Columbia...is it really bad?

[AUG2UAG]

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Actually, I and 95% of dentists out there have no intentions of "advancing that knowledge"....

What are your sources with respect to that 95% figure? I hope that one day you'll come across as more of a moderate, because it sounds as if you're totally against didactic training. I think it's a sham that you say only few dental schools emphasize the basic sciences-- from what I know, the basic science teachers aren't even dentists, they're PhD's in their related fields. Therefore, don't you think that a majority of basic science instructors, regardless of institution, would feel more or less indifferent to the idea of becoming a dentist or to dentistry in general, yet share a passion for the knowledge of the subject they teach? I believe that the challenges that the subjects they teach at dental school are going to exist regardless of where students attend and that the students should be able to utilize their classroom knowledge in a laboratory or clinical setting in any way they choose. It wouldn't be fair to limit choices as a result of where you attended school and that's why I say that the knowledge they teach you may be useful if you decided to explain a disorder to a patient or to get into a postgraduate/PhD program.

 

[onetoothleft]

Didactic vs. clinical training has always been a debate especially on the annual "is columbia bad" thread AKA "DrBadVibes Vs. CU students" thread

I agree with most of what DBV says. Having a superior knowledge didactically might not be put to test as much as we think once when practicing as he points out. But that does not mean that it is useless or unnessessary. There are many instances where we would need that knowledge in highly medically compromised patients. Knowledge of infectious diseases and terminal illnesses is essential in patient treatment. How often would we see that in a dental practice? Probably not that often. And you could get away going to a nondidactic school getting C's and barely passing your boards. You may even make more money! But I personally would feel very uncomfortable going into the profession without knowing my stuff--clinically and didactically.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

What are your sources with respect to that 95% figure?

Why is that a suprise to you?? People dont go into dentistry to do research....isnt that obvious?

I personally havent met one dental/predental student interested in having a career in research....not one! People go into dentistry to make money, have a career, and have a comfortable life.....who the hell goes into research???

Of course that is not every dental student, but if your still not convinced (hard to believe why you wouldnt be), why dont u take a poll and see for yourself.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Didactic vs. clinical training has always been a debate especially on the annual "is columbia bad" thread AKA "DrBadVibes Vs. CU students" thread

I agree with most of what DBV says. Having a superior knowledge didactically might not be put to test as much as we think once when practicing as he points out. But that does not mean that it is useless or unnessessary. There are many instances where we would need that knowledge in highly medically compromised patients. Knowledge of infectious diseases and terminal illnesses is essential in patient treatment. How often would we see that in a dental practice? Probably not that often. And you could get away going to a nondidactic school getting C's and barely passing your boards. You may even make more money! But I personally would feel very uncomfortable going into the profession without knowing my stuff--clinically and didactically.

I understand what you are saying and in an ideal situation you are absolutely correct...but I think more realistically. That stuff you learn in the basic sciences will be completely forgotten after your Part I board exams. You will only remember the basics and anything that is relevant to dentistry and your practice. Any dentist right now would say the same thing. Heck, what dentist actually remembers the Kreb Cycle!?!!?!?

And those basics needed to be a competent dentist and be able to diagnose patients are taught at EVERY DENTAL SCHOOL....otherwise the ADA would be in trouble. Dont think that every non-Columbian dentist is a "glorified hygenist" (a quote from one of your Columbian classmates)....Why dont you just accept that?

When you are practicing, are you seriously gonna be keeping up with the latest research in biochemistry to be able to apply all that superb Nobel winning biochemistry you learned in first year?? I know Im not....instead, Ill be keeping up with the latest research/products in dentistry.....only worried about my pratice and how to make it more efficient, profitable, and always increase the ability to provide the best treatment for my patients.

 

[javagrl]

i have been working as a dental assistant for the past two years, and i have become concerned about how little some dentists know about various medications on the market or how they are unsure how to work up a treatment plan for a patient with a complicated medical history. granted, they're "only the dentist" and not the patient's physician, but i really hope to learn more in school than just dentistry because the patient's overall health will affect how i practice dentistry.

(btw i have worked in three different group practices with twelve different drs so it's not just one dr that doesn't know much)

i know columbia will be tough and maybe i'll be taught a lot of extraneous material, but i hope that some of it will help me later in practice, too....

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

but i really hope to learn more in school than just dentistry.

Its like expecting a podiatrist to know about the oral cavity...doesnt make sense.

You do realize that although you might wanna know stuff other than dentistry, if you diagnose or treat anything outside of the oral cavity (cause you are a DENTIST), you might as well get the nice suit and tie out, cause you'll be in the courtroom really fast.

Anyways, you guys go and learn more about other stuff than dentistry....while I put my sole focus on learning actual dentistry, cause guess what, thats my profession and that is the only thing I wanna excel in.

 

[modemduck]

Its like expecting a podiatrist to know about the oral cavity...doesnt make sense.

You do realize that although you might wanna know stuff other than dentistry, if you diagnose or treat anything outside of the oral cavity (cause you are a DENTIST), you might as well get the nice suit and tie out, cause you'll be in the courtroom really fast.

Anyways, you guys go and learn more about other stuff than dentistry....while I put my sole focus on learning actual dentistry, cause guess what, thats my profession and that is the only thing I wanna excel in.

i am going to a columbia dentist; i would prefer that over a crappy one like u

anyone that has an education is going to go to the best they can get... someone that has passed the highest standards rather than some technician (and if u r in it for the money... columbia is going to buy you a LOT of automatic credibility)

i wish your future patients knew your attitude
oh by the way... if dentistry is "the only thing" you wanna excel in why do u brag about travelling to 30 countries?

lame...

 

[realysa]

why so many columbia haters at temple?

it's pretty bbvious i think!

 

[MrBenny]

Its like expecting a podiatrist to know about the oral cavity...doesnt make sense.

You do realize that although you might wanna know stuff other than dentistry, if you diagnose or treat anything outside of the oral cavity (cause you are a DENTIST), you might as well get the nice suit and tie out, cause you'll be in the courtroom really fast.

Anyways, you guys go and learn more about other stuff than dentistry....while I put my sole focus on learning actual dentistry, cause guess what, thats my profession and that is the only thing I wanna excel in.

damn badvibes. Has a little more knowledge ever hurt anyone?

i respect your opinion though man, though i disagree with it. but i can't respect all the crap you've rained down on my school the past couple of years. we don't focus on your negative comments cause we're insecure.. we do that because finding your positive comments about CU is like looking for an unwrapped snickers bar in the county landfill.

but you know what. go ahead and keep s***ing on columbia. i'll be too busy building gundam or whatever with your boy Gundam. Maybe that'll help improve my manual dexterity skills, since Columbia won't be helping me with that.

 

[AUG2UAG]

Its like expecting a podiatrist to know about the oral cavity...doesnt make sense.

You do realize that although you might wanna know stuff other than dentistry, if you diagnose or treat anything outside of the oral cavity (cause you are a DENTIST), you might as well get the nice suit and tie out, cause you'll be in the courtroom really fast.

Anyways, you guys go and learn more about other stuff than dentistry....while I put my sole focus on learning actual dentistry, cause guess what, thats my profession and that is the only thing I wanna excel in.

The beauty of learning this material is for its use in the cinical setting and for its use to researchers in finding a better understanding and creating uselful tools for clinicians to use. What makes you say that 95% of us students would turn our back to this sort of knowledge? It's common to find that the more published you are, the more success you will likely encounter due to the the respect that is gained or earned from the patients, who I may remind you are your el numero uno source of marketingvia word of mouth advertising-- at least that's how I view it at this time (all things being constant). Consequently, I'm inclined to disagree with your previous statements and I think alot more than five percent of the dentists carry out clinical and laboratory research, and I hope alot more of them expect to see compromised patients during their practice; for their sake to know their patient's condition(s).

 

[The Godfather]

It's common to find that the more published you are, the more success you will likely encounter due to the the respect that is gained or earned from the patients, who I may remind you are your el numero uno source of marketingvia word of mouth advertising--

That's a real stretch. Common? If you receive any positive word of mouth advertising, it's going to be based on your skills and chairside manner. I doubt there are many new patients making inquiries about how published their dentist is, and if they don't ask, how are they going to know? Are you going to put it on your sign or make them read your boring findings while they are filling out patient forms? Research is great (I've done a lot and plan to do more in d school), but I don't plan on it helping me building a practice. That's going to come the old fashioned way - earning the respect of patients by the way and how well I help them.

 

[AUG2UAG]

Point well taken, and same goes to everyone else w/ valid statements.

All I'm trying to say is that it looks impressive to the avg. Dick or Jane if they see your name on some articles, that's it.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Point well taken, and same goes to everyone else w/ valid statements.

All I'm trying to say is that it looks impressive to the avg. Dick or Jane if they see your name on some articles, that's it.

you actually believe that the average Dick or Jane will be looking at dental journals??

 

[Halitosis]

you actually believe that the average Dick or Jane will be looking at dental journals??

all it takes is for just ONE avg person to read it....and word will start spreading. is ONE person reading d journals that funny?

 

[AUG2UAG]

you actually believe that the average Dick or Jane will be looking at dental journals??

OK, I can see how that can be funny... but, the patients don't have to look in journals if you have wonderful xerox technology and you can place copies on the table/magazine shelf for patient to see. As Halitosis said, it only takes one curious kid to look at your article and start mentioning your name on the holiest of holies... the dinner table! 😱