dentist shadowing etiquette

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hi people. I will be shadowing a dentist in the coming weeks. I have some questions about etiquette.

1. What should I dress for the event? formal, business maybe?
2. Is it okay if I ask a dentist whom I never had a procedure with (e.g. go to him only for shadowing) and ask him for a rec letter? Or is it better off to ask my dentist for the letter?

3. What should I bring for shadowing? I see some people have brought a small notebook, but I was wondering if HIPPA allows the notebook.

4. Should I bring any other gifts or things for the dentist?


Thanks for answering my questions.

Business casual (dress shirt, slacks, shoes, shave,/neatly groomed beard haircut),

Avoid gifts in first visit IMO, once u are familiar/comfortable with dentist/front desk/assistants you could bring in Dunkin donuts coffee & donuts or something but its not compulsory.

the letter should be from the dentist that witnessed the shadowing+ the dentist u interacted with.

Don't get in the way(block door, cramp up the small office, breath down dentists neck) + offer help of any kind (nice gesture)+ ask appropriate questions when the tine is right (use ur judgment ie don't ask a question when dentist is explaining treatment plan to patient etc)



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3. I didn't bring anything while shadowing bc didn't want to carry it all day but I can see a small handy notebook could be a nice took to chronicle any interesting details/experienced/manes of procedures/keep log off shadowing hours...

if I was in ur position again,id just use my smartphone alongside any app to make quick notes (stuff 2 use 4 personal statement) with any note taking/voice recorder app (Evernote for example)

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thanks dental prodigy, But I do not have a smart phone.

So by your comment, I should probably request a LOR from my own dentist as opposed to the dentist that I have shawdowed (I randomly contacted him from the ADA directory)

Also, by not being in the way, then what do I do in the dentist office for the rest of the time (sitting outside in one of their chairs)?

Just follow the dentist around and don't get in the way. Use common sense when asking questions. Be nice. Say thank you and send a thank you note afterwards. It's pretty straight forward.

I asked for a LOR from the dentist that I thought would write me the best letter, who was the dentist I spent the most time shadowing with. I didn't ask my own dentist because he is old-school and computer-phobic and I thought he would have a hard time submitting it.

Also, I wouldn't take notes on a smart phone. It could appear as though you are bored and texting or playing games. I didn't even bring my phone inside with me, I think it is disrespectful to spend any amount of time looking at it when the dentist has been generous enough to let you shadow. You can live without your phone for a few hours.

I would normally say business/business casual. BUT... After shadowing one place, they wanted me to wear a clinic coat and thought that me dressing up would make people feel weird. So I might just, unless you know how the dentist dresses. Otherwise, I would just wear slacks, button up shirt, tie.

Like what was said earlier, don't ask a ton of questions unless the dentist is okay with it. Some patients are just really apprehensive and the Dr. may have a hard time building rapport without you asking all these technical questions about what's going on. Some patients are cool with it and you have to feel it out. But until you get to konw the dentist more, maybe ask more of your questions, between patients.

Definitely don't ask questions when the patient is present, make a mental note and ask him in private. Khakis and a collar shirt is usually fine. Try not to be on the dentist's heels the whole time, just hang back and observe. My dentist always asks the patient if it is ok for me to watch and introduces us, haven't had one patient decline yet and most are very accepting (which I was surprised about as they some could easily have been embarrassed for why they were in there). Take notes but be careful for patient confidentiality as well.

I work at my orthodontist's office when I get some free time from school and one thing he noticed about me was that I really tried to grasp the "bigger picture" of everything. While he was busy talking to parents I would be at the front desk asking the receptionists how they handled their job, how the patients pay them, how the insurance works, etc. I would be in the lab learning how to make models from impressions or how to trim them and make splints/lingual bars. You can only see so many cavities being filled/tooth extractions/etc. so take some of that time to see how the rest of the office operates. Remember, it's not just about teeth, it's about running a full fledged business.

Originally Posted by xtra333

hi people. I will be shadowing a dentist in the coming weeks. I have some questions about etiquette.

1. What should I dress for the event? formal, business maybe?
2. Is it okay if I ask a dentist whom I never had a procedure with (e.g. go to him only for shadowing) and ask him for a rec letter? Or is it better off to ask my dentist for the letter?

3. What should I bring for shadowing? I see some people have brought a small notebook, but I was wondering if HIPPA allows the notebook.

4. Should I bring any other gifts or things for the dentist?


Thanks for answering my questions.

Business casual definitely. Mostly don't look sloppy!
Ask the dentist your shadowing for a rec if you spend enough time shadowing..
You can bring a notebook; its only HIPPA violation if your taking notes down about the patients med hx, personal info etc, not basic procedures

no gifts! not until the end, when you should send a thank you note!
Good luck

Be motivated and interested. Dentists get fired up on your excitement. Don't just sit there eyes glazed over. Ask questions, talk to hygienists, patients, etc.

I always found it helpful to place my hand on the dentists shoulder whenever he talked to me...I think it showed him I was serious.

Originally Posted by timwatley

I always found it helpful to place my hand on the dentists shoulder whenever he talked to me...I think it showed him I was serious.

Is that the left shoulder or right? Both?

Originally Posted by timwatley

I always found it helpful to place my hand on the dentists shoulder whenever he talked to me...I think it showed him I was serious.

im glad i came across this thread

initially, i always felt awkward or in the way just standing there watching and was afraid to ask questions because they were often busy and i didnt want to bother them between patients since they didnt have much time in between....now i try to be more proactive with asking questions etc and theyre receptive to it and i appreciate the shadowing experience so much more...theres 5 dentists at the place i go to so i just jump room to room, but focus more on 2 specific dentists - consequently the same two im debating between for a LOR

as for a gift, when should this be presented? when asking for the letter (lol) or after the letter and my shadowing is completed?... and what type of cost should the gift be around? also, theres 5 dentists, so do I need to get 5 items, or one just for the dentist(s) im getting a letter from, or maybe some type of collective office gift?

I just gave my dentist box of cookies for him at the end of the last shadowing day of the week. Also, the attitudes of some dentists vary. My favorite dentist that I shadowed took me out to lunch on the last day of shadowing. Also, I have shadowed another dentist who does not look at me or talk to me. Fair enough, I thought, so I never talked to her. So now I have about 55 hours.

I may thank that dentist later for taking me out to lunch.

Originally Posted by xtra333

hi people. I will be shadowing a dentist in the coming weeks. I have some questions about etiquette.

1. What should I dress for the event? formal, business maybe?
2. Is it okay if I ask a dentist whom I never had a procedure with (e.g. go to him only for shadowing) and ask him for a rec letter? Or is it better off to ask my dentist for the letter?

3. What should I bring for shadowing? I see some people have brought a small notebook, but I was wondering if HIPPA allows the notebook.

4. Should I bring any other gifts or things for the dentist?


Thanks for answering my questions.

1.) Tuxedo, aviators. Upon arrival, briskly fling the door open with both arms [slow motion] pushing every standing person in your way over as you approach the receptionist.

2.) Gunpoint (not loaded of course). Don't ask. But if you do decide to wimp out and ask, if he responds "No" then reply with "What are you a girl or something?" - 6 solid LOR's with this method.

3.) Bring your xbox to hook up in the waiting room, some snacks (probably just Funions) and no not a small notebook. A small notebookk??? Large notebook; playboy taped inside of it. If you do decide to take notes, make sure you write the patients full name and take pictures of all of their xrays. This is great facebook material.

4.) Yes, construct your own future business cards with an over-glorified picture of what your practice will look like in the front. After he agrees to do the letter, actually watch him do a small filling. Hand this patient a business card for your future practice, and tell him/her to come see a real dentist in 5 years.

Note: I suggest doing #4 last; this will probably anger the dentist. Make sure that you mentally designed a quick escape route. Use the "1-10 red-face scale". If he's anywhere near a 7, GTFO.

Dental Shadowing Etiquette

Originally Posted by timwatley

I always found it helpful to place my hand on the dentists shoulder whenever he talked to me...I think it showed him I was serious.

Really?

Okay I was reposting to summarize my responses and experiences with regards to shadowing... no need to hijack the thread or make funny comments. If anyone else has questions with regards to first time shadowing, feel free to PM me.

Side question: On AADSAS is volunteering = shadowing?

I noticed some schools want 50 or 100 hrs of "shadowing"... surely they dont mean spending 50 or `100 hrs as a "shadow" in a private practice? Do they mean 50-100 hrs of dental experience? I ask this because shadowing is so boring and awkward. I've done 25 but have 300 volunteer dental assisting... are these really separated?

Call and ask what they would like you to wear, he might want you to wear scrubs. I had one dentist who wanted me to wear scrubs lol

Scratch the notebook, you don't need to take notes.

Just don't be awkward. Shoot the **** with him, make jokes with him and patients. Ask questions during a procedure like what are you doing? Is that a root canal? How did you get so good at endo? etc.. Talk to him about things non dental related as well.

I don't think so. you need 100 hours of shadowing in some schools

My thoughts exactly! lol