Concerns with Dental School vs Dental Hygiene

[Dentistry3399]

Firstly, I am very happy to have this forum, so I can openly speak about my concerns to you guys, some wiser and more experienced. I am appreciative of any comments really--any bit of input helps.

So I am stuck with a dilemma. I am considering Dental Hygiene school and these are my concerns:

1. Would it look bad if I applied to the same school for DH as I would if I considered dentistry? Like, would they see that I applied to DH at the same school (say NYU for instance) and would it hinder my chance of acceptance?

2. Everyone on many other forums have a resounding NO! to Dental Hygiene school: don't do it because of over saturation, under compensation, and just general No, No, No. It seems like people who got into the profession 20+ years ago are doing ok, more stability and less fighting for jobs. But for me, it might make sense. I can start this fall, have less years, less tuition, and maybe don't have to deal with complicated procedures..or I can wait and POSSIBLY start next fall. I am already almost 3 years out of undergrad, so I am anxious to get back into it.
So does that mean I won't be successful if I become a DH? It doesn't seem logical to go for something that no one recommends, or seems happy in..Like I wouldn't be able to move forward with it until it seems like its feasible or I can be successful.

3. I'm having a hard time deciding if I am okay with solely cleaning teeth, or would want to do more complicated procedures, like drilling, extracting, etc. It seems like I need more shadowing, but all the offices I called are filled with shadowers already. I don't know what I'm comfortable with, or have the urge to do. I do know I like cleaning teeth, oral cancer exams, educational side of dentistry, but as for drilling, fillings...

4. Also the factor of respect comes into play. Would I always be disrespected or not looked upon highly for just having a Bachelors? Is a doctoral degree really necessary to be accepted and highly regarded? (I think I know it is, just wanting to here your thoughts)..

Thanks so much for reading through this and giving your two cents! I know it will help me and anyone who has similar concerns. 🙂

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[ItsaGreatDay]

seriously? Dental hygiene is a great career, and as a RDH, you ARE a highly regarded dental professional in the real world who people look up to (just not by pre-dents). You don't just clean teeth. If you just clean teeth, you are doing yourself and your patients a huge disservice. Patients always ask the hygienist (or sometimes the dental assistant) if they really need the procedure the doctor talked about- they trust your opinion more! (you often develop more of a relationship with patients than the doc b/c you see them more often for longer periods of time, and they don't see you as benefiting financially from them having an expensive crown done, so they want to know if they really need it.) That being said, the market really is over-saturated, so it is easy to end up in an office that really is just a prophy-mill and get burnt out. I'm a dental hygienist taking my prereqs for Dschool, but not because I don't love being an RDH, or for lack of respect. My DDS actually encouraged me to pursue dental school, b/c he thinks I'm excellent at what i do and would be even better as a DDS.
So yes, take into consideration what the financial prospects are for small loans and limited job availability as an RDH and huge loans and still somewhat limited job availability as a DDS (depending on where you want to practice), but respect is not an issue. Your own pride, maybe. Would you be satisfied with yourself if you didn't try for DDS? Also, you won't really know if you "like cleaning teeth" or drilling, extracting, etc, until you actually start doing it in school, which is unfortunate. Try working as a dental assistant, as that will give you a much better feel for what ppl actually do in a day's work at the dental office. You'll have to take a dental assisting course, but it's extremely short and easy in the grand scheme of things, and can give you invaluable insight to base your future education and career on.

 

[#cariology]

To be honest, the two are very very different. Both are good professions, but in terms of preparation, lifestyle, compensation, they are nothing alike. Dental school curriculums are far more intense and demanding. The prerequisites for acceptance are more challenging and dental students are educated like physicians (A few schools mix the classes for the first two years). And this doesn't even include the hours and hours of lab work. The daily work of a dentist requires far more hand skills and visual acuity, and there is more pressure on dentists. The salaries speak for themselves. Dentists have far more autonomy and career flexibility, while hygienists are bound to finding work at established offices or clinics. Again, both professions are wonderful, it just comes down to what you want from your career and what you are willing to work for. Think long and hard and do your research.

 

[rdh2ddsdmd]

Hi. I'm a dental hygienist and have been practicing since 2010. I always had a desire to go into dental school but at some point i "settled" with dental hygiene. Don't get me wrong, I love being a hygienist. As a RDH I am a well respected health care professional. The salary is great compared to other professions out there. In a big city you can easily find work where your salary can be 60 to 80 k no problem as a new grad. And that's Texas where it's lower than many states. However... I am now pursuing dental school again because of my personal desire to do more for the patients. It's quite obvious I'll be in major debt with dental school and will probably live in a similar financial lifestyle as I do now but I don't care. I always wanted that dds. If I could go back several years, I would have gone straight into dental school.

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[setdoc7]

I know plenty of RDH's who have gone on to dental school and been wildly successful. RN's as well. They already understand patient contact. Some have moonlighted during DS and defrayed the enormous debt. It is definitely a second pathway, but not unheard of or impossible.