how many hours of dental shadowing have you done?

[ddsshin]

Hi, I am goint to shadow a dentist after my DAT which is 3/30. I want my LOR from the general dentist before May 15. Do you think that's enough time to fine a dentist and work? How many hours of week did you guys work?
Did you get paid?????

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[sobe55]

I haven't shadowed a general dentist, only in dental school clinics, about 3 hrs per week.

I know you're concerned with acing the DAT but, shadowing a dentist for only a month (After the DAT on 3/30, you would only have all of april to get to know them before the May 15th deadline), I don't think they would be able to write a very good recommendation letter for you. Besides, adcoms look for students who have built a relationship with someone over a long period of time. I would try to start now, only 3 hrs a week if thats all you can do.
Do the math- at about 3 hrs a week for the next 17 weeks or so, thats 51 hrs.

Most schools recommend/require 50hrs of shadowing so you'll have satisfied that and have come to know the dentist better, allowing them to write you a better letter of rec. Also, I don't think 3 hrs a week will cut into your DAT studying too much.

Best of luck.

 

[sattimy1]

Nah....you don't get paid for a shadowing gig. You only get paid if you're hired as a dental assistant. As said before, honestly, that isn't enough time to get a banging recommendation from that dentist. He/She will not have known you for long enough to write about everything dental schools want to know about. I say if you want a dentist to write a good LOR for you then you want about 100hrs of being around them so you can be secure that they know you well enough. You are cutting it close in finding a dentist to shadow because I know it took me a little while. There's not many dentist offices around me and it seems like everybody in my school who is pre-dent already claimed their 'territory'

Good luck though.

 

[whlee84]

i agree. try to shadow once a week starting now, which will give you 4 full months of interaction with the dentist, which sounds a lot better than 1.5 months. shadowing wont' get you paid, and it won't be anything too hands-on. dental assisting will get you more hands on experience, and you will get paid. i doubt your dentist will want to hire an official dental assistant who works only once a week, so i think shadowing will be your best bet.

good luck!

 

[DrEagleMike]

And if I remember correctly, on the AADSAS application it asks you to list the different shadowing experiences you've had. If you only put one dentist with minimum time (50ish hrs) then I don't think that will look hot at all. In fact, I think that shows a little disinterest. Try to shadow more than one dentist. For the one giving you the LOR, you'll have to get in a lot of time there. But to show your interest in dentistry and that you have a good idea of what you're getting yourself into then shadow more than one. Get a variety. Shadow some specialist. I had several dentist down. With some I only had 15-25 hrs.

During a four month period I shadowed an orthodontist and oral surgeon, worked full time (40 hrs/week) and studied for the DAT. On top of that I had a wife and 4 mnth old son to care for. I think if you prioritize your time and focus then you can do well on the DAT as well as get some time in for shadowing. Good luck, those are not fun times but it pays off.

 

[grayzkule]

I shadowed (unpaid) for 30 hours at an orthodontist's office, and hundreds of hours at a general dentists office (paid). It's actually worked out really well. My dad is one of the dentists at the general practice.

 

[peerless218]

1012 hours.
Well not EXACTING shadowing. I volunteered

 

[dent2009]

100 hours of shadowing at a generalist is the recommended amt at schools that I applied to. Any more time spent in the office is worthless (based on my own experience and others as well) unless you get to assist. If you have more time, shadow a few hours here and there at any specialist.

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527523