Are You Guys Enjoying Dentistry?

[Double Bonded]

I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone lately so that I'll have the best chance to get into dental school but I was wondering how dentists and dental students feel about the career from where they are in their lives right now.

Do you like what you're doing? Like where you're going? Do you enjoy the lifestyle? Is it (the life of a dentist/d-student) what you expected it to be?

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[Double Bonded]

the lack of responses (especially of people saying "I freaking love dentistry") is kind of foreboding.

 

[gryffindor]

Do you like what you're doing? Like where you're going? Do you enjoy the lifestyle? Is it (the life of a dentist/d-student) what you expected it to be?

Yes, I like what I do and where I'm going. The lifestyle is nice but I am the kind of person who is still happily driving the same rusted car I drove when I started dental school nearly 11 years ago so I don't have terribly high expectations. I feel lucky be employed in good situations (there are a lot of shady associate jobs out there), to have the opportunity to start my own business and to be able to afford my student loan payments. Yes I can afford to go on nice vacations to the beach and visit other countries, but I come home from vacation to find myself returning to a patient overload week and staff who couldn't figure out what to do with themselves in my absence. But it still beats studying for Cellular Biochemistry and all those other useless classes I took in college and it definitely beats studying for Removable Prosthodontics or casting crowns as a dental student so yeah, life is better.

 

[FutureDent020]

Dental schools sucks, but besides Dentistry being a tad laborious, it seems like a cool career.

 

[DrReo]

I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone lately so that I'll have the best chance to get into dental school but I was wondering how dentists and dental students feel about the career from where they are in their lives right now.

Do you like what you're doing? Like where you're going? Do you enjoy the lifestyle? Is it (the life of a dentist/d-student) what you expected it to be?

I thoroughly enjoy the gratifications when I successfully manage a patient's soft tissue and regain attachment loss.

 

[flapaTron]

I thoroughly enjoy the gratifications when I successfully manage a patient's soft tissue and regain attachment loss.

hah, of what, 0.2mm? jk jk

 

[mrmikeman]

learning to become a dentist is....awesome. i'm almost done with the D1 year---school is tough, and at times, you will ask yourself, "i have to go through all this, make all these sacrifices, study a lot of anatomy i will never use (yes, you will even have to learn about the rectum during your D1 year) to become a dentist?". but, you learn a ridiculous amount of interesting stuff and it's incredible to see your skills develop as the year goes on. there are weeks that are hell, and then there are times when the work lets up a bit--a vicious cycle, but all in all you should not be disappointed.

 

[Mackchops]

I'm about to graduate so maybe my outlook is still a naive one, but I'm excited for my prospects. I love what I do and, even more so, I love knowing how much I have to learn! Dental school barely scrapes the surface of what's out there for your patients and, as someone who really thirsts for knowledge, I feel very fortunate that I landed in a field that requires constant lifetime learning. I'm doing a residency and I know I'll be doing new things there that I've never done before. And afterwards when I get out into practice I'll be doing new things, learning new things, and constantly seeking to improve my knowledge base as well as my clinical skills. Add in the flexibility of seeing YOUR patients in YOUR practice and the potential for career satisfaction is limitless.

Now ask me again in 15 years and my tune might change, but at least where I am now, about to graduate, yes I am enjoying dentistry.

 

[mooredge]

Just about to finish up my 3rd year so heres my 2 cents. Dental School is a pain in my butt. Stressful and tiring and more stressful. However, the actual dentistry part i enjoy. Its all the running around/paperwork/signatures/lab work that makes me crazy. All of which you won't be doing nearly as much of when you graduate. So overall, i think dentistry is awesome, just not dental school.

 

[ortho lurker]

Just about to finish up my 3rd year so heres my 2 cents. Dental School is a pain in my butt. Stressful and tiring and more stressful. However, the actual dentistry part i enjoy. Its all the running around/paperwork/signatures/lab work that makes me crazy. All of which you won't be doing nearly as much of when you graduate. So overall, i think dentistry is awesome, just not dental school.

I don't know about avoiding the paperwork after dental school.....bookkeeping, payroll, bills to be paid, bank statements, insurance claims, chart audits, TAXES, etc. just to name a few.

 

[setdoc7]

I don't know about avoiding the paperwork after dental school.....bookkeeping, payroll, bills to be paid, bank statements, insurance claims, chart audits, TAXES, etc. just to name a few.

You said it before I could. The paperwork never goes away, it's just a different kind of paperwork.
I've been a dentist for 28 years. I still like it, and get to do some stuff now that will hopefully make things better for new grads in the long run. It's still fun to own my own practice, which I just remodeled for me, so I can enjoy going there more. It's fun to work in academics, and interact with other dentists who are making a good faith effort to improve our profession. Unfortunately, that is a slow and often frustrating process.

 

[Demeter]

I freaking love dentistry and I freaking love being my own boss.

 

[mooredge]

You said it before I could. The paperwork never goes away, it's just a different kind of paperwork.
I've been a dentist for 28 years. I still like it, and get to do some stuff now that will hopefully make things better for new grads in the long run. It's still fun to own my own practice, which I just remodeled for me, so I can enjoy going there more. It's fun to work in academics, and interact with other dentists who are making a good faith effort to improve our profession. Unfortunately, that is a slow and often frustrating process.

Haha, i stand corrected. Glad to hear from the dentists out there that all this hard work will be worth it some day soon.

 

[longhornpride]

about to finish up my first year and I'll say that I'm so freaking sick of all the tests and all the stupid information I'll never need after I take my boards.

however, when we actually learn about dentistry... i absolutely love it. 2-3 hours pass by like nothing when we're in operative.

 

[dkny2kx]

dentistry is the worst! don't do it

 

[321931]

I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone lately so that I'll have the best chance to get into dental school but I was wondering how dentists and dental students feel about the career from where they are in their lives right now.

Do you like what you're doing? Like where you're going? Do you enjoy the lifestyle? Is it (the life of a dentist/d-student) what you expected it to be?

Regardless of whatever graduate school you attend, the journey towards the final destination is actually the best experience. Yes, you have tests, quizzes, and major stress, but you're doing it with 100+ other classmates. You're in it together, and through trial and tribulation, you make friends, strengthen bonds, and overall, have a good time (after the tests are done).

Most of my friends who have graduated from medical/dental/pharmacy school miss their D1,M1,P1,D2,M2,P3 etc years the most.

Nothing like studying til 4 am in the morning, and getting Denny's with a bunch of other stressed out dental students. Or, Nothing like finishing up your exams, and going out and hitting clubs, or perhaps a marathon or a volunteer event with other relieved dental students. It's things like this that makes me look forward to Dental School.

 

[phremius]

if I could go back to dental school I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[dragonteeth]

It can be a truly rewarding profession if you can find your passion. I thought mine would be esthetics. While I was really good at it, I found I really hated it. Not the dentistry mind you - but the selling, the insurance battles, the vain demanding upper class middle aged attitudes - those really weren't my thing.

So I left private practice after 8 years, and joined the US Public Health Service. I'm in a wonderful 2 year AGPR with them in a little town in Oklahoma having a ball. If I had known residency would be this much fun I'd have done it years ago! More to the point, I've discovered hospital dentistry is my thing - seeing the patients no one else wants to treat because of special needs or medical issues. I'm challenged each and every day, and I love that. But what I love even more is that at the end of the day I don't have to hand anyone a bill. I make the same after taxes as I did in private practice, the tribe that owns the hospital funds us extremely well, I work with some very dedicated people who love what they do, and most importantly, money never comes between my patients and me anymore.

This is my thing. It might not be your thing, but if you're going to be happy in dentistry (or in any other field) you have to find your thing. Don't be afraid if the first (or second, or third) thing you try isn't it. Certainly don't feel like you have to follow the crowd. And for the love of all that's holy, don't do it for money. Money's nice, but at the end of the day, you have to be happy with what you've done with your life.