DDS --> DO school?

[GimmeScrubs]

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Hi everyone,

I am a first year dental student who is thinking of getting out of dentistry and going into medicine instead, and as DO schools seem to be receptive to nontraditional students, I am contemplating my chances. My grades and stats would be competitive, and assuming a decent MCAT (~30) do you think this is feasible? Any advice would be great...

More specifically, do you think it would work to get a LOR from someone at the dental school so I can get out? I have done well in all of the basic science classes...I just really feel like dentistry is no longer something I want to do, and medicine IS. 🙂

 

[Bleurberry]

Hi everyone,

I am a first year dental student who is thinking of getting out of dentistry and going into medicine instead, and as DO schools seem to be receptive to nontraditional students, I am contemplating my chances. My grades and stats would be competitive, and assuming a decent MCAT (~30) do you think this is feasible? Any advice would be great...

More specifically, do you think it would work to get a LOR from someone at the dental school so I can get out? I have done well in all of the basic science classes...I just really feel like dentistry is no longer something I want to do, and medicine IS. 🙂

Let me ask you something for the benefit of those who may try to offer their 0.02 in this thread - are you considering yourself non-traditional based on the fact that you're a first year at dental school, or do you have a bona-fide career or life experience apart from graduating college and dental school?

Regardless... hey, do what will make you happy. But like every thread that starts with this question, it ends with "do more research this time around to make sure you're making the right decision." Pretty expected, huh? 🙂

 

[MossPoh]

I think the biggest question I'd have involves your commitment. If I were to see someone change from dentistry to medicine, I'd wonder about their commitment to medicine as well. Is it possible? Sure. I also think that since you are in dental school already, you could aim for something like a 6 year OMFS spot and have an MD next to your name as well. I don't know if one can match into other specialities with that route, but you could also cater your practice away from the strictly dental if you so choose. That is unlikely since they make so much bank pulling wizzies and doing implants, but ya never know.

 

[Styria]

NSU-COM has (or had; I can't find any current reference to it) a combined DO/DMD program. They might be more interested in you expanding your horizons and less likely to question your commitment.

 

[MossPoh]

NSU-COM has (or had; I can't find any current reference to it) a combined DO/DMD program. They might be more interested in you expanding your horizons and less likely to question your commitment.

It exists but unless you are interested in primary care it isn't quite the same. I think they still may wonder why. If someone wants to leave dentistry then why would they occupy a spot with someone that is actively pursing the ability to be a complete healthcare provider? There aren't too many spots available for it, it is more expensive than the regular DO school (although less than the dental program) and takes 2 years longer. The curriculum is set up and organized in a special fashion too, so I don't know how they'd feel about screwing that up by taking a bunch of courses already.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Are you really unhappy with dental?? I think DO schools are going to have a problem if you drop out then apply to them, but if you complete dental school and then apply ... I think it would only be a plus. I'd personally stick with dental though ... good life, from what I understand.

 

[p30doc]

NSU-COM has (or had; I can't find any current reference to it) a combined DO/DMD program. They might be more interested in you expanding your horizons and less likely to question your commitment.

Ya Nova does have a joint DO/DMD program

 

[Dr Simplicity]

Im curious to hear why you don't like dentistry. You have only 3 years left and then you will be a dentist and can practice right away and/or specialize. If you choose medicine, you will have at least 7-10 years before you are done. Dentists have the better lifestyle and you can start earning 6 figure salaries MUCH earlier than in medicine. And plus, if you drop out, there's no guarantee you'll get in right away.

If i were you, I'd stick it out and get that DDS. All the dentists I know are very happy with their lives.

 

[GimmeScrubs]

Im curious to hear why you don't like dentistry. You have only 3 years left and then you will be a dentist and can practice right away and/or specialize. If you choose medicine, you will have at least 7-10 years before you are done. Dentists have the better lifestyle and you can start earning 6 figure salaries MUCH earlier than in medicine. And plus, if you drop out, there's no guarantee you'll get in right away.

If i were you, I'd stick it out and get that DDS. All the dentists I know are very happy with their lives.

Yeah I can see how many people would be happy as a dentist, just considering lifestyle, but its the actual work that dentists do that just doesn't inspire me. It doesn't seem as intellectually challenging somehow, and it leaves me a little empty. It's actually very technically demanding, and doesn't seem to emphasize a deeper understanding of physiology and health that I think is really important. Perhaps its just the school, but it has been a very difficult year.

 

[BabyKangaroo]

I'm curious... what did you say to sell yourself to the dental schools on why you want to be a dentist? Did you believe it and now you don't? Or is it nothing like you thought it would be? In medical school, the first two years are basic sciences as well, if that is how dental is. So have you started actually practicing dental work? Maybe if you stick it out, you may really like it. If you are looking for a bigger challenge, I don't know if medicine is a bigger/harder challenge, or just a longer one. I agree with everyone else's posts. Stick it out. Dropping out of anything doesn't look good. I played FB for four years in college and the guys that stayed in even if they didn't like it, were better for it. 100% of the guys that quit are struggling now. Coincidence? Maybe. Don't know. Being a dentist sounds like a good gig to me anyhow.

 

[JanikeyDoc]

Dentistry is good money and easier life than Medicine. However Medicine is a much bigger branch of healthcare, there are many different things you can do as a doctor, not so in Dentistry, 80 percent of a Dentist's job is performing routine exams on repeat patients, where is the intellectual challenge in that? I think the OP should gladly apply to DO schools. DO=MD these days.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Dentistry is good money and easier life than Medicine.

Ehh ... that might be making a blanket statement. It depends on what side of the pond you're on. I'm sure in the heat of DAT studying, a pre-dent student is stressed, busy, and working hard to obtain a stimulating career ... don't think they would see it as the easy way out or anything. I've met some people going pre-dent who are really just into it, very intelligent, and seem very content. Keep in mind that doing something like FP is a lot of routine exams followed by 'here's a script or refferal.' It's not like one is House and other other one just scrapes crap off teeth all day.

With that said ... I agree that medicine is very challenging and I could personally never go the dental route.

 

[armorshell]

As a first year dental student, you really still don't know anything about what the practice of dentistry is about. Not to mention, even if you are interested in a more cerebral occupation within dentistry there's still oral pathology, oral medicine, OMFS, dental anesthesiology, even orthodontics is fairly cerebral.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

As a first year dental student, you really still don't know anything about what the practice of dentistry is about. Not to mention, even if you are interested in a more cerebral occupation within dentistry there's still oral pathology, oral medicine, OMFS, dental anesthesiology, even orthodontics is fairly cerebral.

I wonder, OP, have you exhausted all the resources at your school, as far as career counseling goes? Do you know all of the possible paths that you can take once you graduate? Have you shadowed them all? For that matter, have you ever shadowed doctors before? Shoot!...did you shadow dentists before applying?!

You've embarked on a long road, even if you don't switch degrees, and I'm curious if you REALLY knew what you were getting into when you submitted AADSAS (no offense). With this in mind, I'd implore you to get as much first/secondhand experience in your future potential dental fields, ASAP. If you absolutely cannot find anything potentially satisfying, then get as much experience in medicine you possibly can before making another leap.

Best of luck to you!

 

[GimmeScrubs]

As a first year dental student, you really still don't know anything about what the practice of dentistry is about. Not to mention, even if you are interested in a more cerebral occupation within dentistry there's still oral pathology, oral medicine, OMFS, dental anesthesiology, even orthodontics is fairly cerebral.

I would say I've had more of a taste of Dentistry than most other D1's on these forums 😉

Yeah I've really been thinking all the options...just wondered about how realistic it would be to start over if I felt I absolutely should.

 

[GimmeScrubs]

I wonder, OP, have you exhausted all the resources at your school, as far as career counseling goes? Do you know all of the possible paths that you can take once you graduate? Have you shadowed them all? For that matter, have you ever shadowed doctors before? Shoot!...did you shadow dentists before applying?!

You've embarked on a long road, even if you don't switch degrees, and I'm curious if you REALLY knew what you were getting into when you submitted AADSAS (no offense). With this in mind, I'd implore you to get as much first/secondhand experience in your future potential dental fields, ASAP. If you absolutely cannot find anything potentially satisfying, then get as much experience in medicine you possibly can before making another leap.

Best of luck to you!

I haven't tried career counseling at my school, but at this point its not far off. Like most other predents, I shadowed dentists but it wasn't that informative for me. I shadowed doctors before too...but it's just a totally different experience between shadowing and then seeing what its REALLY about.

I dont think I really knew what I was getting into when I submitted AADSAS, but thats sort of behind me now. Thanks everyone for all the advice!!!

 

[Bleurberry]

I haven't tried career counseling at my school, but at this point its not far off. Like most other predents, I shadowed dentists but it wasn't that informative for me. I shadowed doctors before too...but it's just a totally different experience between shadowing and then seeing what its REALLY about.

I dont think I really knew what I was getting into when I submitted AADSAS, but thats sort of behind me now. Thanks everyone for all the advice!!!

Work with a physicians practice when you get out! Hows that for an idea? I always talk with my dentist about it; how we'd like to see the two professions work more closely together in primary care, cause your teeth are affected by a lot of other things going on all around the body... and stuff.

 

[pietachok]

I think it would be possible, but I think you'd have to be very convincing that you weren't going to change your mind again. That's the question you're going to get.

I think the obvious answer is not that "dentistry isn't what you thought it would be" b/c you shadowed dentists previously--they'll just say, "why is medicine necessarily what you think it is, either?"

Better answers for people in your situation tend to be along the lines of admitting that you were suppressing an urge you knew was there in order to do something quicker/cheaper/faster...and now you just realize that you need/want to be happier, b/c that's what's important. Obviously dental school and the path is quicker/cheaper/faster, so it can be alluring if you can convince yourself that it's just medicine of the mouth and suppress your desire to work with different parts of the body. However, your purview is very restricted.

My father is a dentist, and I honestly don't understand why people think it's this glamorous, easy-money career. He is a specialist, and not the *best* business man, but a lot of dentists give really crappy care in order to make a lot of money--they give fillings to people who don't need them, contract out for shoddy dentures from labs, or give orthodontia that only is based on aesthetics and not mechanics 😕. Pretty much the only dentists I know who are loaded are actually oral surgeons. To make good money as a dentist, you need to be a savvy businessperson and too often, willing to bend your ethics (sadly).

 

[slick27]

Is there anyway that you can have a one year leave from dental school. If you can I would recommend taking a year off and exploring your options. Call medical schools to see how they would veiw your situation (however I don't know if you'll get the truth). In all reality you should of thought about this before you went to dental school. As the old phrase goes, "the grass is always greener on the otherside." Make a pros and cons lists of both careers.

I can see why you would want to get out of dentistry. All the money to go to school, plus more money (I guess rescidencies have dentist pay tuition, werid), and more money to start a practice.

 

[guamie]

Yeah I can see how many people would be happy as a dentist, just considering lifestyle, but its the actual work that dentists do that just doesn't inspire me. It doesn't seem as intellectually challenging somehow, and it leaves me a little empty. It's actually very technically demanding, and doesn't seem to emphasize a deeper understanding of physiology and health that I think is really important. Perhaps its just the school, but it has been a very difficult year.

I REALLY dont think you should settle for dentistry. Not that a dental career is bad at all. BUT you have to remember that this is something you're going to spend the rest of your life doing. You dont want to wake up each morning, going to your dental practice, and hating your job, do you? And if you don't hate it, do you think you'll love it? Go to medical school. If you love medicine, but want to do dental work because teeth do it for you, go into oral surg then. But seriously, listen to me, if you don't LOVE dental, don't do it. That being said, if you don't LOVE medicine, don't do it. My classmate was a UCLA dental student when he left and came to DO school. No regrets for him. I also know a 50 yr old PA in my class. I admire her, but I'm sure she sometimes wishes she wasn't a 50 yr old getting something a 22 yr old is getting. Do you see where I'm getting at? Better to switch now, then to want more later in life. Or worse, stuck in a job youre not happy with. This is your life. Sure, you spent 1 yr studying dentistry. But you have the rest of your darn life with your degree. I don't know about you, but 1 yr seems nothing at all when you really think about it. Dont settle and don't let someone else tell you that you already spent one year in dentistry. They might as well be saying "you spent one year in dentistry. what's another 40?" I'll tell you what's another 40, it's your damn life.

Seriously. Come on.