what if I injuried my hands and can't practice dentistry...

[Smooth Operater]

Since I enjoy playing sports, espically sports involving with hands (i.e volleyball and basketabll) the thought that I might injury my hands in the future is causing me to have 2nd thought about pursuing dentistry. I am really afraid that I might injury my hands/arms and can't practice dentistry after spending 300k on my dental education. Then I will have to declare bankrupcy and look for another career. I know I shouldn't think too negatively, but the though is really bothering me Do you guys ever think about that before deciding to pursue dentistry? What can someone with a DDS degree do if he/she injuried his/her hands permanently?

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[nhangan]

Since I enjoy playing sports, espically sports involving with hands (i.e volleyball and basketabll) the thought that I might injury my hands in the future is causing me to have 2nd thought about pursuing dentistry. I am really afraid that I might injury my hands/arms and can't practice dentistry after spending 300k on my dental education. Then I will have to declare bankrupcy and look for another career. I know I shouldn't think too negatively, but the though is really bothering me Do you guys ever think about that before deciding to pursue dentistry? What can someone with a DDS degree do if he/she injuried his/her hands permanently?

I think should shouldn't have to worry about it. Think about it, if your hands are meant to be injured, it can be injured when you're in a car and slams the door. If it's meant to happen, it will happen, it doesn't matter which way. So keep up your activities...it's all relied on destiny when it comes to unfortunate activities.

 

[aceking]

Since I enjoy playing sports, espically sports involving with hands (i.e volleyball and basketabll) the thought that I might injury my hands in the future is causing me to have 2nd thought about pursuing dentistry. I am really afraid that I might injury my hands/arms and can't practice dentistry after spending 300k on my dental education. Then I will have to declare bankrupcy and look for another career. I know I shouldn't think too negatively, but the though is really bothering me Do you guys ever think about that before deciding to pursue dentistry? What can someone with a DDS degree do if he/she injuried his/her hands permanently?

A couple months ago i quick going wild in snowboarding parks and riding my motorcycle for the same fear. i just dont want to loose a finger or something. i want to be 100%for schools and my future patients. I guess all that fear accumulated a little by little due to the injuries that i had from them in the past

 

[Dentalist]

If you got injured, you could teach as an academic dentist.

Since I enjoy playing sports, espically sports involving with hands (i.e volleyball and basketabll) the thought that I might injury my hands in the future is causing me to have 2nd thought about pursuing dentistry. I am really afraid that I might injury my hands/arms and can't practice dentistry after spending 300k on my dental education. Then I will have to declare bankrupcy and look for another career. I know I shouldn't think too negatively, but the though is really bothering me Do you guys ever think about that before deciding to pursue dentistry? What can someone with a DDS degree do if he/she injuried his/her hands permanently?

 

[DB#1]

I am sure you can get hand insurance, my insurance company offer that, injury/burns to pair of hands, non-deductible, 500gs insurance for $9.99 per month (j/k).
Yeah, I was thinking how puffy (P.didy?) got J-Lo ass insurance few years ago, dentists and surgeons MDs should have a some kind of hands insurance available to them .

 

[ISU_Steve]

Take it from someone who has had more than their fair share of hand injuries (3 broken metacarpals, a crushed distal phalange and more finger dislocations than I can count- what can I say....I have a love for British rules soccer and rugby), it takes a lot of damage to inflict lasting permanent injury to your hands- despite all this I still play violin. Don't worry about it. The bleeding ulcer a lot of people on here are on the road to give themselves because of their neuroses about small stuff or off-hand chances is much more likely to sideline you than the chance of you ever losing use of a hand in some bizarre accident.

 

[HuyetKiem]

dentists and surgeons MDs should have a some kind of hands insurance available to them .

They're available for dental professionals. My bro bought one.

 

[xxJuiceDxx]

HAHAHA. No fckn ****...

 

[Comet208]

hm... let me think what other professions do not require using hands....

 

[ISU_Steve]

Two words: Porn fluffer.

 

[Pikeyman]

what if I injuried my hands and can't practice dentistry...

Then, you're f'cked.

 

[crazy_sherm]

My dad's dentist was into motorcycle racing for a while. Then a few years ago, he crashed pretty bad and tore through his carbon fiber gloves. Freaked him out so he sold his Duc and totally stopped riding at all. But then he got cancer last year and after going through chemo, it's now in remission. He realized during that time that life is too short, so he's starting to race again now.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

HAHHA...the OP has a reputation on SDN for asking really really stupid questions. He always wants his hand to be held for everything....its like he can never make decisions or figure things out on his own.....

 

[grant555]

Then, you're f'cked.

Regardless of the content, this may be an accurate response. I have thought about similar cirumstances myself and would rather be a paraplegic than to have something happen to my hands. At least, I could still practice.

On the other hand, there is another case that comes to mind, which was shared by one of the staff at Baylor. It seems that one of the instructors, whose name alludes me, was not wearing eye protection when he practiced and contracted Herpes or some other analogous infection that seems to reoccur periodically from stress. I believe this is the ailment here.

At any rate, the gentleman had to give up his practice and teach for a living because, and I quote, "Patients just wouldn't want to see that from their dentist." I am not sure if this is true, but I believed it then and still do because the source was never proved to be a liar in my time at Baylor, however brief.

In the long run, maybe it is all left to fate as someone previously suggested on this thread, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to find out. Take care and GOD Bless.

 

[45540]

Then I will have to declare bankrupcy and look for another career.

You can't declare bankruptcy on student loans. They don't go away unfortunately.

 

[Comet208]

There have always been stories of painters, teacher, musicoans, etc that had no hands so trained their feet in such a way that would work just as fine i.e: they can eat, write, type, brush teeth, play musical instruments, etc.

I wonder if A. one could train his feet to control the high-speed handpiece and B. Any patient would like to go to a dentist who had to stick their feet in the patient's mouth.

 

[ISU_Steve]

Personally, all joking aside, you might want to talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist about this. If you are as truly bothered by it as you seem to be from reading your posts on here, it could very well be a serious condition that might need far more help than you can find from an online forums.

 

[nebuladds]

Oral pathology is pretty interesting and they actually serve a legitimate purpose. Oral and maxillofacial radiology, on the other hand, is a new specialty. For the life of me, I can't figure out exactly what it is that they do. It became a specialty around 2000 or 2001, when I was a Freshman in dental school. I didn't see that one coming. I could have imagined TMJ/facial pain becoming a specialty, but radiology?

Anyways, just be aware that in the U.S., you have to take licensing exams that don't cover all 50 states. For example, the SRTA (Southern Regional Testing Assoc.) covers VA, SC, GA, WV, SC, TN, IN, and there are about 10 or so more states that will accept it. Want to practice in California or Florida? You have to take their board exams. Want to practice in New York? You have to take the NERB exam. All of these exams are practical exams, so you'll need your hands.

If you ruin your hands there are still things you can do, but not many.

Since I enjoy playing sports, espically sports involving with hands (i.e volleyball and basketabll) the thought that I might injury my hands in the future is causing me to have 2nd thought about pursuing dentistry. I am really afraid that I might injury my hands/arms and can't practice dentistry after spending 300k on my dental education. Then I will have to declare bankrupcy and look for another career. I know I shouldn't think too negatively, but the though is really bothering me Do you guys ever think about that before deciding to pursue dentistry? What can someone with a DDS degree do if he/she injuried his/her hands permanently?

 

[aphistis]

I can't believe this thread has 18 responses, but not a single mention of disability insurance.

What you do, if you become unable to practice dentistry, is start collecting benefits on your disability policy, and if you're so inclined, find another career to occupy your time. End of story.

 

[Sprgrover]

Are you F*ing kidding me?!~?!... If my fellow d-students starting august asks stupid **** like these I'm goign to have to make a lot of cumtastrophes... on their faces.

Let's try to keep things civil - and at a "G" rating please.

 

[Sprgrover]

...What you do, if you become unable to practice dentistry, is start collecting benefits on your disability policy, and if you're so inclined, find another career to occupy your time. End of story.

I agree.

 

[jheidenr]

I think the OP might find this article of interest:
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=640
It tells of a dentist in Alaska who lost his dominant hand, and how he was able to continue practicing. Hope this helps!

 

[gold_crown]

i can't believe this thread is still going...

 

[deebog01]

The Dentist that I'm shadowing right now in San An has only had seven fingers since high school, and still... he's personally taking home over half a mil every year. Motivation, motivation.

-D

 

[Smooth Operater]

Personally, I think it's a valid point to consider. It's good to know some of you guys actually thought about this and are aware of hand insurance. I just don't know why some of you laugh at this and tell me that I am crazy. One of my relative wanted to get in construction field back the old days, but due to bad back, he decided not to expose his back to the risk by involving in the field. I have the tendency to sprain my fingers whenever I play sport. In fact, I just sprang my middle finger and part of the palm 2 days ago. Because of this, I sometimes fear that my dentisty career would end when I screwed my hand since it require a lot of hand works in any specialty unlike medicine where surgeons who injuried their hands may go in to family practice etc...

 

[Comet208]

Personally, I think it's a valid point to consider...... I just don't know why some of you laugh at this and tell me that I am crazy. ..

Did you think of injuring your hands before learning how to write or just did it?? same concept applies here. yes, accidents do happen and they are very unpleasant but no one can predict them. being careful while engaging in certain activities is of course needed but doesnt mean surgeons/dentists/musicians/etc should give up sports/cooking/picking their nose/etc or even not get into manual dexterity requiering professions b/c one's hand may or may not get injured. I suggest you call up your insurance company and ask how many have used their hand insurance.

 

[Tooth Fixer]

What if?
What if?
What if?

What if?

Live your life man! Live Strong, Be strong. Wtf kind of questions is that?