Confused about shadowing

[blankguy]

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This is probably simple question but I talked to a counselor at the career office at my alma mater and she stated shadowing a dentist is just a matter of doing it for a day or two. I thought it was suppose to last longer than that. Also how should I go about picking which dentists to shadow. I don't have a dentist that I go to and knows me. What do you guys look for in deciding whom to shadow?

 

[critterbug]

It depends. Some dentists are comfortable with you following them around. Some just aren't. If you find one that takes a liking to you, then they will have no problem letting you come in whenever you want and shadow. It really depends.

Call around. I called probably 10 or so dentists. Only 2 of them were ok with me coming by. I had a great time at both, and actually found a really nice dentist who has become somewhat of a mentor to me.

One dentist I called wouldn't let me shadow, but we had lunch together, and we chatted about dentistry for about 2 hours. GREAT TIME.

Just start calling them up. Dont be shy. Introduce yourself. Give them a resume if you want to. Be yourself, and show your eagerness to learn. Dentists seem to be a friendly bunch 🙂

 

[Zurich5]

Second the resume tip.

This may sound a little goofy, but I found a dentist who had a great web page and a lot of up to date equipment (cerec, the wand, diagodent, etc?.) He was also pretty good at local marketing, so I called the office and asked if I could look around. They were more than happy to let me come in and watch. I've done this at a few practices now and will be checking out a much larger practice that is a bit more corporate (but has some descent ideas)... for a while over Christmas. I don't think you have to spend a lot of time in one office, unless you are interested in learning about that dentist?s technique in performing procedures, etc. Every dentist does a procedure a little differently, it?s just a matter of being fast and proficient in the end though. If you can find a dentist who does very well and has a good business plan, that is willing to let you shadow for an extended period, then I say emulate what he has going on. Me, I like to bounce around. They'll teach you most of the technical stuff in dental school.... not sure how much business training they'll provide though.

 

[Rezdawg]

Ive shadowed for about 250 hours thus far. I think I went a little overboard with it, but its still fun, so I will keep doing it.

 

[Zurich5]

Damn, that's some serious shadowing. Good for you man.

 

[Rezdawg]

The dentists I shadow are family friends, so they just let me hang out and visit any time I want. Ive been going off and on for about 8 months now, so Ive racked up some hours. A lot of those times, Im not even really shadowing, Im chatting up a storm with the patients that are waiting to get root canals. To be honest though, I really havent learned the names of instruments or things like that. If they ask anything of that sort in an interview, Im kinda screwed.

 

[Zurich5]

Oh well, you can always bullsh-t. I've never had anyone go too far into my shadowing during interviews.

 

[Rezdawg]

Yeah, hopefully they will just stick to the basics with me.

 

[Zurich5]

Definatley, where are your interviews again?

 

[Rezdawg]

Ive only got one so far at UT-Houston.

 

[Thaxil]

Ya, same story here. Dentists are for the most part very friendly and will to help you. Except for my own dentist. I figured that I needed shadowing experience; so, I opened the yellow pages and started with the A names. Out of 7 I called, about 4 or 5 were willing to allow me to visit. I meet former Dental school university professors, and other dentist with family member as dental school facility. I emailed a dental group and I have three dentist offering shadowing to me.

I suggest that you visit a number of dentists until you one that take a liking to you. While you are shadowing, talk to other office staff as well to understand what their role is as well.

 

[jjdaddy]

When a dentist let me shadow him, he asked many questions about my academic situations (GPA, DAt, ect) I thought he was kinda nosey, but I came to find out he is a member of adcomm. And, he was the one who interviewed me for the school!!! 🙂

So, don't be shy to ask.

Good luck

 

[zimaad]

Shadowing can be as short or as long as you and the dentist you shadow want it to be. You can do it for a few days or you can do it a few hours for many many days. I think it payed off for me to go to general practices as well as specialists to see a variety of different things. One thing to do is ask friends and family who their dentists are and if they know them at all. This can especially help with people who have lived in the same area a long time as they may have attended the same dentist for 20 years and know him/her well.

good luck!

 

[blankguy]

Some schools require proof that you shadowed at least a certain number of hours. How would you get that if you bounce around between dentists?

 

[Comet208]

Originally posted by jjdaddy
When a dentist let me shadow him, he asked many questions about my academic situations (GPA, DAt, ect) I thought he was kinda nosey, but I came to find out he is a member of adcomm. And, he was the one who interviewed me for the school!!! 🙂

So, don't be shy to ask.

Good luck

This is what i call getting more than lucky!

 

[blankguy]

Also what type of offices would be best to shadow? Private practices or chains like Gentle Dental in Boston. What would give me a good overview of the field? Also some malls have dental offices.