completed my DMD.
The Paper Point: Canada, eh? What influenced your decision to pursue dental school and residency in the states and how has that journey been?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: Eh! I’m definitely a proud Canadian! Coming from a small town, I always knew I would branch out… far enough away from home to somewhere new, but also close enough to be around my family. I have a large family on both sides (about 40 of us!). My cousins, brother, and sister are my best friends so that’s important. It was either Vancouver, New York, Boston (or Australia), so I had to stick to my gut! Boston felt right.
The Paper Point: That’s so true! I’m also a huge believe in following your gut – it’s definitely seems like it paid off thus far. However, I know that not everyone can go outside of their comfort zone, explore a whole new place and make it look as effortless as you have. Was there anything else about New England that drew you in?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: Being in New England surrounded by hard working, fun people and close to nature has made the decision easy. Ski. Work. Surf. Sail. Repeat. I knew a dentist who had a sign on the wall in his practice: “I only work to ski”…I think not all
patients liked it, but it reminds me that ~ sometimes it’s not all about the work. Like we were talking about the other day, you and I – endodontists are crazy perfectionists and we definitely need a break sometimes.
The Paper Point: For better or worst, perfectionism is embedded in our DNA! So tell me, how is residency going so far, and which aspect of residency have you found to be most valuable? (lit review, treating patients, seminar…)
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: Being back at BU has been very gratifying. My faculty and co- residents are wonderful, so I’m very happy where I am. It’s been rewarding in a lot of ways. Very interesting to come full circle, where some of my current professors were residents when I was a pre-doc and now, I’m the one teaching the pre-docs. Very cool. Residency itself has been a perfect start to my new endodontics journey. Being in the three year research program, we spend this year primarily in classes and with our research group. This, I think, gives me a way to step back, learn lots at my own rate that I think will allow me to go into clinic full-force next year (July!).
The Paper Point: Woohoo! That’ll be here before you know it. What do you most enjoy about endodontics?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: I love the mystery! A lot of us teeth people, ‘pulp people’ …AKA pulp assassins love the challenge each case presents. There’s always a mystery or something new that you don’t know going in and always something new to take away. I think it’s great we get to spend every day learning, improving, and helping our patients with the infections and difficult dental problems they walk in with. Even more, we all want our patients to walk out better than they came in, hopefully comfortable and less fearful. Endo is changing and I want to be part of the generation that helped make the R word (root canal) not a scary word.
The Paper Point: ‘Pulp assassins’! Haha, I love that! Being able to change our patients’ perspective on “the R word” is absolutely so fulfilling.
You worked as a general dentist for a few years before returning to endodontics. What sparked your interest to return to residency to pursue endodontics after practicing or did you always know you wanted to pursue endodontics? Was it tough for you to enter back into the academic setting?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: Private practice was certainly eye opening in many ways. I learned what I like and what I didn’t like, both procedurally and the business side. It was important to be able to observe and think about how I wanted to run my future practice. I fell in love with endo during my GPR, so residency had always been in the back of my mind since then. Working in the Bronx, managing big infections and saving teeth (or removing!) gave me a lot of confidence and more tools in my toolbox that I took with me to private practice. I had a mentor ask me, “when you look at your schedule at rounds in the morning, what gets your excited?”. I said that molar endo at 8am! She said, okay then that’s it. And that was the moment I decided endo.
The Paper Point: I love that! You also have had a lot of exposure to research, even prior to residency. Why do you think it is important for students and residents to be involved in research?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: I think it’s important for everyone to see endo from a different angle away from the operatory. Whether it’s reading, teaching, or researching. I think research forces us to think critically about why we’re doing what we’re doing and to be aware of what’s next for our field. Whether it’s your cup of tea or not, the reading, writing, and engaging with faculty opens your eyes and definitely will translate to better care back in the operatory. Endo can be isolating when the rubber dam is on and you’re staring down a microscope all day! I think research brings an extra element to residency and I recommend anyone involved in research to try to lean into it a little bit.
The Paper Point: That’s great advice, and so true.
In addition to saving teeth, you are also quite the adventurer! Triathlons, kitesurfing, skiing – tell us a little bit more about your hobbies and what sparked your interest in them?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: Hey, I’ve always just tried new things and over time you stick to what’s fun and what pushes you. Being Canadian, of course I played hockey for years. I did ok…my brother scored all the goals, my high school peers went to the NHL and it was time to move on. Snowboarding led to surfing and triathlon has just become a way for me to push myself outside the busy world of dentistry. I think to break away from the grind you need something that forces you to take the time and commit to something new, fun, and challenging. It’s been a nice release.
The Paper Point: I agree, it’s so important to have an outlet outside our endo bubble. It seems like you’re pretty multifaceted, even enjoying making music when you have time. Motion and music – What else helps you wind down after a long week?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: Well, fitness and triathlon helps. Running is a way to just get outside any time of year and blow off some steam. Music also of course switches things up. Always learning, but also, it’s relaxing to just play around and wind down like you said.
The Paper Point: How was your recent APICES experience?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: APICES was incredible. I knew it would be fun, but it truly made residency feel worthwhile and exciting. I was fired up. I instantly became close with my co-residents. We hiked Camelback Mountain in Arizona, had fun team dinners, Airbnb shenanigans and the conference itself was eye opening seeing so many people in the same position I’m in. Knowing we’ll be colleagues forever is a good feeling. Endless opportunities!
The Paper Point: Thank you so much, Dr. Wingrove, for spending some time chatting with us! Do you have any final words for our readers?
Dr. Garrett Wingrove: I just want to say thank you and the RNPC for all the hard work you’re doing and quality content you’re putting out. This is exactly what AAE needs and our specialty in general to get residents and practicing endodontists fired up to continue to push the specialty. Dentistry is changing. Endo is changing and this gives us all a way to be a part of it. Looking forward to AAE and APICES this year! Thank you again.
Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter is a member of the AAE’s Resident and New Practitioner Committee.