Scroll down to read the full interview with Victoria Sampson, cosmetic dentist based on Harley Street, London.
1. How has the coronavirus affected your life? How has it affected the lives of your family and friends?
COVID-19 has turned all our lives upside down. The things we used to take for granted like popping out for a coffee or catching up with a friend over lunch are things we now long for. I have never before rationed my food or thought about wearing a mask outdoors. I think it has been difficult for us all, especially given the fact we don’t know when this will end or how life will be afterwards. When I speak to family or friends about it they all share the same fears and concerns, hence why I started a series of live chats with a clinical psychologist on my Instagram to discuss mental health during this pandemic. It is important for us all to maintain our mental health and stay positive.
2. How are you staying calm and sane during your quarantine?
For a workaholic like me, not being able to work proved very difficult initially. I decided to create short-term, medium-term and long-term goals for this quarantine. Every day I create a checklist of things I want to achieve that day, including simple things like clearing out my desk, to more complex tasks like finishing a research paper. I have maintained a routine and made sure I workout every day (even if it means dancing in my living room!). I also make sure to stay connected with my family and friends, and also be available for my patients through my Instagram if they need me.
3. How has COVID-19 affected your job?
As a dentist, COVID-19 has meant that I am unable to work as normal. New research has emerged that dentistry is the highest risk for not only contracting the virus, but also spreading it. Therefore, we have all had to shut our doors and put down our drills. Unlike many jobs we cannot ‘work from home’ and are now only available for phone call consultations and remote prescribing of analgesia and antibiotics. The NHS has also asked for us to be on call for redeployment to the front line to help our medical colleagues. I am still waiting to hear when they will need me but until then I have been keeping myself busy answering any patient queries and also embarking on some exciting research to do with oral health and COVID-19.
4. How do you enjoy spending your time while in quarantine?
I have always been known for living life at 100 miles per hour. This is the first time since I can remember where I have taken time to relax and reconnect with myself. I love cooking so have been learning new recipes and trying new things out. A lot of my dental colleagues have also been kind enough to host webinars and live classes on Instagram to continue our professional development. I have been taking different classes every day and bought a bunch of books to learn about new techniques and dental procedures. I am aiming to create a lifestyle for myself now that I will be thankful of in the future when things get back to normal. It is important to also seperate the day from the evening and the weekday from the weekend. During the weekend I relax by painting and reading!
5. How are you staying positive and hopeful for the future?
After every moment of deep depression and/or recession there has been positivity and expansion. Whilst this is not a normal war, we are adopting war time efforts, collectively battling against a single enemy, coronavirus. After world war one, the roaring twenties ensued, after world war two, the USA experienced phenomenal economic growth, and a baby boom. During the latest recession in 2008-2010, Uber, Airbnb, Pinterest, WhatsApp Inc. and Venmo were all launched. I have no doubt that there will be a surge in creativity, development and positivity for us all once this is over. This has been a time where we have all been able to reflect, reprioritize and appreciate. I am very hopeful for the future and hope that our world will honor and appreciate the healthcare force a lot more after this.
Fun facts:
3 things getting that changed your life this week:
- New Nespresso capsules
- My cashmere tracksuit
- My new Narguile Candle from Diptyque
First place you’re going after quarantine: The dance floor
I’m binge watching: Money Heist
I’m reading: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
I’m cooking: Cacio e Pepe
I’m trying to: Run 10km under an hour
You can find Victoria on Instagram by searching @drvictoriasampson for her personal, and @thedentalsisters for her fun, professional account!
