Dent vs. Med School?

[smiley123]

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I having a really difficult time in deciding whether I should go into Dent or Med. I could see myself happy with both professions. Anyone have any strong preferences in one or the other...pros and cons? Can you apply to both types of schools at the same time?

 

[Yah-E]

Podiatry or Chiropractics are much better I heard. Easier to get into and you'll be a "doctor", give it a try, go on...

 

[billiken10]

They're both wonderful and they both afford you the opportunity to choose between research or primary care. So just decide what you'd like to specialize in, go with your gut, and then don't worry about it.

PS - I'm partial to dentistry. 😀

 

[toofache32]

I'm involved in both and there are very few similarities in the actual day-to-day practice in my opinion. You need to shadow both and see what fits you best.

 

[ecdoesit]

May we know why you prefer dent and why you prefer med? making a list would be helpful.

applying to both sch is not advised. none of the sch want u to turn them down. so it worths some time to figure out what you want in life and weight it.

I having a really difficult time in deciding whether I should go into Dent or Med. I could see myself happy with both professions. Anyone have any strong preferences in one or the other...pros and cons? Can you apply to both types of schools at the same time?

 

[mg777]

Some schools allow dual enrollment, allowing both a DMD and MD degrees earned simultaneously for people such as yourself.

You should shadow a dentist and shadow an md. Ask them how many hours they work a week, note their degree of autonomy in patient care, and see which one suits your personality.

I having a really difficult time in deciding whether I should go into Dent or Med. I could see myself happy with both professions. Anyone have any strong preferences in one or the other...pros and cons? Can you apply to both types of schools at the same time?

 

[toofache32]

Some schools allow dual enrollment, allowing both a DMD and MD degrees earned simultaneously for people such as yourself.

Which schools? And what is the purpose of 2 minimally related degrees?

 

[aphistis]

Which schools?

Ditto that.

 

[aphistis]

Which schools?

Ditto that.

 

[mg777]

That was a joke fellas. 👍 sorry for the confusion.

Ditto that.

 

[drhobie7]

I having a really difficult time in deciding whether I should go into Dent or Med. I could see myself happy with both professions. Anyone have any strong preferences in one or the other...pros and cons? Can you apply to both types of schools at the same time?

The fact that you think you could be happy doing either dentistry or medicine indicates that you need to learn a lot more about each profession because they are completely different. Dental clinics and medical clinics are good places to start.

 

[dexadental]

From my opinion, if you want to be stressed out, go for medicine. Dentistry is much less stress, and more personally rewarding in my experiences.

 

[mjs853]

What can one do at a dental clinic to get most exposure to dentist's duties without having to get some sort of license first?

Also, is shadowing a good idea or actually applying for a position might look better when applying to schools?

 

[natroncb]

Dental can be stressful. But I agree medical is probably more stressful. Asking SDNers what you should do is like asking your parents if you should marry your boyfriend/girlfriend... it is not thier decision. You need to ask yourself some questions about lifestyle and career styles. Then make a decision and dont look back! 😎 IMO.

 

[aphistis]

From my opinion, if you want to be stressed out, go for medicine. Dentistry is much less stress, and more personally rewarding in my experiences.

...once you're out in practice. I'd hold off on the commentary about dental school being easier till you've spent a couple years there. 😉

 

[drhobie7]

...once you're out in practice. I'd hold off on the commentary about dental school being easier till you've spent a couple years there. 😉

So true. This may be off the topic but I thought life as a 3rd or 4th year would be cake since the bulk of classes was over. The 3rd and 4th years would tell me it's a different kind of stress. I didn't understand until now. Patient care is stressful, especially when you're new to it. Your mistakes no longer affect your grade, they affect your patients' lives (not life or death, just their daily life). I would wager the last two years of dental school are more stressful than medicine because as a dental student you are actually providing patient treatment rather than watching it. You have to schedule your own patients and ensure they pay their bills. In effect you have your own mini-practice. It's tough. Patient management is not easy. Hardest thing I've done in school so far. Maybe my patients are just lunatics. However, this is probably standard at dental schools across the US.