WRITTEN BY: Branden Franzen
At seven years old, I entered the dental office expecting a routine check-up, but I left with a mouthful of metal and the start of a life-changing journey. That first encounter with orthodontics didn’t just straighten my teeth—it planted a seed that would grow over time, pushing me toward a future in dentistry.
One round of braces wasn’t enough for my class III malocclusion. By high school, I faced two more years of treatment that finally left me with a smile I was proud to show. However, as I grew, the class III malocclusion returned. Fast forward to today: I’m a third-year dental student at LECOM in Florida, and I’m still working on my smile. During my D1 year, I wore clear retainers to address my camouflaged malocclusion. I underwent orthognathic surgery in December 2023 and am now experiencing the transformative effects as I fine-tune my smile with clear aligner revisions. Having spent countless hours as a patient has given me unique insight into the emotional experience of dental care. It has strengthened my commitment to ensuring that my future patients feel understood and empowered throughout their own dental journeys.
Although my heart has always been set on healthcare, it wasn’t until an appointment with my dentist, Dr. Benavides, that I began to realize dentistry might be my path. He planted a seed of curiosity that led me to research the profession. Watching Dr. Benavides skillfully balance patient care with running a practice sparked my interest in not only dentistry but also the unique combination of science, art, and business that makes this field so fulfilling. Many hours of my childhood were spent lying in the dental chair looking up at dentists. Today, I look up to them in a different way: as mentors and future peers.
I grew up in an agricultural village of 700 people in Illinois, where the sense of community shaped who I am. In May 2024, I married my high school sweetheart, Victoria, and together we dream of returning to that small-town life. Our goal is for me to find mentorship in a private practice, leading to partnership or eventual ownership, and building a practice where patients feel like family. Currently, we’re exploring opportunities in rural North Carolina.
Outside of dentistry, Victoria and I enjoy the outdoors and traveling. I’m passionate about motorcycles, dirt bikes, basketball, boating, kayaking, hiking, picnics, cooking, and visiting historic sites. We dream of one day owning a Victorian-style mansion where we can run a bed and breakfast, combining our love for adventure with our sense of community.
Throughout this series, I hope my journey resonates with readers—whether you’re a seasoned dentist reminiscing about your time in dental school, a pre-dent considering the field, or a current dental student learning that we all have our good and bad days. No matter where you are in your career, we all share moments of growth and learning. I’m excited to share mine with you and hope that together, we can inspire each other to push the boundaries of what dentistry can achieve.
Join me as I continue my journey into the world of dentistry—learning, growing, and advancing patient care.
Visit my website to follow along: https://brandenfranzendent.wixsite.com/brandenfranzendental.
