Dent school vs. Med School?? Can't Decide!

[kajNCgirl]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am not a dental student, but I was wondering if I could get a dental student's perspective on my dilemma. I have been going back and forth about whether to apply to med school or dental school for what seems like forever. I was wondering if any dent students wrestled with a similar dilemma when applying to professional school: what made you finally decide on dental school? are you happy with your decision? what are some positive/negative aspects of the profession that you did not/could not identify before you began dental school? Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Thanks,
Seriously Confused

 

[Kung Foo]

kajNCgirl,

You could not pay me enough to go to med school. Not right now, in this crazy HMO world.

That said, as a "premed" in undergrad (it was a small school), I did briefly consider med school. I think everyone does... especially since the pre-dents get little love, and are taking the same classes as the actual pre-meds.
What sealed the deal:

(1) I didn't want to deal with people dying

(2) Doctors have to specialize in order to really know what they're doing. Medicine is SUCH a wide field - it's impossible to know everything. If you go into your family doctor and say "my big toe is numb," they likely won't know what the deal is... even after going to school for 6+ years after undergrad. Dentists, on the other hand, go to school for 4 years (more if you do a residancy) and are experts in the oral cavity when they get out of school

(3) This is the big one - i shadowed a LOT of dentist, specialists, etc and could really see myself loving doing that kind of thing the rest of my life.

also, if lifestyle is an issue for you, established dentists can work 4 days a week and easily support a family

If you're just debating between the two because of grades or other admission factors, you WILL be miserable in and after dental school if medicine was your real goal. Go to podiatry school. Or, raise your grades, and apply to a DO program. (I know you didn't mention anything about admissions, but it's always a thought when someone is "debating" between the 2 - since they're apples and oranges- almost like they're trying to talk themselves into dental school being ok.

Dentist are great people, and I think it takes a certain personality to go into dentistry. I think the majority of my class is great... probably b/c of the root personality factor.

To address the other part of your question, dental school is rough, more so than i expected. That said, I really like the majority of what I'm learning and can't wait to apply it in the clinic.. on real patients. 😀

as for negative aspects.. check out the threads on the "business" of dentistry. Unlike doctors, dentists don't spend the majority of their careers as employees - most own or co-own a practice and thus have to deal with running and staffing it. In post-grad surveys, new dentists consistantly say this is the most challenging apect for them, not the actual dentistry part. To each his own...

Anyway, good luck with your decision!

 

[Supernumerary]

I know how you're feeling. I think it's really quite common for those interested in dentistry to have doubts about it. I know I did. A lot of this just stems from the undergrad culture that says that medicine is the ultimate career goal - any other options are just escape routes for those who couldn't hack it. And if you have really good grades, it's even harder because advisors and professors look at you funny when you say you want to go to dental school and have a 3.9 GPA. Medicine just seems to be a foregone conclusion for many science undergrads. Try to distance yourself from this bias when you make your decision; what your peers and professors think will cease to be an issue once you graduate.

One of the things that helped me to decide was to stand back and look at what I would do if I couldn't go into a healthcare or science field. Would you prefer a hands-on profession compared to a job which is more "analyze and report" oriented? Would you want social contact as an integral part of your job? Think of as many of these types of questions as you can and use them to identify the things that give you personal satisfaction.

I found that I would probably have ended up designing and building custom furniture with my dad; hands-on work where I am actually doing something I can see is satisfying to me - both dentistry and surgery would have provided that, but most surgeons have such little direct interaction with patients that I would probably have been miserable. Of course there were other factors for me; this is just an example.

On another note, I do think that someone who is confused about med vs dent (where grades are not an issue) is probably leaning more towards dentistry in the first place. Medicine seems to be the default career choice for a science undergrad, and a person who looks to other healthcare fields probably feels (at least at some level) that there is something more personally fulfilling for them than medicine.

Anyway, my thoughts on the matter, hope it helps.

 

[mcataz]

I think you pose a valid question. I think it's odd how some view dentistry and medicine as completely different fields. Dentistry is a form of medicine that focuses on the oral cavity. Just like orthopedic surgery is dfferent than a dermatology, assuming that medicine is one comprehensive field is ignorant. In fact, I have often wondered why they didn't make dentistry a specialization in medical school. The basic sciences in med school and dental school are practically identical.

To answer your question, the number one thing you should consider is what you would enjoy doing. I know it's a cliche piece of advice but it it true. Money and lifestyle are great but they aren't everything. Eventually, it will get to the point that those things don't matter and you will wish you did something you enjoyed.

But if you were to completely ignore the "loving what you do factor" here it goes. This is based on my conversations wtih both dentists and doctors alike who have praised and criticized their own profession. I don't agree with all of this but this is what I was told.

Dentistry offers a better lifestyle and income despite its mundane work and saleslike mentality at times. You will earn more as a dentist than as a doctor, which includes GP dentists. In addition, you will be paying less insurance as a dentist and deal with less HMO hassle. Furthermore, you will generally be on call less than a doctor. And your average work week will be significantly less than that of a doctor. You will get to be your own boss.

Medicine offers a better reputation and more fulfillment despite it's harsher lifestyle and decreased income. They enjoy a better repuation than dentists from society in general. And they are shown more respect and reverance from their patients than dentists receive in general. Due to their diagnostic nature of their work, doctors are in position to relate to their patients better since dialogue is involved more in medicine than dentistry.


The above are stereotypes. And there are exceptions to the rule. Orthodontistry and Oral surgery involves a lot of diagnosis. Oral surgery involves extensive consultation with patients. General dentistry can be very creative depending upon the type of procedures you perform. And who said, medicine is always interesting. Family practice medicine can be mundane too. Patients can view seeing a FP as being a chore to acquire antibiotics that they wish they could have just purchased over the counter. And many physicians earn more than some dentists. So, my analysis above is not scientific. But there is some truth to the above.


It's not an easy decision. There are strengths and weaknesses of both. Do what you enjoy doing. I know some dentists that wish they had become doctors. And I know plenty of doctors that would send their own children to dental school before medical school in a heartbeat.

 

[mightymolar]

Someone once told me this:

"Clever people goto medical schools to become doctors; however, smart people goto dental schools to become denitsts!"

Food for thought!

Cheers,

 

[mcataz]

I found that I would probably have ended up designing and building custom furniture with my dad; hands-on work where I am actually doing something I can see is satisfying to me - both dentistry and surgery would have provided that, but most surgeons have such little direct interaction with patients that I would probably have been miserable. Of course there were other factors for me; this is just an example.

I think you are under the wrong impression if you think dentistry provides more contact with patients than medicine. If that's what motivates you then you should go into medicine. Just because they are sitting in that chair, it doesn't mean you are having any substantial dialogue with them. You are in for a huge suprise if you think that.

I have worked for a dentist for the past two years and patients view a visit to the dentist much like they do getting an oil change. I never got the impression that patients disprespected and devalued my boss. In fact, my boss is very personable and well liked. And his patients are gratefull for his services. He gets many referral. It's just that patients want to get in and out as soon as they can. They don't feel the need to have dialogue with their dentist. I think this is due to cultural norms more than anything. I'm not suggesting that dentists don't need to engage in dialogue witht their patients. They do; it's just been the norm that dentists and patients don't have the same relationship that physicians and their patients do.

Of course, this varies depending upon your field. And some fields of medicine offer little to no patient contact like radiology an anesthesiology. But in general, I think medicine offers more true interaction than dentistry. I'm not saying one field is better than the other. They are just different and both offer more and less of certain features. I just disagree that dentistry offers more personal interaction than many fields in medicine.

 

[FishingDentist]

If I had my choice of any dental school or med school, I would go dental w/o a doubt b/c:

1. HMO's are taking over the medical field. Dentistry is no where near as bad. You have much more autonomy as a dentist.
2. It's much easier to set up a private practice as a dentist and be your own boss
3. School is shorter.
4. People don't die on you (or at least, they shouldn't be).
5. Money...whatever, either way, you're gonna be comfortable. Although, I've heard from some people saying dentist make more than MD's now. How much you make depends on dozens of things, so don't base your decision on this.

But none of this matters if you don't like it. Do what you will enjoy. These things I listed are reasons I did it. If you don't like dentistry, don't do it. Whatever you choose, you have to be able to picture yourself doing it for 30+ years.

Ben

 

[Supernumerary]

I think you are under the wrong impression if you think dentistry provides more contact with patients than medicine. If that's what motivates you then you should go into medicine. Just because they are sitting in that chair, it doesn't mean you are having any substantial dialogue with them. You are in for a huge suprise if you think that.

Oh, of course. Anyone who has done any shadowing knows that you're not sitting around shooting the breeze for 15 minutes. You'd go broke. But dentistry does provide a certain element of interaction that most surgical fields are lacking. Maybe I'm not describing it well, but I've seen it with every dentist I've shadowed, and I like it. As for the jobs in medicine with a lot of patient interaction, uggghhh!!! I don't know if I could handle just diagnose, advise, prescribe all day long for the rest of my life - I gotta DO something. Thanks for looking out for me though. 😀

 

[mcataz]

Oh, of course. Anyone who has done any shadowing knows that you're not sitting around shooting the breeze for 15 minutes. You'd go broke. But dentistry does provide a certain element of interaction that most surgical fields are lacking. Maybe I'm not describing it well, but I've seen it with every dentist I've shadowed, and I like it. As for the jobs in medicine with a lot of patient interaction, uggghhh!!! I don't know if I could handle just diagnose, advise, prescribe all day long for the rest of my life - I gotta DO something. Thanks for looking out for me though.

Everyone is different and some aspects appeal to some people more than others. I have a lot of friends who don't really care to interact with patients that much. They aren't bad people. They are the quiet types who would rather be working with their hands than shooting the breeze with patients. I'm a little torn because I enjoy shooting the breeze with patients. But I also enjoy working with my hands. So I want both. 🙂

 

[Supernumerary]

I think there's probably enough room for variation in practice style to accomodate different personalities. I think we'll all be O.K. 😉

 

[MidwestDental]

Originally posted by mcataz
I think you are under the wrong impression if you think dentistry provides more contact with patients than medicine. If that's what motivates you then you should go into medicine. Just because they are sitting in that chair, it doesn't mean you are having any substantial dialogue with them. You are in for a huge suprise if you think that.

I have worked for a dentist for the past two years and patients view a visit to the dentist much like they do getting an oil change. I never got the impression that patients disprespected and devalued my boss. In fact, my boss is very personable and well liked. And his patients are gratefull for his services. He gets many referral. It's just that patients want to get in and out as soon as they can. They don't feel the need to have dialogue with their dentist. I think this is due to cultural norms more than anything. I'm not suggesting that dentists don't need to engage in dialogue witht their patients. They do; it's just been the norm that dentists and patients don't have the same relationship that physicians and their patients do.

Of course, this varies depending upon your field. And some fields of medicine offer little to no patient contact like radiology an anesthesiology. But in general, I think medicine offers more true interaction than dentistry. I'm not saying one field is better than the other. They are just different and both offer more and less of certain features. I just disagree that dentistry offers more personal interaction than many fields in medicine.

I think that you are mistaken here. Dentists see A LOT of people. The number of people that will pass through a busy dental office in a week is astounding.

True, you will not see people at their most vulnerable moments like in Emergency Medicine or a cancer patient. Patient contact is indeed shorter, but A) usually quite regular, (but not too often!) and B) everyone goes to the dentist, whereas normally only sick people see doctors, except FP/GP's.

I mean really who goes to see a colonoscopy doctor under the age of 50? Many other physicians are very specialized. You only see them if you have problems. So you see smaller parts of society.

There are many specialties, ie, surgery that only see patients for a short period before and after surgery. Not too different. And how do you think FP's are really that different in their interaction from dentists? They see patients for 15 minutes, give them a physical, etc. It is not that much more personal.

One other thing. As a standard, intenal med doc, you are expected to know everything and everything and every single latest advance. Your patients will constantly ask inane questions like if I eat McDonald's but with diet coke and no mayo, will it be ok for my cholesterol?

 

[gas-x]

yo,

i'm an MS4 whose is waiting for the match results tomorrow. Just browsing though all these threads since i have nothing else to do. i thought i would throw in some words.

there are days where i wish i went into dental school instead. the main reason is the length of time to complete school and start working. for me, it can take a minimum of 7 years to who knows how long. i'm matching into anesthesiology so it will take a minimum of 8 years to a max of 9 years before i land my anesth job. for dents, it's much shorter...4 years +/- a few years of residency (optional). imagine the amount of money that can be earned by dentists during the time i'm in residency. crazy. i doubt that many docs are able to catch up to those dentists who handle their money carefully during the time docs are in residency.

i'm very procedurally oriented so anesth is perfect for me. dent would have been fine too. i only found dent a bit too restrictive. i've met some students who complain about working in the oral cavity only, but i still think it's a lot better than sticking a finger up someone's ass to look for blood! i'll take bad breath any day.

i have quite a few friends in dental school, and every once in awhile i tell them that they are in a great situation. very little DMO penetration, unlike HMO. but there is one thing i have noticed in the dental field. there is a lot of room for unethical work. i have friends who tell me lots of stories. scamming medicare/aid through kids. building up cases to look worse than it is. not completing each root canal in endo cases just to have patients come back later (double charge), etc... of course, medicine has these problems as well. all this just to make more money. but if dents don't be careful, your compensation will drop just like ours because people are paying extravagant prices for their dental care. that's what i'm afraid of.

anyways, just a shout out to dents. you guys have great opportunity. by the way, i thought i would say one more thing. even if you dents have some training to do some conscious sedation, please don't do it by yourself. don't rely on a dent assistant to watch the patient. considering i'm heading out to anesthesiology, i've seen so many "healthy" patients induced for IV sedation only to see them crap out. of course the anesth doc was there, so it's no big deal. but, if dents don't have the equipment to adequately support the patient while they are under, dents might run into some huge problems. there is no way in hell that a dentist can concentrate on the oral cavity AND watch the sedated patient. please get a dental anesthesiologist at least. just food for thought.

 

[organic]

QUOTE]Originally posted by gas-x
yo,

but there is one thing i have noticed in the dental field. there is a lot of room for unethical work. i have friends who tell me lots of stories. scamming medicare/aid through kids. building up cases to look worse than it is. not completing each root canal in endo cases just to have patients come back later (double charge), etc... of course, medicine has these problems as well. all this just to make more money. but if dents don't be careful, your compensation will drop just like ours because people are paying extravagant prices for their dental care. that's what i'm afraid of.
[/QUOTE]

Hi
I also felt the same way when I first started my internship in Dentistry. but now I'd consider this from a different point of view. Most problems in Dentistry are not life-threatening, and there are many solutions to one problem. THere are those 100 % perfect solutions, which might be time- consuming, costly and may not even suite the patient's current condition, there are solutions that are 80% perfect, 50% perfect, or acceptable. In other words, Dentistry is not as black and white as medical field. In Dentistry, patients' other factors ( socio-economical especially, medical ..etc) are included into the choice of treatment.

I wouldn't say there are more unethical works that can be done in Dentistry. There is just more tolerance and more factors involved in a treatment process. It is actually one of the reasons why Dentistry is such a vivid and interesting field.

But of course, there are bad dentists out there ...hopefully, they won't be in business for long...