med vs dent

[nateriver]

I've honestly been stuck between these two for 4 years now, have shadowed both, love both, love the possibilities of life you can have with dental and the independence , and the med school not matching into my desired specialty scares me, but theres just something about med idk ahh its just, i think i might find it a bit more interesting, but not by much, i like how in dental someone comes to you with a problem, and generally there is a course of treatment you can perform or recommend from a specialist that will alleviate the issue, where as in med sometimes all you can do is tell the person the issue they have and there is no treatment option, its just such a huge decision , possibly the biggest ill ever make in my life, so if i could get some input, I'm at my wits end to be honest, any advice is appreciated, i just don't wanna look back and wonder what if should i decide to go dental, i don't wanna think to myself hmm should have done med, i don't know, just yeah, any advice, thanks

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[ConfusedFulbrightScholar]

If I liked Dentistry as much as I liked Medicine, I would do Dentistry simply because the lifestyle is much more conducive to family (a thing most people end up wanting).

Unfortunately, I can't find the passion I have for Medicine, in Dentistry.

 

[nateriver]

thanks for ur input

 

[fancymylotus]

Here's why I picked teef

1) gigantic paralyzing fear of death

2) lifestyle

3) wanted to have some control of my own business by my mid 20's

4) get to work with my family

5) and yes, the money is great

 

[nateriver]

Here's why I picked teef

1) gigantic paralyzing fear of death

2) lifestyle

3) wanted to have some control of my own business by my mid 20's

4) get to work with my family

5) and yes, the money is great

do u find dent repetitive tho? or is it still interesting after you've done it for awhile, and thank you for your input

 

[fancymylotus]

do u find dent repetitive tho? or is it still interesting after you've done it for awhile, and thank you for your input

I find an odd sense of peace in the repetitiveness. It's like a strange rhythm/pattern, for the most part my routine works all the time. I honestly love my job and it doesn't feel like work at all*


*my experience is skewed as I've only ever worked for my family and I have many colleagues who work at a zillion different offices so their lives and routines change constantly

 

[Doctoblast]

I really wish I could find it in me to be passionate for dentistry mainly because of the lifestyle, but I just couldn't do it. If you have shadowed both and you equally love both then you have to ask yourself what you want out of life. For med you will most likely not be able to independently practice until at least late 20s/early 30s and then you will probably be paying off huge loans for years. Do you want to get married? Start a family? How soon? I'm not saying it's not possible with the med route, but dental might make that kind of stuff easier for you.

Also keep in mind that the hours a physician works and/or is on call are very different from a dentist.

Just my 2 cents

 

[einsteinm]

Do some more shadowing if you haven't done some already. Currently, looks like you're interested in going dental and would be more happy there.

 

[nateriver]

thanks for your thoughts everyone

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

Here's why I picked teef

1) gigantic paralyzing fear of death

2) lifestyle

3) wanted to have some control of my own business by my mid 20's

4) get to work with my family

5) and yes, the money is great

I listened to an ER doctor say this once (at least the money and easier life). Apparently he felt if he could go back 20+ years this is the road he would go down on.