advice needed

[polf]

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Hi everyone, I'm a former premed having serious thoughts about switching to predental. I guess after 4 years of college now, I'm kinda burnt out and can't imagine 7yrs school+residency followed by a 60+ hr/wk job. The dental lifestyle really appeals to me, and it seems to me that its got everything med has to offer with a lot less stress(valid assumption?). I'm wondering if there's anyone in a similar situation, and is that a good reason to change to dental? I'm fully qualified to do both med or dental, just that my motivation for med is slowly fading and dental seems to have a brighter future. (I even took MCATs already and done well but decided not to apply this year as I wasn't sure about it)

....and if I do apply for dental, how important are dental shadowing experience and activities that show manual dexterity? so far all of my experiences has been at medical and not dental places. nursing assistant at cancer ward and receptionist at a free clinic(total maybe ~100hrs). Hopefully I can get some shadowing with a dentist this winter break, but in case I'm not able to get any real dental experience, are my medical experiences enough to subsitute? and also what are some quick ways to show/improve your manual dexerity? Right now I can't think of anything at all except to take a class in ceramics next semester.

Comments much appreciated,

 

[polf]

anyone? please?

 

[Clover]

well i would imagine they'd like to see that you've looked into someone's mouth and know what you're getting into. not a good idea to do that when you're in dental school and realize it's horribly disgusting and you'd be sick if you had to look again.

. . . and i'm telling you, some people have some funky teeth -- good for me but not for them or the light of heart.

but as far as quantifying how much it would affect you candidacy for dental school, i don't know.

you could call schools up and ask? or you could ask your school's prehealth advisor, they may have some knowledge into this area.

oh and i'm sure having something to put down for manual dexterity is a plus . . . although having none has not prevented me from getting an interview

 

[DDSY]

You have to follow where your heart is. Remember that dentistry is not easy either. Classes in fact are longer for most dental schools (8 or 9am to 5pm) compared to many medical schools. And starting a dental clinic is pretty costly and difficult. There is also residency for dentistry--which is required in many states to practice as a dentist. What makes a field easier is if you actually like what you are going to do.

From SDN threads, I have the impression that shadowing is important. There are plenty of threads comparing MD vs DDS. If you search for them, I'm sure you could get tons of valuable info.

As for manual dexterity, that is not problem. Many people fib their way and there are tons of things you could list as having manual dexterity (playing an instrument, art, construction work, etc)