In the TV special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the elf who wants to become a dentist is Hermey.
Hermey is introduced as a misfit in Santa’s workshop. While the other elves are expected to make toys, he dreams of practicing dentistry instead, making him an unusual figure in the North Pole community. His ambitions lead him to leave the workshop and eventually meet Rudolph, who is also treated as an outsider.
The character appeared in the 1964 stop-motion special produced by Videocraft International, later associated with Rankin/Bass. Hermey is an original character created for the television adaptation rather than one of the central figures from Robert L. May’s 1939 Rudolph story.
Viewers sometimes confuse Hermey with Buddy, another fictional Christmas elf from unrelated modern stories. The special’s spelling is generally given as “Hermey,” and his dream is fulfilled when he eventually helps the Abominable Snow Monster with dental problems.