My Dental Wardrobe Evolution: From Slacks and Heels to Bellabands, FIGS Scrubs, and More

Today I want to talk about something that might seem a little out of left field: my dental wardrobe. Over the years, the way I’ve shown up at my practice has changed—and I mean that both figuratively and literally! The way I dressed as a first-time practice owner was NOT the same as the way I now dress as the experienced endodontist, educator, speaker, author, and mentor that people know me as today. 

While this may seem trivial (I think we all go through various stages of fashion evolution throughout our lives), the trajectory of my dental fashion—from slacks and heels to Bellabands, FIGS scrubs, Stoggles, and more—is actually a perfect reflection of the mindset transformation I’ve experienced across my professional journey. As I reflect on these “superficial” changes, I recognize some key lessons about life and leadership that I’d like to share with you.

The Three Stages of My Dental Wardrobe Evolution: Bellabands, FIGS scrubs, and Stoggles—Oh My!

Throughout my career, I’ve experimented with all kinds of looks and dental gear from various brands, including items like Bellabands, FIGS scrubs, and Stoggles (all of which you can find right here)! But looking back, I think my wardrobe over the years can be broken down into three (ish!) distinct stages, each one representing a different phase of my mindset in relation to my self-confidence and competence as an endodontist. 

I invite you to take a trip down memory lane with me as I recount these different eras of my dental wardrobe and what takeaways may be hidden within the “fabric” (Hehe… see what I did there?) of the outfits that have defined my career.

The “Budding Endodontist” Era

When I first began my career as an endodontist, I was overly preoccupied with how I was perceived—both by other dental professionals and by patients. I had a bad case of imposter syndrome, which was only exacerbated by the fact that, because of my age, many people thought I was the dental assistant rather than the doctor! At the time, I couldn’t WAIT to turn 40… something that seems ludicrous now that I’ve surpassed that threshold.
As you can imagine, this created a bit of an inferiority complex for me. I felt like I had to somehow “dress the part” to be seen as credible, even though I had years of education and training to back me up. Every day, I would show up at my practice wearing slacks/skirt, heels, and a white lab coat—not exactly as comfortable as FIGS scrubs and a pair of sneakers!

Only now can I look back and recognize how unnecessary these clothing choices were. My ability to treat patients had absolutely nothing to do with what I was wearing—in fact, if anything, I only made it harder on myself by wearing such uncomfortable clothing. If I could go back in time and give advice to my younger self, I would tell her to chuck those heels back in her closet, waltz into her practice with her head held high, and let her work speak for itself!

The “Pregnancy” Era

Fortunately, this phase of prioritizing image over comfort didn’t last forever, because I eventually entered what we women know as the magical-but-at-times-seriously-uncomfortable era of pregnancy. 

In a certain way, the discomforts of pregnancy were a blessing in disguise. Dressing in a manner that society deemed “professional” became nearly impossible. (Doing a root canal on #2 when you’re 39 weeks pregnant is no joke!!) So I traded in my heels for sneakers and my slacks for scrubs, and Bellabands became my new best friend. (I legit don’t have a picture from this era… but believe me when I say I pulled a complete 180!)

I’m being honest, though, I kind of wish I had arrived at that conclusion due to a change in mindset rather than necessity. As I already pointed out, my capacity as a healer didn’t depend on my outfit, and that fact certainly didn’t change being pregnant. 

That said, I’m grateful that the universe guided me in the right direction—even if it took my heart a little time to catch up!

The “I Don’t Give a S***” Era

After the birth of my third child, I finally entered the phase of dental fashion that I’m still in today, which I like to call my “I Don’t Give a S***” era. 

As the name suggests, this era is marked by the ultimate realization that other people’s opinions of me don’t matter at all—not just in relation to the clothes I wear, but also the content I post, the things I say, and the decisions I make. Rather than be driven by fear, my choices are motivated by the confidence I’ve developed in myself over the years.

A reflection of that mindset, my current dental wardrobe merges both comfort and confidence, practicality and poise. There are days when I show up in FIGS scrubs and sneakers, and there are days when I show up in slacks and a lab coat (and don’t forget stylish Stoggles!). The important thing is that what I choose to wear has everything to do with how I feel and what I’m doing that day—and nothing to do with a concern for how others perceive me.

Now, when people say I look young, I take it as a compliment rather than an insult, because to me, it says I’m aging gracefully—not that I’m incompetent at my job. It’s interesting how the same words can make you feel entirely different once you realize that you are in control assigning them meaning!

Bonus: My “Queen” Era

While not exactly an era in itself, I couldn’t write a blog about fashion without talking about my decision to hire a stylist—something I definitely couldn’t have predicted when I first started my practice!

After my Tedx talk in 2021, I realized that I had no clue how to dress myself for speaking engagements and other professional events. By then, I had the dental wardrobe down pat, but when it came to dressing for success outside of the operatory, I was a bit lost. 

I’d spend hours shopping for outfits and doing mini fashion shows for my husband, only to go back to the drawing board over and over again until I landed on something that was simply “acceptable.”

That all changed when I started working with Tali Kogan. Now, I absolutely adore what I wear, and I feel more confident than ever when I step up on the stage!

This is not to say that in order to feel your best, you have to hire a stylist. And you certainly don’t have to do so in order to impress somebody else! I just love investing in my personal growth and finding mentors who can expand my sense of self, and fashion was one area in which I wanted to take it to the next level. 

At the end of the day, you should ALWAYS do whatever feels best for you!

Own Your Awesomeness

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this deep dive into my dental wardrobe, it’s that life is too short not to own your awesomeness! You’re an incredibly capable dental professional who has gone through years of schooling and training to do what you do. Sure, you can always work on improving your craft (like through E-School, my online CE course for dentists), but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve respect—from others or yourself. 

Never forget that you’re a HEALER, and what you wear certainly doesn’t change that. So the next time you feel yourself questioning your ability to treat patients, run your practice, or mentor others based on how you choose to dress, remind yourself that you better people’s lives on a daily basis. And no item of clothing can get in the way of that!

Mindset is an incredibly important foundation for running a successful practice, but as I think we’ve established, it’s not something that comes naturally. Learn how to develop the mindset of a leader and build a practice you love by enrolling in Heal Your Practice, my self-to-actualization course for dentists looking to transform their leadership and practice.

Join the waitlist today to be the first to learn when the course becomes available.

– Sonia