So I’ve kind of always been like a sciencey nerd kind of person. And thought, I actually graduated with a degree in engineering, which is great, but the profession wasn’t necessarily for me. Thought I wanted to do something medical, kind of like that biology, human kind of stuff and I thought I wanted to go to medical school, but shadowed a few dentists and I saw how different dentistry was than a lot of medical professions. The hands-on part, I think, is really cool. Loved working with patients when I shadowed them, when I shadowed those dentists, applied to dental school and loved it, loved the clinical part of it, especially surprisingly, even more than the sciencey part and love just being around people, talking to people all day, educating them. And the tooth stuff is really fun too.
So I think the most rewarding part is also sometimes the trickiest, but people come to the dentist not wanting to be at the dentist, so turning that around for people is definitely the most rewarding part of being a dentist.
People will come in and say, “I hate the dentist” as a lead-in all the time. And trying to figure out what makes that the case for people is a challenge. But when you get to it and you win somebody over and they decide like, “I don’t hate the dentist anymore, this is doable,” you hold onto those people for life and that is so fun to be a part of.
To somebody looking for a new dentist, who hasn’t been to the dentist in a while or just isn’t sure that they’re getting the best care for them in particular, I think you can walk into Charlotte Dentistry and from the moment you come into the office, what patients feel is just a sense of ease. We’ve got really nice, really friendly people here across the board, and we want this place to feel like a load off your back when you come into something that, for a lot of people is very stressful. People come in with bad dental experiences every single day, and if you can look in, dig a little bit deeper to figure out what’s gone wrong in the past, we can almost always make it 10 times better.
Dr. Tara Woodroof Loves Seeing Confidence on Her Patients’ Faces
Growing up in Aiken, SC, Dr. Tara Woodroof enjoyed school and learning just about anything, especially in math and science. That’s why she pursued an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at the University of South Carolina. Although she contemplated going to medical school – and even shadowed several medical doctors – it was the pediatric dentist she shadowed that struck her interest. With her love of hands-on work and artistry, she decided upon dentistry over other medical professions.
After attending the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for her DMD, Dr. Woodroof moved to Charlotte in 2010 and has worked at Charlotte Dentistry ever since. She loves working in a group practice where the dentists come together to share knowledge and support one another. Every day gives her the opportunity to learn more about her profession and her patients.
Dr. Woodroof puts herself into a patient’s shoes. She believes it helps her form a connection with them and decide how best to treat their individual needs. She provides painless dentistry while ensuring every patient leaves feeling like their needs were met and questions answered.
If you dislike visiting the dentist, Dr. Woodroof will discover the root cause. She believes it takes a very positive experience (or 10!) to counteract past bad experiences. She welcomes the challenge of getting a patient from “I hate the dentist” to “that wasn’t bad at all.”
Dr. Woodroof takes a particular interest in cosmetic dentistry and treating children. Seeing joy and confidence on patients’ faces when she improves their teeth is the best part of her day.
Her many professional affiliations include the North Carolina Dental Society, Charlotte Dental Society, Charlotte Implant Study Club, and American Dental Association.
Dr. Woodroof has been married to her husband, Will, since 2010. She spends most of her time outside of work with him and their sons: Charlie, who was born in 2016, and James, who was born in 2018. In her spare time, Dr. Woodroof likes to run, practice yoga, read, and cook healthy meals. She is an avid Gamecocks football fan.