What influenced your desire to be a dentist the most? (part 2)

Started by burton117
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What influenced your desire to be a dentist the most?

  • Money / Financial Security

    Votes: 33 14.7%

  • Lifestyle

    Votes: 69 30.7%

  • Getting Immediate results when treating patients

    Votes: 15 6.7%

  • The ability to do dental work overseas / missions

    Votes: 5 2.2%

  • Fascination with the artistic side of dentistry / sculpture

    Votes: 12 5.3%

  • I am a hands-on kind of person

    Votes: 16 7.1%

  • I am crazy about teeth!

    Votes: 4 1.8%

  • My dentist growing up was awesome!

    Votes: 5 2.2%

  • One of my parents is a dentist

    Votes: 10 4.4%

  • A relative (non-parent) is a dentist

    Votes: 3 1.3%

  • Autonomy

    Votes: 8 3.6%

  • Flexible Hours

    Votes: 7 3.1%

  • The desire to run my own business

    Votes: 9 4.0%

  • I tried another career and found it lacking

    Votes: 11 4.9%

  • I decided not to go to Medical School

    Votes: 14 6.2%

  • Other: list below and elaborate

    Votes: 4 1.8%
  • Total voters
    225
burton117

burton117

The Big Kahuna
15+ Year Member
What influenced your desire to be a dentist the most? 😎

I thought the first version of this poll was a little lacking in options, so I brought back a better, more robust, and hopefully more accurate poll.

As always, feel free to add commentary if there are reasons you feel you are drawn to dentistry which are not listed above!
 
Several of these:
-Immediate results
-Autonomy
-Lifestyle and flexible hours
-Financial security and the guarantee of a nice paycheck

But I've worked in the medical field long enough to realize that the price I pay for what I do is too steep (lack of stability, poor patient outcomes because of the nature of what kinds of conditions I deal with, low pay, long hours, weird shifts, hellacious politics within my career field, etc) for not enough rewards. That's what has driven me to want to become a dentist- I can still help people which has been my life's work these past 8 years, but I just would like a little more in return for what I invest in my job. Is that too much to ask?
 
That poll is difficult because the reason I chose this field is because of all of those reasons, because there are so many positives about being a dentist. The profession is just great!! 👍
 
burton117 said:
Isn't dentistry great!
Click to expand...

YES! I am immensely happy with my decision to pursue dentistry and I think a majority of dentists are as well. That's another great thing about it!
 
It seems that lifestyle is the top choice here.. When people refer to lifestyle.. do we mean the relative lowness of hours worked in the field, the chance to be your own boss, open a practice, salary, or all of the above..

If any one aspect is particularly special... that would be great to know. For myself, I look at dentistry as being huge need overseas coupled with family being extremely important to me. Plus, working in a dental office has always appealed to me. Working with lots of people, jumping from patient to patient, seeing patients of all ages and making an immediate and positive tangible impact in their lives. What could be better!

My wife and I would not look favorably upon a profession which usually requires 80 hour work weeks, extensive travel, etc... In my case, I truly feel like Dentistry is a win-win-win situation... 😀
 
burton117 said:
It seems that lifestyle is the top choice here.. When people refer to lifestyle.. do we mean the relative lowness of hours worked in the field, the chance to be your own boss, open a practice, salary, or all of the above..

If any one aspect is particularly special... that would be great to know. For myself, I look at dentistry as being huge need overseas coupled with family being extremely important to me. Plus, working in a dental office has always appealed to me. Working with lots of people, jumping from patient to patient, seeing patients of all ages and making an immediate and positive tangible impact in their lives. What could be better!

My wife and I would not look favorably upon a profession which usually requires 80 hour work weeks, extensive travel, etc... In my case, I truly feel like Dentistry is a win-win-win situation... 😀
Click to expand...


I think Beestieboy said it best on this site......carpe dentum....
 
ISU_Steve said:
Several of these:
-Immediate results
-Autonomy
-Lifestyle and flexible hours
-Financial security and the guarantee of a nice paycheck

But I've worked in the medical field long enough to realize that the price I pay for what I do is too steep (lack of stability, poor patient outcomes because of the nature of what kinds of conditions I deal with, low pay, long hours, weird shifts, hellacious politics within my career field, etc) for not enough rewards. That's what has driven me to want to become a dentist- I can still help people which has been my life's work these past 8 years, but I just would like a little more in return for what I invest in my job. Is that too much to ask?
Click to expand...

Thats funny, there is NO GUARANTEE OF A NICE PAYCHECK. Either you are good or not. Another dentist will not pay you if you are not good, therefore, NO GUARANTEE.
 
dentalstudent99 said:
Thats funny, there is NO GUARANTEE OF A NICE PAYCHECK. Either you are good or not. Another dentist will not pay you if you are not good, therefore, NO GUARANTEE.
Click to expand...

Don't take it so literally. I think he meant that given the average salary of 170k for a GP, even a below avg salary would be drastically above the national average. Plenty of careers culminate with 150k salaries and starting there early isnt sooo bad.
 
the reasons are all there, but if it weren't for the initial concerns over financial security and providing for my family, i would not have considered dentistry. Other reasons fell into place and became more important, but the security thing is always right up there.
 
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