Dental student considering the switch to medical school

[toothy97]

Hi all! Just wanted some opinions here.

I currently go to a dental school who shares the exact same curriculum as the medical school during the first year. In undergrad, although I was very interested in medical school, I decided against it due to multiple disgruntled doctors who told me to steer away from the field (enormous amounts of paperwork, insurance problems, lack of ability to truly be your own boss, etc).

I shadowed multiple dentists and enjoyed it! I thought it was a perfect lifestyle of working with my hands, having a good lifestyle, and still being a healthcare provider. That being said, after taking first year (and even clinical) rotations with the medical students, and now transitioning to the dental school, I can't help but be bored by the dental curriculum. I loved first year with the med-students and really enjoyed physiology, anatomy, etc, but find the dental-related classes to be so limiting. I find myself wanting to focus on things more than just the oral cavity, and in truth, seem to be slower than my classmates in picking up the necessary hand skills/artistry needed for dentistry.

I have been debating of dropping out and reapplying to med-school (Undergrad GPA 3.8, don't think I'll have too many issues with the MCAT). I also have considered oral surgery, a more medically oriented specialty after graduation, which I'm (somewhat) at more advantage for due to a pass/fail curriculum and having a strong biomedical sciences curriculum. I guess being knee deep in loans, but also not seeming to enjoy the dental curriculum, has been on my mind. Any opinions would be appreciated!

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[Ivy.ch]

Some quick thoughts for you.

- Dentistry gets better after school, medicine gets worse.

- (almost) Nobody likes dental school. It sometimes seems like a giant hazing ritual. Not enjoying dental school =/= not enjoying dentistry.

- Many medical schools won’t accept you no matter your stats. You have a poor history of commitment.

- Medicine becomes monotonous over time too. Especially if you want surgery.

- Medicine still has all the negatives you mentioned. Are those negatives really better than dentistry’s negatives?

- Your quickest route to medicine is actually forward, not backwards. You sound like a D2 or D3, meaning you are 1-2 years from being accepted into an accelerated MD track if you are accepted to OMS.

- Dropping out would be catostrophic to your loans. You committed to school when you started paying the checks and signed your name on the dotted line. Too late to evaluate that decision.

 

[DustFreeEraser]

I would continue with dental school while applying to medical school until you get in.

Applicants are considered as numbers more than people and it’s not very difficult to come up with interview answers when they ask why the switch (personally know many that switched from one professional school to another, including myself). Hence I would disagree and state your history of poor commitment is negligent.

Above poster isn’t wrong that your fastest track to an MD is the oral surgery path but I would argue it’s easier to get into medicine than oral surgery, again since it’s just a numbers game.

Loans are an issue yes, but it shouldn’t get in the way of choosing your career that you may stick to for the next few decades.

In general, dentists need to sell their services while physicians do not (or at least to a lesser degree). Of course there are exceptions (i.e. dental specialists) but I speak in general terms because statistically, majority of dental students end up as general dentists.

In regards to paper work and insurance problems, both professions will deal with those but that should be expected. Being able to be your own boss should be feasible regardless of profession as long you have the capital.

The only thing to worry about is how realistic it is for you to prepare for medical school while maintaining good grades in dental school, especially in the latter years of dental school. If you are up for the challenge, go for it!

 

[toothy97]

Thank you! May I ask what your professional career switch was?

 

[toothy97]

Some quick thoughts for you.

- Dentistry gets better after school, medicine gets worse.

- (almost) Nobody likes dental school. It sometimes seems like a giant hazing ritual. Not enjoying dental school =/= not enjoying dentistry.

- Many medical schools won’t accept you no matter your stats. You have a poor history of commitment.

- Medicine becomes monotonous over time too. Especially if you want surgery.

- Medicine still has all the negatives you mentioned. Are those negatives really better than dentistry’s negatives?

- Your quickest route to medicine is actually forward, not backwards. You sound like a D2 or D3, meaning you are 1-2 years from being accepted into an accelerated MD track if you are accepted to OMS.

- Dropping out would be catostrophic to your loans. You committed to school when you started paying the checks and signed your name on the dotted line. Too late to evaluate that decision.

Understandable! I'm struggling with this too. I guess my biggest thing is that even if I did do OMS, I would still be limited to the head and neck oral cavity. I've really found an interest with women's reproductive health and endocrinology in my medical school year, and was even able to round on patients and do full body exams in hospitals every week. In general, just found it to be a lot more engaging and fulfilling than I currently do in the dental clinic. Are you currently a practicing dentist/do you mind if I PM you?

 

[yappy]

Understandable! I'm struggling with this too. I guess my biggest thing is that even if I did do OMS, I would still be limited to the head and neck oral cavity. I've really found an interest with women's reproductive health and endocrinology in my medical school year, and was even able to round on patients and do full body exams in hospitals every week. In general, just found it to be a lot more engaging and fulfilling than I currently do in the dental clinic. Are you currently a practicing dentist/do you mind if I PM you?

If you really don't like dentistry or OMS then I guess your only options are to suck it up and learn to enjoy it or get into medical school. One thing to consider is that most fields in medicine are just as limiting as dentistry, it just so happens you picked your limitations early by going to dental school. If you want to work in women's health then I don't think you'll be satisfied in dentistry.

Whatever you choose make sure that you actually like the field beyond the educational phase. I think in many ways medical school has got to be more enjoyable than dental school because there is less stress and responsibility. However, after medical school they get down to brass tax in their residency programs. Also, like you said, medical school is broader than dental school so the topics are more varied. That too changes after people start their residency training.

EDIT: OP have you looked into perio? It has tons of biology considerations and surgical techniques.

 

[schmoob]

Hi all! Just wanted some opinions here.

I currently go to a dental school who shares the exact same curriculum as the medical school during the first year. In undergrad, although I was very interested in medical school, I decided against it due to multiple disgruntled doctors who told me to steer away from the field (enormous amounts of paperwork, insurance problems, lack of ability to truly be your own boss, etc).

I shadowed multiple dentists and enjoyed it! I thought it was a perfect lifestyle of working with my hands, having a good lifestyle, and still being a healthcare provider. That being said, after taking first year (and even clinical) rotations with the medical students, and now transitioning to the dental school, I can't help but be bored by the dental curriculum. I loved first year with the med-students and really enjoyed physiology, anatomy, etc, but find the dental-related classes to be so limiting. I find myself wanting to focus on things more than just the oral cavity, and in truth, seem to be slower than my classmates in picking up the necessary hand skills/artistry needed for dentistry.

I have been debating of dropping out and reapplying to med-school (Undergrad GPA 3.8, don't think I'll have too many issues with the MCAT). I also have considered oral surgery, a more medically oriented specialty after graduation, which I'm (somewhat) at more advantage for due to a pass/fail curriculum and having a strong biomedical sciences curriculum. I guess being knee deep in loans, but also not seeming to enjoy the dental curriculum, has been on my mind. Any opinions would be appreciated!

Dental school is not dentistry. I absolutely hated dental school, all the politics and all the stupid rules. In clinic we had faculty that would say we are doing it wrong if we don’t do it their way.
Once you’re out in practice it’s a different ball game, it’s more enjoyable. You can take the knowledge you’ve learned and apply it to patients the way you think is best, as long as it’s ethical and clinically acceptable. You’ll need to push yourself outside your comfort zone while knowing your limitations. And most importantly, you don’t have to do dentures if you don’t want to

 

[Noemata]

You're on a dental forum so people will be biased here. I say do what your heart and passion desire. If you find dentistry to be limiting, that's a legitimate reason to switch to medicine. Depending on what your specialty is, your practice can be as broad- or narrow-focused as you like it to be. Given the technological advances in medicine and new challenges, example, COVID, the potential for research and patient care is unlimited. If you're truly interested in your specialty, your experience after medical school will be rewarding.

Consult your advisors and have a solid plan and maybe even an acceptance before you actually withdraw from dental school.

 

[luisfigo]

Well you've already gotten the truth from multiple physicians, its a hard road that many regret. Dentistry is an easier road with a similar problem, albeit more likely from the cost of education. There are many ways to scratch that medical itch as in OMS, OMF radiology, oral pathologist, or dental anesthesiology. Though largely the focus is head and neck you should have a broad understanding and exposure to systemic disease, especially as a pathologist. My friend in the military has a similar interest in more the medical and when possible will likely do a path residency. The truth is rather brutal for starry eyed medical students who went in to save the world, the path often has a way of wearing out those ideals after 7-10 years of training. Probably why its so common for physicians to dissuade people from medicine these days. however if you really feel called to womens health then go talk to someone and ask them what they think.

 

[PerioDont]

I met a dentist who was in the army for a few years, then went through the army for med school and then became an anesthesiologist (MD) and gave up dentistry.

for me the main consideration would be debt levels. if you truly feel like MD is your passion then go for it. I kinda felt like that in my D1/2 year as well. I took the CBSE and really shadowed OMS/perio. Ended up applying perio - there is a large component of medicine in it.

just really reflect on if its dentistry you don't like or dental school. there is a whole lot of hoops etc in medicine more than dentistry. as schmoob mentioned dental school is awful and nothing like real dental practice. I would shadow a private practice GP again, and then also an OMFS/Perio, maybe even orofacial pain/TMD/oral path guys and see if you could see yourself practicing that. you will lose out on a few years by re-applying to med etc so thats why I would at least investigate those options.

I personally don't love the idea of being on call frequently, and most likely having to work for a large organization i.e. the hospital in medicine. best of luck!

 

[MLC45]

During first year, one of my classmates dropped out and applied to medical school. He too considered oral surgery when he started DS, but learned he loves the biology/physiology/anatomy classes and that's where his heart truly was. If medical is what you want to do then go for it.

 

[doktorinprogres]

Did that friend make it?

During first year, one of my classmates dropped out and applied to medical school. He too considered oral surgery when he started DS, but learned he loves the biology/physiology/anatomy classes and that's where his heart truly was. If medical is what you want to do then go for it.

 

[2thDoc11]

Did that friend make it?

Unfortunately no, he had to be dismissed from the program and spent weeks circling job advertisements in the local newspaper.. he is now a janitor at the high school and sleeps with students while spending his nights at the pub on main

 

[TanMan]

I don't understand the desire of wanting to go into medicine. Dentistry is like medicine, but with a lot of the bad parts left out. We were once part of medicine, so in a way, we're specializing in one part of the body like many other MD/DO's. Except we get to keep a lot of the good stuff - money, hours, lifestyle, autonomy, and less school. What you may have learned in the first year with respect to the practice of the medicine may not necessarily be connected when you take into consideration the clinical/hospital workflow + hierarchy and the types of patient interactions you'll have (depending on the specialty you may decide to pursue in medicine). Whereas in dentistry, it's a lot more predictable. Most people fear you, many people come to you to fix something that's usually pretty obvious (and if it isn't, you refer them out). Easy peesy for dentistry, not so much in medicine.

Think about the patient dynamics you'll have to deal with from a dental and medical context. These basic science courses + clinical courses may give you the foundation to treat your patients, but patient interactions and dynamics are totally different in each field.

 

[HelicaseInitiator]

Look into oral pathology, radiology, and oral medicine. Yes you are limited to the oral cavity but it will allow you to take a step back from clinically practicing "dentistry". It would only be 2-3 more years of residency vs 4 years of medical school, plus the 3-4 years of residency and fellowship for a MD. I would be careful switching because it may just be "the grass is greener" and once you are locked in those loans are going to be $$$.

 

[dentalchamp98]

I don't understand the desire of wanting to go into medicine. Dentistry is like medicine, but with a lot of the bad parts left out. We were once part of medicine, so in a way, we're specializing in one part of the body like many other MD/DO's. Except we get to keep a lot of the good stuff - money, hours, lifestyle, autonomy, and less school. What you may have learned in the first year with respect to the practice of the medicine may not necessarily be connected when you take into consideration the clinical/hospital workflow + hierarchy and the types of patient interactions you'll have (depending on the specialty you may decide to pursue in medicine). Whereas in dentistry, it's a lot more predictable. Most people fear you, many people come to you to fix something that's usually pretty obvious (and if it isn't, you refer them out). Easy peesy for dentistry, not so much in medicine.

Think about the patient dynamics you'll have to deal with from a dental and medical context. These basic science courses + clinical courses may give you the foundation to treat your patients, but patient interactions and dynamics are totally different in each field.

Honestly what you said TanMan is right. I'm a D1 now and before dental school started I was conflicted between med school and dental school. I had a "grass is greener" outlook and the prestige of MD was pulling me towards the medical route. I still have a few doubts of whether or not I chose the right path cause not sure if my gift is in my hands or more cerebrum/conceptual thinking of med school. It also seems like specialists in medicine make more money than dentists without having to open up their own practice per se. On the other hand, I know lifestyle is better in dentistry

 

[2thDoc11]

When people talk about the decision between going to medical or dental school, why is it so generalized? When considering one or the other, isn’t there a particular goal that you want to reach? A lot of my friends have a certain area of medicine that they are drawn to. Now, I don’t see someone who is really drawn to OBGYN deciding to go to dental school because they think it’ll be a better fit.. if you are considering both schools, you need to really think about your end goal otherwise it seems as if you are purely after the title of being a “doctor” and the lifestyle associated. do you want to work in the oral cavity? Brain? Skin? Orthopedics? As others have stated, dentistry is basically jumping straight into the specialty rather then waiting four years before that option arises.

how many students go to medical school having absolutely no idea what part of the body they are interested in?

 

[dentalchamp98]

When people talk about the decision between going to medical or dental school, why is it so generalized? When considering one or the other, isn’t there a particular goal that you want to reach? A lot of my friends have a certain area of medicine that they are drawn to. Now, I don’t see someone who is really drawn to OBGYN deciding to go to dental school because they think it’ll be a better fit.. if you are considering both schools, you need to really think about your end goal otherwise it seems as if you are purely after the title of being a “doctor” and the lifestyle associated. do you want to work in the oral cavity? Brain? Skin? Orthopedics? As others have stated, dentistry is basically jumping straight into the specialty rather then waiting four years before that option arises.

how many students go to medical school having absolutely no idea what part of the body they are interested in?

I see your point but you also have to consider the fact that not all people who are in med school get into the specialty that they desire or end up working as a PCP. Some also do not want to be in school for so long despite the fact that they may have a certain preference for specialty. I am one of those people. I want to make a difference in people's lives and I was conflicted between Ophthalmology and dentistry. In the end, I saw theres a better lifestyle with dentistry and I dont know whether or not I saw myself being able to handle more years of school and standing out to become an ophthalmologist.

 

[2thDoc11]

I see your point but you also have to consider the fact that not all people who are in med school get into the specialty that they desire or end up working as a PCP. Some also do not want to be in school for so long despite the fact that they may have a certain preference for specialty. I am one of those people. I want to make a difference in people's lives and I was conflicted between Ophthalmology and dentistry. In the end, I saw theres a better lifestyle with dentistry and I dont know whether or not I saw myself being able to handle more years of school and standing out to become an ophthalmologist.

Yea I was interested in Derm(specifically mohe surgery) and like you stated, what are the odds I am competitive enough for a Derm residency considering like opthamalogy, dermatology is among the top most competitive. So I took a step back and thought about what I really wanted to do and I knew I wanted to work with patients and use my hands.. who does more of this than a dentist, right? But again you have to obviously enjoy the field and know that you’ll feel satisfied and fulfilled or else you burn out have not enjoy your career..

 

[MLC45]

Did that friend make it?

I didn’t hear what happened to him after dental school. But I do know he got a 526 out of 528 on the MCAT so I assume he got accepted somewhere.

 

[toothy97]

I don't understand the desire of wanting to go into medicine. Dentistry is like medicine, but with a lot of the bad parts left out. We were once part of medicine, so in a way, we're specializing in one part of the body like many other MD/DO's. Except we get to keep a lot of the good stuff - money, hours, lifestyle, autonomy, and less school. What you may have learned in the first year with respect to the practice of the medicine may not necessarily be connected when you take into consideration the clinical/hospital workflow + hierarchy and the types of patient interactions you'll have (depending on the specialty you may decide to pursue in medicine). Whereas in dentistry, it's a lot more predictable. Most people fear you, many people come to you to fix something that's usually pretty obvious (and if it isn't, you refer them out). Easy peesy for dentistry, not so much in medicine.

Think about the patient dynamics you'll have to deal with from a dental and medical context. These basic science courses + clinical courses may give you the foundation to treat your patients, but patient interactions and dynamics are totally different in each field.

I suppose I'm just drawn to the variety of medicine, and the critical thinking aspects of it. I'm also drawn to the variety you can have in academia, and the ability to work with your mind more so than just your hands. I understand that dentistry also offers these things, but it's also a lot more mechanical and (personally) to me, I don't find the oral cavity that fascinating. But maybe I have a case of grass is greener on the other side

 

[toothy97]

When people talk about the decision between going to medical or dental school, why is it so generalized? When considering one or the other, isn’t there a particular goal that you want to reach? A lot of my friends have a certain area of medicine that they are drawn to. Now, I don’t see someone who is really drawn to OBGYN deciding to go to dental school because they think it’ll be a better fit.. if you are considering both schools, you need to really think about your end goal otherwise it seems as if you are purely after the title of being a “doctor” and the lifestyle associated. do you want to work in the oral cavity? Brain? Skin? Orthopedics? As others have stated, dentistry is basically jumping straight into the specialty rather then waiting four years before that option arises.

how many students go to medical school having absolutely no idea what part of the body they are interested in?

I agree. I just feel really limited in what I can do with my career. Being in the medical school (fortunately or unfortunately), has really made me open up my eyes to a lot of different interests I would potentially like to work with.

 

[toothy97]

If you really don't like dentistry or OMS then I guess your only options are to suck it up and learn to enjoy it or get into medical school. One thing to consider is that most fields in medicine are just as limiting as dentistry, it just so happens you picked your limitations early by going to dental school. If you want to work in women's health then I don't think you'll be satisfied in dentistry.

Whatever you choose make sure that you actually like the field beyond the educational phase. I think in many ways medical school has got to be more enjoyable than dental school because there is less stress and responsibility. However, after medical school they get down to brass tax in their residency programs. Also, like you said, medical school is broader than dental school so the topics are more varied. That too changes after people start their residency training.

EDIT: OP have you looked into perio? It has tons of biology considerations and surgical techniques.

I have looked into perio! Although I am very drawn to OMFS... really enjoy the variety and medical aspect of it. I need to shadow more but with COVID, it's been hard finding practitioners willing to take a student.

 

[schmoob]

Stick with dental school. The treatment planning can become very complicated in certain cases, and that is something you can handle surgically and restoratively with your own hands.

 

[piratewow]

If you really want critical thinking then you should also consider prosth. Though they don't necessarily get paid the most, the cases they do and the treatment plans they think up can be extremely creative. And being dentists, they can still use their hands quite a bit. Honestly I went into dental school wanting to do prosth before I decided I was more suited to OMFS.

 

[Dr.K124]

The amount of misinformation in this thread regarding medicine is frankly ridiculous. Do not let a few disgruntled physicians steer you away from a possible passion. The vast majority of physicians do not regret entering medicine.

Some quick thoughts for you.

- Dentistry gets better after school, medicine gets worse.

- Medicine becomes monotonous over time too. Especially if you want surgery.

- Medicine still has all the negatives you mentioned. Are those negatives really better than dentistry’s negatives?

- Medicine does not get worse. Residency is challenging, but for the most part extremely rewarding. After residency the pay skyrockets and the hours get much better.

- True, but I've performed the same procedure thousands of times and I still love it. It's not as monotonous as you'd think.

- The negatives are incredibly overblown. Paperwork depends enormously on the specialty you're in. I barely do any paperwork. That's what scribes are for. Insurance problems are annoying but really aren't that frequent. Many fields in medicine are still heavily oriented toward private practice, so being your own boss is still very possible and arguably not challenging at all depending on the specialty.

Except we get to keep a lot of the good stuff - money, hours, lifestyle, autonomy, and less school..... Whereas in dentistry, it's a lot more predictable. Most people fear you, many people come to you to fix something that's usually pretty obvious (and if it isn't, you refer them out). Easy peesy for dentistry, not so much in medicine.

Money, hours, lifestyle, and autonomy?
- The average physician makes $234,000-$764,000/year depending on their specialty. Dental school debt is also significantly higher than medical school debt.

- There are a significant number of medical fields where your hours are more than reasonable. And in many cases, this does not correlate with lower pay. These fields include Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Pathology, PM&R, Family Medicine, Allergy & Immunology, Otorhinolaryngology, and several others. I also know Urologists, Trauma Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, and Orthopaedic Surgeons who work less than 50 hrs/week.

- Again, autonomy is up to you and depends on your specialty and practice setting. No physician is forced into a hospital.


@toothy97 I will not pretend to know whether dentistry or medicine will make you happier, as I do not know enough about dentistry. But I can assure you the majority of what was just said about medicine in this thread is over-exaggerated, one-sided, or false. Feel free to ask some of the physicians (including myself) on this forum about their daily life and experiences with the medical field. Only you can determine which is a better fit.

 

[DustFreeEraser]

.

To be fair, we’re in a dental forum so I expected biased answers; unfortunately many dental students are misinformed about medicine. I would think medicine is objectively a better field than dental but that’s just a personal opinion.

I just wish dental students would compare clinicians vs clinicians and business owners vs business owners. In both field, you can be your own boss. In both field, you can choose to work under a boss. I would wager than on average, medical specialists earn more than dental specialists, and fam med makes more than dental GP.

 

[TanMan]

The amount of misinformation in this thread regarding medicine is frankly ridiculous. Do not let a few disgruntled physicians steer you away from a possible passion. The vast majority of physicians do not regret entering medicine.

- Medicine does not get worse. Residency is challenging, but for the most part extremely rewarding. After residency the pay skyrockets and the hours get much better.

- True, but I've performed the same procedure thousands of times and I still love it. It's not as monotonous as you'd think.

- The negatives are incredibly overblown. Paperwork depends enormously on the specialty you're in. I barely do any paperwork. That's what scribes are for. Insurance problems are annoying but really aren't that frequent. Many fields in medicine are still heavily oriented toward private practice, so being your own boss is still very possible and arguably not challenging at all depending on the specialty.

Money, hours, lifestyle, and autonomy?
- The average physician makes $234,000-$764,000/year depending on their specialty. Dental school debt is also significantly higher than medical school debt.

- There are a significant number of medical fields where your hours are more than reasonable. And in many cases, this does not correlate with lower pay. These fields include Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Pathology, PM&R, Family Medicine, Allergy & Immunology, Otorhinolaryngology, and several others. I also know Urologists, Trauma Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, and Orthopaedic Surgeons who work less than 50 hrs/week.

- Again, autonomy is up to you and depends on your specialty and practice setting. No physician is forced into a hospital.


@toothy97 I will not pretend to know whether dentistry or medicine will make you happier, as I do not know enough about dentistry. But I can assure you the majority of what was just said about medicine in this thread is over-exaggerated, one-sided, or false. Feel free to ask some of the physicians (including myself) on this forum about their daily life and experiences with the medical field. Only you can determine which is a better fit.

All I know about those medical specialties is that it consistently requires a lot more hardwork and time to be able to get into and finish those lifestyle residencies. They might make more on average than your average GP, but it's a different ballpark as a GP practice owner and the 3+year headstart that general dentists have. Also, 50 hours/week is a lot of your life to spend working.

Dentistry is great in that you can make a lot of money with less hours than your comparable physician, go through less school, not work as hard to get in medical school or residency, have a headstart in starting your life, never being oncall, never taking your job home, not having to deal with other providers, and being responsible for a small piece of the body. Perhaps it sounds lazy or the easy way out, but I do see it as the easier way out and the income derived from the profession can be used to invest in other ventures that will make a lot more money than your profession. Essentially, dentistry is a launching pad and a means to something greater.

Now, that being said, if your goal is to maximize your money as much as possible and your primary means of earning money is through your profession, then medicine is probably a better bet. Personally, I don't think it's worth working much harder for 100MM v. 10MM, because the lifestyle difference is not worth as much as my time/prime youth. I'm content with 1MM/year, but hey, when more comes my way, I'll take it!

 

[Dr.K124]

All I know about those medical specialties is that it consistently requires a lot more hardwork and time to be able to get into and finish those lifestyle residencies. They might make more on average than your average GP, but it's a different ballpark as a GP practice owner and the 3+year headstart that general dentists have. Also, 50 hours/week is a lot of your life to spend working.

Dentistry is great in that you can make a lot of money with less hours than your comparable physician, go through less school, not work as hard to get in medical school or residency, have a headstart in starting your life, never being oncall, never taking your job home, not having to deal with other providers, and being responsible for a small piece of the body. Perhaps it sounds lazy or the easy way out, but I do see it as the easier way out and the income derived from the profession can be used to invest in other ventures that will make a lot more money than your profession. Essentially, dentistry is a launching pad and a means to something greater.

Now, that being said, if your goal is to maximize your money as much as possible and your primary means of earning money is through your profession, then medicine is probably a better bet. Personally, I don't think it's worth working much harder for 100MM v. 10MM, because the lifestyle difference is not worth as much as my time/prime youth. I'm content with 1MM/year, but hey, when more comes my way, I'll take it!

- You are correct, medicine will require more work in medical school and residency than dentistry.

- The average dentist makes about $175,000/year, not $1M/year.

- The 3+ year headstart is immediately mitigated by the higher debt of dental school. Don’t forget the practice loan in dentistry if you want to earn higher than that $175,000.

- Call is not required in medicine. I only have practice call. Sure, every once in a while I have to answer the phone at 7pm or 8pm and talk for a few minutes, but overall it's less than an hour of work a week and I've almost never (once a year) had to actually go in. It varies by specialty and practice setting.

- Dealing with other physicians being specialized in a part of the body is a plus, not a minus.

- If your logic is using it as a launching pad for some other income source, know that 95%+ of businesses fail. If you meant income more in the range of real estate, your launching pad likely starts later than medicine due to all the debt.

- Personally I couldn't imagine working less than I do now (40-45). I'd be bored as hell. I'm never really watching the clock when I'm at my practice. I know that Psychiatry, Dermatology, and Ophthalmology specifically average around 41 hours a week compared to dentistry at 38. This is a minuscule difference. Psychiatry is also not competitive and go cash-only if you're in the right geographical area.


You don't choose medicine because it's easy. I You choose it because you love it. You may not have that love, but OP has indicated it to a certain extent. I stepped into this thread not to bash on dentistry or say medicine is better, but to correct the amount of misinformation regarding medicine so that OP can make an informed decision that's not so one-sided.

 

[schmoob]

medicine will require more work in medical school

Not a chance. You spend the first two years studying for an exam, for which you are given ample time. I understand it is a very difficult exam and your entire medical career is based on the results, but it is well known that dental school is more difficult due to the didactic, lab, and live patient/procedure requirements. Dental students are not given any time off for boards, exams, etc.

No argument though regarding medicine requiring more work in residency.

 

[DustFreeEraser]

but it's a different ballpark as a GP practice owner

Comparing an employee (i.e. a family doctor) to a GP practice owner (i.e. a business owner) wouldn't be a fair comparison. We should compare family doctor vs general dentist and practice owner vs practice owner.

 

[Dr.K124]

Not a chance. You spend the first two years studying for an exam, for which you are given ample time. I understand it is a very difficult exam and your entire medical career is based on the results, but it is well known that dental school is more difficult due to the didactic, lab, and live patient/procedure requirements. Dental students are not given any time off for boards, exams, etc.

No argument though regarding medicine requiring more work in residency.

You are correct, my bad.

Comparing an employee (i.e. a family doctor) to a GP practice owner (i.e. a business owner) wouldn't be a fair comparison. We should compare family doctor vs general dentist and practice owner vs practice owner.

Exactly.

 

[toothy97]

All I know about those medical specialties is that it consistently requires a lot more hardwork and time to be able to get into and finish those lifestyle residencies. They might make more on average than your average GP, but it's a different ballpark as a GP practice owner and the 3+year headstart that general dentists have. Also, 50 hours/week is a lot of your life to spend working.

Dentistry is great in that you can make a lot of money with less hours than your comparable physician, go through less school, not work as hard to get in medical school or residency, have a headstart in starting your life, never being oncall, never taking your job home, not having to deal with other providers, and being responsible for a small piece of the body. Perhaps it sounds lazy or the easy way out, but I do see it as the easier way out and the income derived from the profession can be used to invest in other ventures that will make a lot more money than your profession. Essentially, dentistry is a launching pad and a means to something greater.

Now, that being said, if your goal is to maximize your money as much as possible and your primary means of earning money is through your profession, then medicine is probably a better bet. Personally, I don't think it's worth working much harder for 100MM v. 10MM, because the lifestyle difference is not worth as much as my time/prime youth. I'm content with 1MM/year, but hey, when more comes my way, I'll take it!

It really isn't about the money for me (which may be naive), but what I enjoy. I truly think I'd enjoy medicine more disregarding lifestyle/money.

 

[Dr.K124]

It really isn't about the money for me (which may be naive), but what I enjoy. I truly think I'd enjoy medicine more disregarding lifestyle/money.

Feel free to PM me if you’d like a very extensive list of what I think are the pros and cons of medicine, and my daily schedule!

 

[yappy]

It really isn't about the money for me (which may be naive), but what I enjoy. I truly think I'd enjoy medicine more disregarding lifestyle/money.

I think you're approaching this in the correct way. I have never understood why people get so caught up on these logistics and lifestyle issues when what is really important (to me and maybe you too) is doing something you find interesting and exciting. If that is medicine then find a way to make it happen. For me it turned out to be dentistry, although I bet I could have been happy with either.
All this is really subjective and both fields are great. One man's dentistry is another man's medicine. Even within medicine and dentistry there are specialties that some people love and some people hate. This early on in your career I think you should pick something that really engages you.

Edit: OP after reading your posts I am beginning to think that you're attracted to medicine because it's pleural potential. While that's true of medical school that will not be true of you if you become a medical doctor. You will be a specific type and not have options to work in other fields without, once again, retooling your career. Therefore, before you jump ship make sure there is a destination in mind. Otherwise you may be revisiting this same issue as a PGY 1 when you want to change specialties or career.

 

[TanMan]

- You are correct, medicine will require more work in medical school and residency than dentistry.

- The average dentist makes about $175,000/year, not $1M/year.

- The 3+ year headstart is immediately mitigated by the higher debt of dental school. Don’t forget the practice loan in dentistry if you want to earn higher than that $175,000.

- Call is not required in medicine. I only have practice call. Sure, every once in a while I have to answer the phone at 7pm or 8pm and talk for a few minutes, but overall it's less than an hour of work a week and I've almost never (once a year) had to actually go in. It varies by specialty and practice setting.

- Dealing with other physicians being specialized in a part of the body is a plus, not a minus.

- If your logic is using it as a launching pad for some other income source, know that 95%+ of businesses fail. If you meant income more in the range of real estate, your launching pad likely starts later than medicine due to all the debt.

- Personally I couldn't imagine working less than I do now (40-45). I'd be bored as hell. I'm never really watching the clock when I'm at my practice. I know that Psychiatry, Dermatology, and Ophthalmology specifically average around 41 hours a week compared to dentistry at 38. This is a minuscule difference. Psychiatry is also not competitive and go cash-only if you're in the right geographical area.


You don't choose medicine because it's easy. I You choose it because you love it. You may not have that love, but OP has indicated it to a certain extent. I stepped into this thread not to bash on dentistry or say medicine is better, but to correct the amount of misinformation regarding medicine so that OP can make an informed decision that's not so one-sided.

- It's a commonly perpetuated myth that you need to take a practice loan to open an office. I've always advocated a start cheap, produce quick type of approach. I found that the headstart in dentistry allowed me to gain significant amounts of capital to pay off the loans and invest before my MD/OMFS counterparts finished. From a student and associate perspective, these loans seem unsurmountable, but as a practice owner, the loans become relatively insignificant.

- Although businesses can fail, it only takes one good business idea to boom. The influx of capital from a dental practice allows this type of diversification and growth of wealth.

- I personally don't like or care to deal with other people (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc...) nor do I have a reason to do so unless an odontogenic cause has been ruled out + patient's CC hasn't been resolved, then I give a general referral to their PCP. It's unproductive non-billable hours and it's out of the scope of my practice to triage non-dental/medical problems.

- I work 30 hours a week. I used to work 34, but even at 30, it's tiring. I don't mind staying in an extra hour or two per week, as long as it's productive. Dentistry is great in that it's flexible. I don't have to wake up early and start when I want to.

It really isn't about the money for me (which may be naive), but what I enjoy. I truly think I'd enjoy medicine more disregarding lifestyle/money.

If that is the case and all you're looking for is fulfillment in life, I think that requires some introspection to determine what really makes you happy. That is what makes it so hard to decide a career path in that you may not know how it really feels until you're knee deep in the specific field you thought was the greatest one for you. Unfortunately, time is never on our side and the decision you make is the one that you may have to keep for the rest of your life depending on the logistics and life circumstances.

If it crosses your mind to go with the path of least resistance for the most amount of financial gain, I'd still recommend keeping dentistry in mind. I don't particularly trust these salary averages, as I don't personally know anyone who's only making 175k/year. That seems ridiculously low IMO. You do hear people making 120k/year, but in many instances, it's their own fault. Neither dentistry or medicine is worth 175k/year, let alone 120k/year. Money won't make you happy, but the lack of money will definitely make you miserable.

Good luck in your endeavours, hopefully this doesn't turn out to another dentistry v. medicine pissing match.

 

[Dr.K124]

- It's a commonly perpetuated myth that you need to take a practice loan to open an office. I've always advocated a start cheap, produce quick type of approach. I found that the headstart in dentistry allowed me to gain significant amounts of capital to pay off the loans and invest before my MD/OMFS counterparts finished. From a student and associate perspective, these loans seem unsurmountable, but as a practice owner, the loans become relatively insignificant.

- Although businesses can fail, it only takes one good business idea to boom. The influx of capital from a dental practice allows this type of diversification and growth of wealth.

- I personally don't like or care to deal with other people (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc...) nor do I have a reason to do so unless an odontogenic cause has been ruled out + patient's CC hasn't been resolved, then I give a general referral to their PCP. It's unproductive non-billable hours and it's out of the scope of my practice to triage non-dental/medical problems.

- I work 30 hours a week. I used to work 34, but even at 30, it's tiring. I don't mind staying in an extra hour or two per week, as long as it's productive. Dentistry is great in that it's flexible. I don't have to wake up early and start when I want to.





If that is the case and all you're looking for is fulfillment in life, I think that requires some introspection to determine what really makes you happy. That is what makes it so hard to decide a career path in that you may not know how it really feels until you're knee deep in the specific field you thought was the greatest one for you. Unfortunately, time is never on our side and the decision you make is the one that you may have to keep for the rest of your life depending on the logistics and life circumstances.

If it crosses your mind to go with the path of least resistance for the most amount of financial gain, I'd still recommend keeping dentistry in mind. I don't particularly trust these salary averages, as I don't personally know anyone who's only making 175k/year. That seems ridiculously low IMO. You do hear people making 120k/year, but in many instances, it's their own fault. Neither dentistry or medicine is worth 175k/year, let alone 120k/year. Money won't make you happy, but the lack of money will definitely make you miserable.

Good luck in your endeavours, hopefully this doesn't turn out to another dentistry v. medicine pissing match.

You and I clearly value different things. For instance, I look forward to Mondays as much as I look forward to Saturdays. My work doesn't tire me out. When I achieve financial independence, I'll keep working, probably very similarly to how much I work now.

Continuing this back and forth will help no one. OP’s decision should be based on what they value now.

 

[deleted988773]

Hi all! Just wanted some opinions here.

I currently go to a dental school who shares the exact same curriculum as the medical school during the first year. In undergrad, although I was very interested in medical school, I decided against it due to multiple disgruntled doctors who told me to steer away from the field (enormous amounts of paperwork, insurance problems, lack of ability to truly be your own boss, etc).

I shadowed multiple dentists and enjoyed it! I thought it was a perfect lifestyle of working with my hands, having a good lifestyle, and still being a healthcare provider. That being said, after taking first year (and even clinical) rotations with the medical students, and now transitioning to the dental school, I can't help but be bored by the dental curriculum. I loved first year with the med-students and really enjoyed physiology, anatomy, etc, but find the dental-related classes to be so limiting. I find myself wanting to focus on things more than just the oral cavity, and in truth, seem to be slower than my classmates in picking up the necessary hand skills/artistry needed for dentistry.

I have been debating of dropping out and reapplying to med-school (Undergrad GPA 3.8, don't think I'll have too many issues with the MCAT). I also have considered oral surgery, a more medically oriented specialty after graduation, which I'm (somewhat) at more advantage for due to a pass/fail curriculum and having a strong biomedical sciences curriculum. I guess being knee deep in loans, but also not seeming to enjoy the dental curriculum, has been on my mind. Any opinions would be appreciated!

hey! I'm currently in the same exact boat lol. Thanks for making this post, it helped me a lot. Mind if PM you?

 

[2TH MVR]

You and I clearly value different things. For instance, I look forward to Mondays as much as I look forward to Saturdays. My work doesn't tire me out. When I achieve financial independence, I'll keep working, probably very similarly to how much I work now.

Continuing this back and forth will help no one. OP’s decision should be based on what they value now.

I'll respond to this post even though it wasn't directed at myself.
1st off .... this forum benefits from having multiple opinions other than a biased group (dentists). Especially with this topic.

I do agree with @Dr.K124 in that the OP should do what is best for he/she. Again .... not a fan of the concept of lost opportunity costs. The idea of making every day count regardless if you like it or not for the benefit of an uncertain future does not make sense. Nobody can predict the future. Nobody. All you can do is live in the moment and plan for the future .... responsibly.

If I hated dentistry ...and felt that my true calling was medicine .... I would do everything possible to direct my efforts towards my true calling. Of course there will be financial consequences. As long as the OP understands this.

Not sure how old Dr.K124 is ...... but as you get older ..... TIME with those you love (sorry ... this sounds mushy) becomes much more important than work. I love what I do (orthodontics) and consider my specialty to have the best lifestyle. But my time AWAY from work is super valuable. There is a subset of dentists who probably want to make enough money to retire early. Not a bad thing. If you can do it .

 

[Dr.K124]

I'll respond to this post even though it wasn't directed at myself.
1st off .... this forum benefits from having multiple opinions other than a biased group (dentists). Especially with this topic.

I do agree with @Dr.K124 in that the OP should do what is best for he/she. Again .... not a fan of the concept of lost opportunity costs. The idea of making every day count regardless if you like it or not for the benefit of an uncertain future does not make sense. Nobody can predict the future. Nobody. All you can do is live in the moment and plan for the future .... responsibly.

If I hated dentistry ...and felt that my true calling was medicine .... I would do everything possible to direct my efforts towards my true calling. Of course there will be financial consequences. As long as the OP understands this.

Not sure how old Dr.K124 is ...... but as you get older ..... TIME with those you love (sorry ... this sounds mushy) becomes much more important than work. I love what I do (orthodontics) and consider my specialty to have the best lifestyle. But my time AWAY from work is super valuable. There is a subset of dentists who probably want to make enough money to retire early. Not a bad thing. If you can do it .

I do think you bring up important points. Living in the moment is just as important as planning for the future.

I am in my mid-late 30s. Relatively new attending physician in Ophthalmology. Time with the people I love is indeed very important, but I also still have a strong passion for medicine and my specialty. 40-45 hours a week at work still leaves me 70+ hours a week to spend with the people I love.

Not every specialty has the same flexibility as Ophthalmology, but in 5 years I could go to my partners and say "Hey I only want to work 30 hours a week now, is that alright?" and it'd be easy to do. My wife also works, though, so she'd have to work less for it to matters anyways. Obviously in a field like Neurosurgery it's more difficult.

Anyway I'm getting off track. My point is, many people are not fulfilled by time with loved ones on its own. For me, too much time off from work makes me feel gross and useless. It's just how I am. I love my patients, I love my partners, and fixing people's vision is truly like nothing else. It's also how my wife is. She loves her job. And it may be how OP is.

Medicine can certainly be the better decision financially, but dental can certainly be the better choice for those who have a lot of hobbies. You could have a passion for either one. If anyone tries to say one is definitively better than the other they're just bullsh*tting. It totally depends on your personality and what you value as a person.

 

[toothy97]

hey! I'm currently in the same exact boat lol. Thanks for making this post, it helped me a lot. Mind if PM you?

Of course!!