Dr. John Bang
Get acquainted with Dr. John Bang, a resident in the Advanced Education in Endodontics Program. Find out about the mission trip that made him decide to become a dentist; his experiences as a private practitioner; and the other career he considered first!
- Question Where is the place you think of as your “hometown,” and what was it like growing up there?
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Answer
As a child, my family moved around a lot, but I consider Orange County, California as my “hometown.” The area has a large Korean population—one of the reasons my family immigrated there—but it was also a large melting pot of different cultures, languages, and traditions. It wasn’t uncommon for my classmates, neighbors and friends to come from vastly different backgrounds. This shaped me as a young child to understand and navigate spaces where a single culture didn’t dominate. It allowed me to be open-minded, realizing diversity enriched my understanding of others and continues to influence how I relate to others today.
- Question Tell us about a special memory from your childhood or youth.
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Answer
My family never took me to the dentist as a child so I never had any real exposure to dental care. I still have vivid memories of my mom trying all sorts of different ways to take out my loose baby teeth. From dental floss to pliers, she really tried it all. I remember being terrified every single time, but my mom would always follow up with ice cream to cheer me up. Thank God I never had any cavities as a kid – or since, knock on wood!
- Question When you were very young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
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Answer
I always wanted to be a pilot as a kid. Not for long though since I realized I have a fear of heights!
- Question What made you decide that dentistry was the right career for you?
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Answer
After I realized my pilot dreams weren’t meant to be, I focused on a different career path. I volunteered with my church on a dental mission trip to rural Mexico. Witnessing firsthand the impact the dentist had on the local population was truly transformative. From relieving dental pain to restoring broken teeth, the dentist improved these people’s lives combining technical hand skills with quick thinking and artful creativity. He not only changed the lives of those he treated, but mine as well. I realized then that dentistry was my calling.
- Question Your Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree is from the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. What’s one of the most important things you learned in that program?
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Answer
One of the best lessons I learned from faculty was to always put the patient first – and that dentistry is more than just dental procedures. It’s also serving people at their most vulnerable moments. I quickly learned technical excellence was meaningless without empathy and trust.
- Question After completing your DMD degree, you served as a private practitioner in Fresno, California. What were the best aspects of that job, and what was most challenging?
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Answer
I worked in community health in one of the poorest cities in California. The best aspect of the job was being able to help the local underserved population. Being able to address unmet dental needs, relieve pain, restore dental function and build trust with the local community was truly meaningful. At the same time, this proved to be one of the most challenging aspects as well. Language barriers, poor health literacy, financial constraints, and long-standing, advanced dental diseases often complicated my responsibilities as a clinician. Navigating these challenges allowed me to hone my skills, not only as a clinician, but also as a human being and it proved to be the most demanding and rewarding years of my career.
- Question What made you decide to enroll in Ohio State’s advanced endodontics program? And what do you plan to do after graduation?
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Answer
It was a “no-brainer”— it’s the best program in the world! After graduating, I plan to continue serving my local community, helping patients and perhaps mentoring the next generation of future providers.
- Question What surprised you the most when you moved to Ohio and joined the “Buckeye Nation”?
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Answer
I noticed Ohioans have an amazing and intense sense of community and pride. Even so, everyone has been very friendly and welcoming to my family and me. I also learned that a buckeye is a poisonous tree nut. O-H!
- Question What’s one of the most important “life” experiences you’ve had in the last couple of years?
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Answer
Marrying my beautiful, amazing wife and starting a family. Nothing humbles you quite like toddlers.
- Question Any final comment you’d like to add?
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Answer
Come by and say hello! We can talk about root canals, food, the Lakers or even how bad I am at golf!