In high school, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. I just knew I really liked science. I really liked art. I was in some art classes. And I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, so my guidance counselor one day, we did, like, a J-term in January, which is a week where we could go on a mission trip, do an internship. And so she suggested I go to a dentist’s office and do an internship because she was like, it’s kind of combining your love for science and then your love for art. And I was a little apprehensive because I didn’t have the best experience as a kid. But in the end, she convinced me I should just give it a shot. And I went that week. I ended up loving it. And once I made it to college, I started volunteering at a free clinic. I was shadowing a bunch of other dentists in a couple of specialties. I was really liking all my classes. And I ended up applying to dental school and got in. And I’ve loved it ever since.
So day-to-day and even when I was in school, really just talking to patients and seeing how happy they are. I’m a really big people person, so I just like to talk to everybody. So I just bring my patients in. They tell me what they want. We have a good conversation. And we eventually reach their end goal. And they’re always just so happy. And that’s honestly the best part for me.
So I know, like I said, one of the reasons I went into dentistry was to kind of change the stigma of a lot of people don’t like coming to the dentist. So me, and I know all the other dentists here, we try to make every patient feel as welcome as possible, take the best care we can possibly give, explain everything the best we can, and do our best work.
Dr. Ryan Hunter Loves Creating Great Patient Outcomes
Dr. Ryan Hunter grew up in Charlotte, NC, where he attended Carmel Christian School and was first introduced to dentistry after shadowing with a local dentist. As a child, Dr. Hunter had a fear of the dentist, but he quickly realized that dentistry combined his love of both art and science and was the career he wanted to pursue.
Dr. Hunter completed his undergraduate degree at Anderson University, prior to completing his DMD degree at the Medical University of South Carolina – The James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine.
Outside of work, Dr. Hunter enjoys going to the gym, playing pickle ball, golfing, and spending time with his family, friends, and especially his yellow Lab, Honey.