Dental Shadowing

[garybeats]

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Hi everyone. This summer I plan to get plenty of hours of dental job shadowing to put on my resume for when I apply to dental schools next year. My question is, what is the best way to contact a dentist and ask for shadowing work? The career center at my school has been worthless to me so I am just going to contact people myself. To anyone who has had this experience, what is the best approach? Call the office? Go straight and ask? And then what should I say? I also see some dentists in public (church, sporting events, etc.). It isn't that I don't have a clue what to say or that I am scared or anything. I guess I'm just curious how you all did it. I want to make the best image as possible. Thanks guys!

 

[kingenamel]

Whichever way makes you most comfortable. I shadowed for a few different dentists. I asked in person and called offices as well, usually dentists are pretty welcoming to students who want to shadow.

 

[customx]

It's fairly easy, or at least it has been in my experience. I looked up a local dentist on Yelp who had a great rating. I called, left a message regarding my interest in shadowing and then set up an appointment to meet the dentist in person. I shadowed there for 4 months.
I found the second and third dentists by asking people at work if they could recommend a dentist. I called 3 dentist, got rejected by one, but was able to shadow at the other two offices. Just explain that you will be applying to dental school and would like shadowing experience to learn more about the field. I think you'll find that most dentists will be willing to help.