Dentistry Vs. Medicine (My personal battle)

[Nawit]

Hey all,

I have been stalking these forums for quite some time and have read TONS of threads regarding the same issue I am facing. I am currently a sophomore in undergrad with a major in Biology B.S with a Biochem and Legal Studies in Business Minor.

My entire life I have loved science and biology. Ever since I first learned about human anatomy I was hooked. But recently, I have had doubts as to where I want to go with my life.

I have always been a somewhat lazy person. I get what I need to get done and make sure it is done well. But I value free time and my hobbies too much to give them up. This is where my struggle comes in. At first, I thought medicine was for me. The thought of being able to open someone up and correct in error in their organ function in order to aid them in bettering their lives was something that I always dreamed of doing. But as I heard more and more about medicine, the path and the lifestyle thereafter, I was a bit stunned. I don't come from a wealthy family and paying for a longer path is something that is a bit of a turn off for me. On top of that, from what I have read and understood, people who pursue a career in medicine usually have a less flexible schedule and work much longer hours.

Going back to what I said before, I value my free time a lot (maybe too much). I constantly asked myself whether or not it would be worth going into a field I love if it makes me hate it (i hope that makes sense). What I am trying to say is that I believe that I would enjoy learning and dealing with a medical curriculum rather than a dental one, but if I find myself not having any free time to enjoy my hobbies or spend time with my future family, I feel like it will come back and haunt me and cause me to end up hating medicine rather than enjoying it.

This led me to look into the dental field and dental school as I have heard that they have much more flexible lifestyles. I ended up shadowing a bunch of people in the dental field: general dentist, orthodontist, prosthodontist, periodontist, and oral surgeon. I really enjoyed the oral surgeons work the most but again that is kind of falling back into the medical field with being on call and much longer and more stressful hours.

So here I am. A sophomore. I have to decide between taking the DATs and the MCATs sometime soon in order to get the courses I need in (Psych, Physics for MCAT). I know that this struggle and this filled question will end up coming down to what I think is best for me, but I just wanted to hear what people think and their opinions on my situation. I value advice from others greatly especially if they have gone through what I am currently battling with.

So what it comes down to is this: A career in medicine where I enjoy what I do but have less time to live my life which in turn may cause me to hate what I do, OR going into something I am less interested in in order to live a happier life with more free time for myself and my future family.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciate as I am really struggling with this decision.

Thank you all and I hope to hear from you soon.

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[katherinesummey]

I think you should go for the second option as if you will lead a happy life you will have a positive attitude towards your work. It is also important to give equal time to both the family and work. So you should choose the second career option.

 

[Cytarabine]

Your concerns are valid, and it seems like you've thought it through pretty well, honestly. I'd maybe try to think about the features of medicine and dentistry outside of the hands on stuff that is appealing to you. I don't know how to articulate this exactly, so I'll give you examples of what appeals to me - continuity of care (primarily in the sense of developing a relationship with patients / families), psychosocial issues (trying to find ways outside of medicine to improve the quality of life of the patient), and positive psychology (e.g. good coping skills in response to serious illness). Trying to look into these less tangible factors might help you parse out which field is a better fit for you

 

[str8ner]

Have you spent much time observing both fields? I know dentists that are very busy, especially the ones that own there own practices. Dentistry is not necessarily an 8 to 5 job. There is lots of administrative work to do behind the scenes. Meanwhile I know an internal medicine doctor that works two weeks a month monday through friday. It's twelve hour shifts when he works but no admin head aches. I think you should really do what you like. Dentistry is hard work and so is medicine. Do what you love and it won't seem as much like work.

 

[Nawit]

I have been observing a lot more in the dental field. The only two practices I have shadowed in the medical field include cardiology and orthopedic surgery which are both extremely hectic and stressful from what I saw. A lot of people have been pointing me towards internal medicine as a possible more laidback lifestyle in the medical field.

I just still find myself stuck. I understand that medical/dental school are both a lot of hard work and I am willing to put in hard work to help others but I don't want to do that at the expense of my own life and wellbeing. At the end of the day I want to be with my future family every night and help my kids with homework or watch a movie with them. I don't want to be constantly in the hospital or office. I know that whatever I decide I will end up happy with it as long as biology and science is involved but I am a worrier. I worry about everything constantly. So this, being such an important step in my life, is really getting to me.

 

[bdrensch]

I have been observing a lot more in the dental field. The only two practices I have shadowed in the medical field include cardiology and orthopedic surgery which are both extremely hectic and stressful from what I saw. A lot of people have been pointing me towards internal medicine as a possible more laidback lifestyle in the medical field.

I just still find myself stuck. I understand that medical/dental school are both a lot of hard work and I am willing to put in hard work to help others but I don't want to do that at the expense of my own life and wellbeing. At the end of the day I want to be with my future family every night and help my kids with homework or watch a movie with them. I don't want to be constantly in the hospital or office. I know that whatever I decide I will end up happy with it as long as biology and science is involved but I am a worrier. I worry about everything constantly. So this, being such an important step in my life, is really getting to me.

The answer is obvious to me. Be a midlevel medical provider (i.e. PA or NP). Medicine requires a considerable time commitment from 7-11 or more years of post-undergrad training working 80 hours week during residency period and will always require a leadership role. The "lifestyle" specialties of medicine are ultra-competitive. The clinical specialties of medicine (family practice, internal medicine, derm, psychiatry etc..) are increasing being filled by mid-level providers. While dentistry often offers a better lifestyle, this isn't a guarantee and will still require a tremendous monetary commitment ($300,000 for dental school). You will be locked into that career if you take that kind of debt on and if dentistry doesn't interest you, it will be a grave decision on your part. Oral surgery is also ultra-competitive and isn't a guarantee of a predictable lifestyle.

 

[Screwtape]

Go PA. Do 2 years after college, do your 40 hour employee work week, and collect your $80-100k. Med/dent is not for you.

 

[thirstyscholar]

I have always been a somewhat lazy person. I get what I need to get done and make sure it is done well. But I value free time and my hobbies too much to give them up.

Get your MBA. You can boss professionals around, dictate treatment, make a nice chunk of $ and work 40 hour weeks.

 

[Nawit]

Get your MBA. You can boss professionals around, dictate treatment, make a nice chunk of $ and work 40 hour weeks.

So many people have told me this. But I just can't pull myself to do it. I love science too much to go after business or finance or accounting. But I want the lifestyle that comes along with it. I am just stuck and I have so many people from so many different angles telling me to do so many different things that I just feel like I am about to lose control. Especially my mother who is over my shoulder yelling at me that I have to become a doctor. My nerves are ready to explode.

 

[thirstyscholar]

What about science do you love?

Ecologists are hiring. You can live in a pre-meth Walter White RV and do science all day and night.

 

[happyapple]

I was in a very similar situation to you, and had a hard time deciding between med and dental school, even after observing both. My true passion and interest was in medicine, but I was worried about the time commitment and potential impact on family and personal time. I liked dentistry as well and their ability to help people and work with my hands, but more than that, I feel that I was drawn to their work hours and potential income and ability to have a family and personal life. Med school is a lot of hard work, but so is dental school, maybe even more. And depending on the medical specialty and how much you want to work, the hours and lifestyle vary...from part time to 40 hours a week to 70 hours a week. After a lot of thought, I felt that I would always wonder "what if" if I did not try to go for medical school, and couldn't be happier that I made the choice to go with my gut feeling and try for med school. There are so many areas of medicine to choose from, and I was concerned that dentistry limited me to just the mouth and I wasn't quite sure I only wanted to focus on the mouth. So I am happy with the choice I made, although I spent a LOT of time going back and forth between the two.

It is a very personal decision of course, but I think the most important thing is to figure out which you are truly interested in and you will be able to make it work for your life.

 

[Nawit]

What about science do you love?

Ecologists are hiring. You can live in a pre-meth Walter White RV and do science all day and night.

The complexities of the human body and how it functions. The fundamental processes of each organ and organ system and how they work together in order to provide life for humans. The more I learn about it the more fascinated I am about it. I want to be able to understand most of it and use my knowledge in order to better someones lifestyle, BUT not at the cost of my own. It is all so confusing to me as it seems like their are doctors and dentists in both fields who range from having a lot of free time to nearly none. I just don't know what to do anymore.

 

[thirstyscholar]

The complexities of the human body and how it functions. The fundamental processes of each organ and organ system and how they work together in order to provide life for humans. The more I learn about it the more fascinated I am about it. I want to be able to understand most of it and use my knowledge in order to better someones lifestyle, BUT not at the cost of my own. It is all so confusing to me as it seems like their are doctors and dentists in both fields who range from having a lot of free time to nearly none. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Sounds like an Internist

 

[Nawit]

Sounds like an Internist

And so many people have suggested that route for me but I just can't imagine myself enjoying ANYTHING if it consumes my life. I value my free time now as a young adult and I know as I grow older and have children and a wife I will only further value it.

 

[thirstyscholar]

And so many people have suggested that route for me but I just can't imagine myself enjoying ANYTHING if it consumes my life. I value my free time now as a young adult and I know as I grow older and have children and a wife I will only further value it.

Yet you contemplate entering a highly specific speciality (Dentistry)?

Do the 4 years of Med School and coast as an Internist. You'll have all the family time you desire.

 

[gn4]

I would go the medschool route. There are plenty of specialties in medicine with great lifestyle as well. Anesthesia, Derm(kinda boring if you ask me), Radiology, Emergency Medicine(shift work...when you are off work, you really are off work) just to name a few.

 

[Nawit]

I would go the medschool route. There are plenty of specialties in medicine with great lifestyle as well. Anesthesia, Derm(kinda boring if you ask me), Radiology, Emergency Medicine(shift work...when you are off work, you really are off work) just to name a few.

But are those specialties easy to get into? I am worried that I will bank on that and it won't fall through.

 

[gn4]

But are those specialties easy to get into? I am worried that I will bank on that and it won't fall through.

Radiology and Derm are the toughest of that group. One of my siblings got into anesthesia with a 218 step1. He will find out where he will be going this Friday. But he knows he matched into anesthesia. I think Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine are doable. Watch out for burning out if you go the EM route.

 

[thirstyscholar]

But are those specialties easy to get into? I am worried that I will bank on that and it won't fall through.

Internist.

Gunners aim for Radiology and Derm. Internist is the de facto "specialty."

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I would go the medschool route. There are plenty of specialties in medicine with great lifestyle as well. Anesthesia, Derm(kinda boring if you ask me), Radiology, Emergency Medicine(shift work...when you are off work, you really are off work) just to name a few.

Derm is the only one of the group you listed that I'd consider to have a "great" lifestyle.

 

[gn4]

Derm is the only one of the group you listed that I'd consider to have a "great" lifestyle.

I guess it depends on what each person considers a good lifestyle. I don't mind working, but I would like to be not having to deal with work when I'm out of the hospital. That's where anesthesia and EM come into play for me. Radiology, you could be at home in your pajamas reading xrays. Just depends on the person I guess. Derm is one of those that I wouldn't want to do even if I had the scores. It seems too boring to me.

 

[thirstyscholar]

Derm is the only one of the group you listed that I'd consider to have a "great" lifestyle.

Great. Quite the relative word.

OP wants family time, science intensive field with minimum investment. 150-175K w no overhead, 32-40 hours a week with a set schedule and minimal, if any, calls seems to be up his alley.

Internist is the sweetest gig he'll find. 4 years of school + 1-2 years of residency depending on licensure.

At the end of the day, internist has the same title as a neurosurgeon.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Great. Quite the relative word.

OP wants family time, science intensive field with minimum investment. 150-175K w no overhead, 32-40 hours a week with a set schedule and minimal, if any, calls seems to be up his alley.

Internist is the sweetest gig he'll find. 4 years of school + 1-2 years of residency depending on licensure.

At the end of the day, internist has the same title as a neurosurgeon.

Internists go to school for 4 years and then do a 3 year residency. I'm guessing you may be a bit older and remember when physicians could do one year post med school and get licensed as a general practioner. This is no longer the case.

As for the lifestyle of an internist, I certainly would not describe it as being sweet. There are segments of interists that have great setups, but on average, internists work very, very hard. If you believe medscape surveys, only 19% of internists would choose IM again and they tend to have a high burnout rate.

 

[thirstyscholar]

And what's the barrier of entry to Internist vs. say DERM, RADIO, or EM?

 

[Silent Cool]

And what's the barrier of entry to Internist vs. say DERM, RADIO, or EM?

The barrier to entry for IM is much, MUCH lower. There are tons of IM programs out there. If you want to enter a GOOD IM program (ie, one that will set you up for a fellowship), then it is difficult.

 

[RUlaxin]

Especially my mother who is over my shoulder yelling at me that I have to become a doctor. My nerves are ready to explode.

This is a tough call. I understand you want to please your mom, but in the end this is YOUR life.

One of the problems I have with medicine is that you invest all this time in school, only for a chance of getting accepted into the residency of your dreams. There will always be more med students than available residency spots. Say you start out wanting to go into pulmonology, but you don't get accepted. Now you have to go with the back up plan (if that even works out), which could be something you didn't want at all, like EM. Dentistry is unique in that everyone who graduates is ready to practice as a general practitioner.

I, like you, debated long and hard about a career in medicine or dentistry... And ultimately chose dentistry after my experiencing shadowing dentists and working in the ER for 2+ years as a medical scribe. But anyway, as much as this thread can try and point you in the right direction, it's ultimately a decision only you can make.

OP, good luck with your journey going forward. Please don't hesitate to PM me with any questions, I'd be glad to help.

 

[Nawit]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their inputs. It has really helped me. I am certainly leading in the dental direction but I am still not positive. I know I can adapt to whatever situation is given to me. As much as I enjoy medicine, I value my personal life and will value my future family more than anything else. If anyone has anything to add, I am all ears as I am still considering both sides, just leaning one way.

 

[yappy]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their inputs. It has really helped me. I am certainly leading in the dental direction but I am still not positive. I know I can adapt to whatever situation is given to me. As much as I enjoy medicine, I value my personal life and will value my future family more than anything else. If anyone has anything to add, I am all ears as I am still considering both sides, just leaning one way.

1.) Do what you like the most. I cannot stress this enough. I'm not talking about medical SCHOOL or dental SCHOOL; I'm talking about the actual day-to-day practice of dentistry and medicine. The only way you're going to understand what you like is to do significant shadowing and pay special attention to how their time is spent & what challenges they run into. Ask yourself "would I enjoy that? Am I enjoying this?". Also, take note of hospital culture VS an out patient clinic and see if any of these sites kill-your-soul or excite you.

2.) No matter what you choose you can have the life style that you want. Medicine does not equal a work-a-holic life - you can find balance. I suggest researching specialists like allergy/derm/physical medicine and rehab/IM/EM etc. that allow for a lot of different employment opportunities depending on your lifestyle. Also, shadow some general dentists and some specialists.

I went through a similar struggle; though, I had significant experience in the medical world as an allied health worker. I am currently loving dental school and satisfied with my decision. Yours may be different.

Do what you like!

GL.

 

[sgv]

People change. One day you prefer one thing and the next day you may prefer something entirely different. In the end, we all die and a hundred years from now, you and everyone else won't care whether you chose dentistry or medicine.

 

[Datooth]

People change. One day you prefer one thing and the next day you may prefer something entirely different. In the end, we all die and a hundred years from now, you and everyone else won't care whether you chose dentistry or medicine.

Bro, the singularity will happen before I die. Immortality inc.

 

[ghp06c]

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs