Dealing With Pessimism

[Bereno]

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To Bereno:

So what's your opinion on this matter 🙂. Just curious. Oh btw. If you're statement is true, how come I've met medical doctors that said go dentistry instead lol. I know what you're saying though. Just making your life difficult.

Haha, its all good. 🙂 My opinion?? My opinion is that I think I should have worded my previous post a little better haha. I should have said that a lot of undergrads think the career path they are choosing is the best. Note, I'm not saying all (even though I said all prior). However, once you are working in your career, you can see with much greater clarity the truth behind what you did or did not believe while in undergrad. I also know a few MD's (such as my sister) who recommend dentistry. 🙂

As an aside, I also think there are too many people getting caught up in the "average" starting salary business. My concern is that everyone tends to believe they are "above average" and will pull an above average staring salary... This is going to be an unfortunate reality to half of the starting dentists each year. I think people need to look at the whole gamut of salary ranges and realize that you could potentially be starting on the lower end of this range. Just like you could also potentially be starting on the higher end of this range. We can't really predict much at this point, so why try and argue it? Even then, we will be starting 4 years from now, so a lot can change in that time. Thats my other opinion haha.

 

[iralex801]

As an aside, I also think there are too many people getting caught up in the "average" starting salary business. My concern is that everyone tends to believe they are "above average" and will pull an above average staring salary... This is going to be an unfortunate reality to half of the starting dentists each year. I think people need to look at the whole gamut of salary ranges and realize that you could potentially be starting on the lower end of this range. Just like you could also potentially be starting on the higher end of this range. We can't really predict much at this point, so why try and argue it? Even then, we will be starting 4 years from now, so a lot can change in that time. Thats my other opinion haha.

Ha I agree that everyone thinks they are above average. I personally always look at the worse case scenario so I guess I am a pessimist =/. And you are right about a lot can change in 4 years. I'm hoping the economy is booming in 4 years.

 

[jojohygienist]

First lets take into consideration those who are making these negative comments about dentistry. Sorry, but pre-??? students don't know **** and bash other health professions because that's all they can do. They don't have a real perception of what it is like to actually be a doctor, nurse, dentist etc. They think their profession is superior, but they will soon learn and hopefully gain the overall picture. Unless they are so close minded and in that case, screw them. All they know is from what they hear from others who bash. Bashing dentistry from other prehealth professions is like a "cycle of violence" that needs to be broken. So don't listen to anyone who are making assumptions about dentistry or other health professions based on uneducated opinions.

Parents either educated or not probably just want the best for you. But again you have to live your own life and as previous poster said don't live your life in someone else's shoes. Parents who are not supportive may just not understand the importance of dentistry and the link between oral health and overall health. What isn't good for them may think isn't good for anyone else either. Hell, I'm 40 years old and my parents are still questioning my career choices. So it doesn't end lol. Just do what you got to do, but the blinders on to all the negativity and doubt and go for it. Sometimes it just take educating others for them to see the light.

It is a sad, sad day in the world when we start putting down other health professions. We are all working together towards the same purpose believe or not. Whether you are MD, RN, PT, DDS etc. we each are contributing a invalueable service to our patients. Dentistry is still behind in mutual respect but there has been a strong effort made to get others to understand its importance. There has been a push from HHS and HRSA and other state, local entities to educate\inform people on how oral health is linked to overal general health. Remember when prostate exams were just being promoted via media? Many men scoffed at the idea of having something done that was so intimate. But look now, men are actually speaking out about prostate cancer and the importance of getting examined.

Most schools do not intergrate medical, pharm, nursing, behavioral health, dentistry etc programs (such as PBL) while some do. And the more other health professions work together the more understanding and knowledge we gain. I feel that schools should incorporate this into their cirriculum. But i'm sure there are reasons (political and not) as to why they don't.

Educate yourself more (not with just pre dent requirements classes) about dentistry and its links. The more you know and become passionate about it then all the other negative comments you get will bear no meaning.

Have patience my young grasshopper our day will soon come!

In the meantime carry on and if dentistry is your goal, make it your passion.

 

[SupDanLOL]

To OP-- I know this really doesn't help your situation very much, but I honestly have never experienced whatever it is you are talking about. Perhaps it's where some of you live?

Aside from the occasional "dentists like causing pain" joke...I really haven't met anyone who thinks that going into dentistry would be a bad career choice.

Usually people just tell me they're jealous of the money I'm going to make. (Naturally I don't bother explaining the loans to them...)

 

[yappy]

From what I'm gathering it comes down to the length of training. Many people, especially those who never did post-HS education, do not understand how people can live without working and earning for 8 years. It is a very foreign idea and is shaded (incorrectly) as lazy by many that I've meet. This is because they think that anyone that is not working full time lazy & school seems pretty manageable when your only experience is HS English and maths. We all know that college is much more difficult and time consuming than that.

To OP-- I know this really doesn't help your situation very much, but I honestly have never experienced whatever it is you are talking about. Perhaps it's where some of you live?

Aside from the occasional "dentists like causing pain" joke...I really haven't met anyone who thinks that going into dentistry would be a bad career choice.

Usually people just tell me they're jealous of the money I'm going to make. (Naturally I don't bother explaining the loans to them...)