While Sultanov admits that powerlifting—and the people who compete in the sport—may seem intimidating at first, he’s found nothing but support and camaraderie among fellow powerlifters. “Everybody is so encouraging,” Sultanov says. “Don’t be intimidated.”

Calling weightbearing exercise “the best thing you could do for yourself in terms of your health and longevity,” Sultanov says that going from newbie to experienced lifter often takes less time than people would expect.  “If you just stick to doing stuff with weights, you just progress…I just learned how to deadlift in March and it’s progressed quickly for me.”

Powerlifting has also provided Sultanov some much-needed respite from what, for many people, has been a particularly troubling year. “The endorphin release from lifting seems to ward off any depression. You can get upset or bummed about events, but doesn't affect your overall wellbeing.”

While Sultanov’s sport of choice and profession may seem to have little in common, he admits that the former has undeniably affected the latter for the better. When you lift, “Your overall wellbeing is better, and the better you feel, the better a dentist you’ll be.”