Adriana Reppell, DMD: A Life Recipe of Balance, Purpose, and Connections
Dr. Reppell has found that a recipe for a fulfilling career
includes balancing her professional dedication, commitment to service, and a
vibrant personal life.
Like many dentists, Dr. Reppell found her future career path
on a service trip. When she was 13, she accompanied her mom to Jamaica. During
the trip, she taught children about oral hygiene and observed dentists'
clinical work. “I just thought it was the most wonderful looking thing
ever!”
Today Dr. Reppell enjoys working at Willamette Dental
treating a diverse group of families. At Willamette Dental, she likes that they
focus on evidence-based research to support treatment plans, emphasizing
prevention and fluoride products to remineralize teeth at the earliest signs of
cavities. When treating children, Adriana takes the opportunity to help educate
parents, supporting the health of their whole family. A skill Adriana has that
helps her manage her patients’ anxiety is her ability to determine through
their personal cues if they are more comfortable in a conversational or quiet
environment. She can easily put tense patients at ease with relatable
stories. Setting clear communication boundaries, such as a physical signal,
gives her patients the control to ask her to stop if they need
her to.
For Dr. Reppell, dentistry isn’t just a job but an
opportunity for service. She believes that volunteer dental work is a great way
to keep her passion for dentistry alive. It is important to Adriana to find
opportunities to serve populations who have significant barriers to care. She
volunteers for Medical Teams International on Mondays providing dental services
on their local mobile dental van. She has also volunteered at local dental
clinics with Caring Hands Worldwide. Last October, Adriana combined
volunteering with her love for international travel, traveling to Africa to
volunteer and making time to enjoy a safari!
Dr. Reppell’s advice to new dentists is to be open,
personable, and unafraid to network. She prioritizes connections not only with
her patients but also with people in her community, approaching life with
curiosity and care for others. She can strike up conversations with strangers,
and doing so has even helped her find a group of adventurous women who enjoy
the same outdoor activities she does!
Originally from Illinois, Adriana came to Oregon with a
craving for outdoor adventures and a passion for creative pursuits. On the
weekends, you can find her paddleboarding, camping, or enjoying backpacking
trips with friends. She also enjoys local art and theater exhibits and
performances. She expresses herself with watercolor paintings. Dr. Reppell is a
“foodie” who enjoys her time in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes,
meal planning, or whipping up sourdough pretzel bites on her day off. Cooking
for her is truly another creative outlet. She even enjoys taking on the
challenge of preparing a delicious meal with limited ingredients.
Here is Adriana’s favorite recipe for sourdough pretzel bites
from amybakesbread.com:
https://amybakesbread.com/pretzel-bites-with-sourdough-discard/
