Could I do dentistry

[Coolscreenname]

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I know I have the "book smarts" for dental school, but is there any way to know if I have what it takes to do the surgical aspect of dentistry? Are there any dentist hopefuls that find out they aren't very good with their hands? That is the only part that bothers me about choosing this field.

 

[7 Iron]

I know I have the "book smarts" for dental school, but is there any way to know if I have what it takes to do the surgical aspect of dentistry? Are there any dentist hopefuls that find out they aren't very good with their hands? That is the only part that bothers me about choosing this field.

Unless you have some sort of debilitating hand tremors or something, I think you'll be ok. Some people are naturally talented with their hand skills, and some people will have to work harder and spend more time in the lab just to get the same results. But everyone can attain a competent level of hand skills with enough practice.

 

[Coolscreenname]

Unless you have some sort of debilitating hand tremors or something, I think you'll be ok. Some people are naturally talented with their hand skills, and some people will have to work harder and spend more time in the lab just to get the same results. But everyone can attain a competent level of hand skills with enough practice.

Is that right? I don't have hand tremors. I definitely have the 3-d visualization skills. Maybe I should really consider this.

 

[DrJeff]

I know I have the "book smarts" for dental school, but is there any way to know if I have what it takes to do the surgical aspect of dentistry? Are there any dentist hopefuls that find out they aren't very good with their hands? That is the only part that bothers me about choosing this field.

Practice, practice, practice. That and as long as you can hold a pencil and write legibly what your brain is telling your hand to write, you can learn the fine motor hand skills needed to practice restorative dentistry. For some people it will take a good deal of time to learn those hand skills for others it will come quickly. And if you find that you can't develop the fine motor hand skills, then there's still hope for you since dentistry DOES have a specialty that is PERFECT for those that don't have the hand skills for restorative dentistry, its called orthodontics 😉 (disclaimer, I'm married to an orthodontist who sometimes reads my posts here and when she reads a post like this will then often smack me in the shoulder/arm 😀🤣 )

 

[Coolscreenname]

Practice, practice, practice. That and as long as you can hold a pencil and write legibly what your brain is telling your hand to write, you can learn the fine motor hand skills needed to practice restorative dentistry. For some people it will take a good deal of time to learn those hand skills for others it will come quickly. And if you find that you can't develop the fine motor hand skills, then there's still hope for you since dentistry DOES have a specialty that is PERFECT for those that don't have the hand skills for restorative dentistry, its called orthodontics 😉 (disclaimer, I'm married to an orthodontist who sometimes reads my posts here and when she reads a post like this will then often smack me in the shoulder/arm 😀🤣 )

Thanks Dr Jeff. Why do you say that about orthodontics?

 

[DrJeff]

Thanks Dr Jeff. Why do you say that about orthodontics?

I say that about orthodontics (with a good deal of sarcasm thrown in for sure!), since the vast majority of "hands in the mouth" work that an orthodontist does is the bonding of brackets and bands to teeth and the removing of and then replacing of new wires (in some offices the wire work is done mainly by the assistants). There is very little day to day work that an orthodontist does with the "drill" (handpiece as its know) especially when compared to how much a restorative dentist uses the drill. Additionally, much of the drill work that an orthodontist will do involves the removal of cement after brackets or bands are removed(once again this is something that many orthodontist will have their assistants do).

Based on that, that's why I say that orthodontics is the perfect specialty for those dentist who aren't as skilled at using the drill as others 😉😀 (and once my wife reads this, I'll more than likely for about the 50th be sporting a nice bruise on one of my arms )

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

To the OP, out of curiosity, what has made you change your mind all of a sudden?

 

[Daurang]

There is very little day to day work that an orthodontist does with the "drill" (handpiece as its know) especially when compared to how much a restorative dentist uses the drill. Additionally, much of the drill work that an orthodontist will do involves the removal of cement after brackets or bands are removed(once again this is something that many orthodontist will have their assistants do).

Dr Jeff. Is it normal for ortho to finish the case then leave a bunch of cement for the gp to clean up? Is it normal for ortho to use the ultracoarse bur to remove the cement but the roughness still there for me to polish? How do I politely tell them that's not my preference and I don't get pay for it?

 

[BlueToothHunter]

Daurang, I would tell the patient to inform the orthodontist at his/her next retainer check that there are some cement that needs to be removed!