Why did you decide to become a dentist?

Started by UnicornDemon
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
UnicornDemon

UnicornDemon

Full Member
10+ Year Member
I'm interested in pursuing a career in dentistry, but I'm curious to know what type of person dentistry attracts. I know this question has been asked a few times on this forum. Still, I was wondering why one would chose dentistry over other professions such as law, medicine, finance, engineering, etc.?
 
Edit: yeah I agree with others. do it for the hookers and blow and what other hedonistic ventures that make you feel haaaappy
 
Last edited:
tounchie said:
Sorry, we're not writing your personal statement for you.
Click to expand...

Hmm... not looking for a personal statement. I was just curious if people were into dentistry for the same reasons I am. That is, 1. great money, 2. great hours, 3. rarely get calls or emergencies, and 4. get to be your own boss.

I wanted to see if people on this forum were going to say things such as"I love working with my hands, I've been sculpting and building miniature airplanes since I was 5" or "I love biology and am interested in how the mouth functions." If people provided reasons such as these, then I should look for a different career because I obviously won't be able to compete with people actually care about their work. If, however, everyone is in it for the same reasons I am, then I'll feel right at home in dentistry.
 
UnicornDemon said:
Hmm... not looking for a personal statement. I was just curious if people were into dentistry for the same reasons I am. That is, 1. great money, 2. great hours, 3. rarely get calls or emergencies, and 4. get to be your own boss.

I wanted to see if people on this forum were going to say things such as"I love working with my hands, I've been sculpting and building miniature airplanes since I was 5" or "I love biology and am interested in how the mouth functions." If people provided reasons such as these, then I should look for a different career because I obviously won't be able to compete with people actually care about their work. If, however, everyone is in it for the same reasons I am, then I'll feel right at home in dentistry.
Click to expand...

So you are saying you don't actually care about the work? Or did I read that wrong...
 
UnicornDemon said:
Hmm... not looking for a personal statement. I was just curious if people were into dentistry for the same reasons I am. That is, 1. great money, 2. great hours, 3. rarely get calls or emergencies, and 4. get to be your own boss.

I wanted to see if people on this forum were going to say things such as"I love working with my hands, I've been sculpting and building miniature airplanes since I was 5" or "I love biology and am interested in how the mouth functions." If people provided reasons such as these, then I should look for a different career because I obviously won't be able to compete with people actually care about their work. If, however, everyone is in it for the same reasons I am, then I'll feel right at home in dentistry.
Click to expand...

If you only care about money just major in finance. Your road towards success won't be paved with organic chemistry and neuroanatomy.

On the other hand of you want a great career and like people and actually want to help them, dentistry might be for you.
 
UnicornDemon said:
Hmm... not looking for a personal statement. I was just curious if people were into dentistry for the same reasons I am. That is, 1. great money, 2. great hours, 3. rarely get calls or emergencies, and 4. get to be your own boss.

I wanted to see if people on this forum were going to say things such as"I love working with my hands, I've been sculpting and building miniature airplanes since I was 5" or "I love biology and am interested in how the mouth functions." If people provided reasons such as these, then I should look for a different career because I obviously won't be able to compete with people actually care about their work. If, however, everyone is in it for the same reasons I am, then I'll feel right at home in dentistry.
Click to expand...
This has to be a troll. Yeah we all enjoy the idea of making a good living but I'd say most of us also have shadowed and feel like we'd enjoy coming into work most days.
 
I liked dentistry because of relativly low hours (both training and working hours)..... and strong potential for high income combined with solo ownership

Keywords "strong potential".... which, obviously, does not equate to guarantee. There is plenty of work (and business learning) to be done before being able to hit those 250k+ incomes
 
ttpharm said:
Dentistry because i couldn't get into medical school.


:laugh:
(joke)
Click to expand...

You too?! Me too. kidding of course. After shadowing a few docs and knowing many other personally as friends I can say with great confidence their life is not something to be envied. Not even a little.
 
Wow a simple question about why you want to be a dentist and people act like he asked for social security numbers.
 
If I only cared for money I would also major in something that had a lot of transitional value to advance my financial gain - such as actuarial sciences, finance, ect.

These high income careers combined with a solid understanding of how the financial system can help you make good decisions outside your career that may lead to a lot of wealth. I think dentistry or medicine WOULD SUCK if you didn't find it moderately interesting. IMO one has to work too hard in the day for what is not that great of a financial reward.

Why I wanted to do dentistry?

I have always really enjoyed science and health issues (always enjoyed reading about illness, wellness, and exercise) so I started looking at health care careers. I knew I wanted to have an executive level decision making tree and be able to provide definitive care. I then surveyed the health professions and saw that dentistry seemed to challenge many of my interests. I think I could be happy in other careers too but at some point I knew I needed to put all my effort into one - for me that is dentistry.

OP: Know thyself. There are enough jobs in different career fields that will make you money and line up with many of your interests.
 
Last edited:
Jbrowndds said:
Wow a simple question about why you want to be a dentist and people act like he asked for social security numbers.
Click to expand...

That "simple" question is what a lot of applicants spends days and weeks on to polish and perfect their answers for their own application. He's looking for an easy essay so we're just simply returning the favor with easy answers:laugh:
 
LOL I don't think what we say can really help him much though. This is more of a personal reflection. Besides, you want to stand out in a good way, not blend in with the rest of the people.
 
DRTigerJK said:
LOL I don't think what we say can really help him much though. This is more of a personal reflection. Besides, you want to stand out in a good way, not blend in with the rest of the people.
Click to expand...

Heaven - Tiger JK
 
two thirty said:
This has to be a troll. Yeah we all enjoy the idea of making a good living but I'd say most of us also have shadowed and feel like we'd enjoy coming into work most days.
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, money isn't the only motivator for going into dentistry, but it is one. That, and the possibility of a working only 4 days a week after establishing a good practice. There are other careers which offer similar salaries, stability, work-life balance (actuary, pharmacist, podiatrist, etc.), but I've found dentistry to be more interesting than those.

Apart from that, I've considered careers such as teaching high school or becoming a veterinarian, but, like I said, money is one motivator and neither of those careers are particularly well-paid.

As for the people saying just major in finance, there are very few jobs available in investment-banking. And if I was working 80 hour weeks as an investment banker, I'd rarely, if ever, have the time to spend with my family.
 
I think people shouldn't be so rude. Maybe this person is trying to get an easy answer. Maybe not. I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt in cases like this.

As for me, I chose dentistry for a
bunch of reasons, including:
-Ethics. I do not want a job where I felt like I was doing something that went against my principles.
-Beneficial to society
-Lots of interaction with other people
-Leadership opportunities
-Immediately visible results/ working with hands,
-massive kickbacks from the tooth fairy
 

Attachments

  • ImageUploadedBySDN Mobile1373003818.300725.jpg
    ImageUploadedBySDN Mobile1373003818.300725.jpg
    51.4 KB · Views: 253
Last edited:
There are many jobs at small firms that have great work life balances if you're working finance. My friend works for a smaller firm in a medium sized city and makes ~120k with 10% matching into 401k with a great benefits and paid vacation. Not too bad for someone with a 4 year business degree and ~40 hour workweek. His salary will just go up with more exp.

I think you're headed down the correct road if you enjoy dentistry - many of the dentists I've shadowed who enjoy the field seem to be living life. GL



UnicornDemon said:
Well, yeah, money isn't the only motivator for going into dentistry, but it is one. That, and the possibility of a working only 4 days a week after establishing a good practice. There are other careers which offer similar salaries, stability, work-life balance (actuary, pharmacist, podiatrist, etc.), but I've found dentistry to be more interesting than those.

Apart from that, I've considered careers such as teaching high school or becoming a veterinarian, but, like I said, money is one motivator and neither of those careers are particularly well-paid.

As for the people saying just major in finance, there are very few jobs available in investment-banking. And if I was working 80 hour weeks as an investment banker, I'd rarely, if ever, have the time to spend with my family.
Click to expand...
 
Do you even know how many ladies you can pick up with the 'I attend dental school' pick up line??

:naughty:

Kidding aside, strong interpersonal relationships with patients, satisfaction of helping others, well off, security, respected.
 
I actually enjoy helping people, you can relieve someone's pain in a short amount of time. I have also always been obsessed with teeth. Additionally, I wanted to have a challenging career and not settle for being a hygienist even though I am a woman.
 
ToothbrushBuddy said:
I actually enjoy helping people, you can relieve someone's pain in a short amount of time. I have also always been obsessed with teeth. Additionally, I wanted to have a challenging career and not settle for being a hygienist even though I am a woman.
Click to expand...

do you have a tooth fetish?
 
I want to be a dentist because I went to Guatemala as a dental assistant and it changed my life.
 
yappy said:
There are many jobs at small firms that have great work life balances if you're working finance. My friend works for a smaller firm in a medium sized city and makes ~120k with 10% matching into 401k with a great benefits and paid vacation. Not too bad for someone with a 4 year business degree and ~40 hour workweek. His salary will just go up with more exp.

I think you're headed down the correct road if you enjoy dentistry - many of the dentists I've shadowed who enjoy the field seem to be living life. GL
Click to expand...

I know this thread is old but I wanted to respond to your post.

Did your friend graduate from an Ivy League school? In my college, University of Miami, there are hundreds of students majoring in Finance. It's the quintessential frat-bro major, and they're all partying their way through their easy business courses. You can't possibly tell me that all of these students have six figure salaries waiting for them. Finance is a popular major in many schools throughout the country, but not everyone can be a successful I-Banker.
 
I decided to become a dentist because I just discovered I have a wisdom tooth poking out of my gums and want to be able to successfully shoot up with novocaine and pull it out via looking in a mirror. I can't get access to the novocaine unless I'm a dentist.

I guess I could just take a scalpel to it without the novocaine but it seems like it would be more difficult if my tears were blurring my vision and making the tools slippery.

Dentistry is my only option 🙁

On a side note, some other minor things are enjoying working with my hands, fascination with the profession, and loving to spend time around/help others.
 
So I could provide my parents with periodontal therapy and slow down their progression of gingival disease. So I could one day to skin grafts and place implants to restore the smile of a frail human being.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.