Dentistry vs. Optometry vs. Nursing vs. ???

[deleted687806]

Hi everyone,

Apologies for the age old "versus" question in advance.

I'm at the point in my undergrad career where I can still flip flop between career choices and not have many repercussions, but that is drawing to a close as I want to decide on one by the end of the summer, join a preprofessional club, and get in substantial shadowing hours under my belt in the next school year.

I've talked to various current students, current professionals, my parents, and friends about this question and Id like to ask for your polite opinions and thoughts, which I'm sure will vary since I will be posting this across many forums topics.


Basically:
-I want to work in health care.
-I want a profession that will allow me to own my own practice.

-Optometry: I originally wanted to pursue optometry and really love the profession, however the impending technology changes (self-online tests?, 1800 contacts, online glasses boutiques) in the very foreseeable future worries me very much and even the increasingly commercialization aspects (lens crafters, walgreens, etc)- to the point of steering me away from the profession. Especially b/c I intend to work in the Bay Area/Socal after graduation.

-Dentistry: My parents work in the field of dentistry, and Ive seen how precision and details really matter in dentistry. I'm not the most comfortable with working in the micro world, and it's always frustrated me when I've had to work with my hands w/ very small materials/spaces. I also am not confident in my ability to be happy when I wake up in the mornings to go to work in a dental office. Mouths dont interest me as much as eyes/the general body.

-Nursing: I would be fine w/ nursing, the only thing that gets me is that I don't think I can own a practice with just a nursing degree.

-Physician: Never seriously considered this, so I don't know too much about it. When I think of physician I think of my pediatrician, a very cranky, serious, old man who drives a Mercedes convertible.

-Pharmacy: Also never seriously considered this, doesn't really interest me as much.



1. Has anyone been in similar situations, and if so what was your conclusion/what profession did you choose?
2. Would you choose to go down the same path again?
3. Are there other medical professions that I am discounting? Please forgive my ignorance if so and be so kind as to share other career options.

Thank you in advance, and I would greatly respect your civility in your responses. Thank you!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[BTR1208]

Maybe consider podiatry??

Right now I'm torn between getting a CRNA from a BSN (nursing)

Or

Podiatry.

The de tal debt is too much for me. No thanks.

 

[Incis0r]

Hi everyone,

-Dentistry: My parents work in the field of dentistry, and Ive seen how precision and details really matter in dentistry. I'm not the most comfortable with working in the micro world, and it's always frustrated me when I've had to work with my hands w/ very small materials/spaces. I also am not confident in my ability to be happy when I wake up in the mornings to go to work in a dental office. Mouths dont interest me as much as eyes/the general body.

1. Has anyone been in similar situations, and if so what was your conclusion/what profession did you choose?
2. Would you choose to go down the same path again?
3. Are there other medical professions that I am discounting? Please forgive my ignorance if so and be so kind as to share other career options.

Hey there. Hope you don't mind input from a fellow pre-health student, as this is something I've spent a considerable amount of time pondering myself.

Dentistry is also facing increasing commercialization and decreasing ability to own a practice. NOTE: you CAN still own a private practice in dentistry, and you WILL be able to own one for the foreseeable future, but I've spoken to several general dentists who are leaders in organized dentistry, and each of them has confirmed that dentistry is heading to a group practice model and corporate/"commercialized" dentistry is on the rise.

With the debt new grads face, it's VERY difficult to open your own practice straight out and earn enough to meet both the practice debt and the student loan repayment debt. Corporate pays more, and that's why it's on the rise.

Now, if I may, something that concerned me about your post was the following statement: "I also am not confident in my ability to be happy when I wake up in the mornings to go to work in a dental office. Mouths dont interest me as much as eyes/the general body."

You initial concern about hands is something many people have, but hand skills are developed in dental school. However, if you are not confident that you'll be happy in dentistry, please find something else. Life is waaaaaay too short to go into something that you don't think you'll be happy in. And if you like the eyes/general body, you can find something in Medicine. Not all physicians are
" a very cranky, serious, old man who drives a Mercedes convertible." Many of them are nice, humble people who genuinely want to make a difference in someone's life.

Let me just end by answering all three of your questions in simple form:
1. Yes, I was trying to decide between Medicine and Dentistry. I decided to go dental because I love everything about this field (i've attended CE conventions, shadowed in multiple dental settings, volunteered/done research with dental schools, and I have loved every moment of it)

2. N/A to me as a student

3. Look into PA/NP too...but no private practice. Hmm...not really sure which other professions let you own a practice. But one thing I will add is- things change over time. You may find that you don't want a practice once you're out of school. Look at all the employment opportunities in a profession. The profession that has 2-3 employment settings/roles that you really like is the one you want to go for.

Good luck!

Maybe consider podiatry??

Right now I'm torn between getting a CRNA from a BSN (nursing)

Or

Podiatry.

The de tal debt is too much for me. No thanks.

1. Dental Debt- Dental School is getting more and more expensive, but there are several state schools that are much cheaper. Also, there are military scholarships, community health center loan repayment programs, Indian Health Service/NHSC scholarships/loan repayment. If you make a calculated decision and have reasonable expectations of life post-dental school, you can have a great time in this profession.

2. Podiatry- Look into the residency crisis in the podiatry world before you leap into that profession.