Dental students! What makes top schools special?

[Don Kim]

Hi guys!

I just want to get a discussion going about some of the top dental schools (UCLA, UCSF, Michigan, Harvard, Columbia, Penn, etc), and I would love to hear some of the experiences from actual dental students from each school, or anyone who is knowledgeable in this area. Basically, what would be reasons to go, and what would be reasons not to go? What makes these schools good / stand out? Are they worth the price?

Also, in the context of what should be said in an interview, what would be a good answer if one of these schools asked "what makes you want to come to our school?"

I'm really curious to find out whether these top schools are really made up what they say

Thanks!!!!

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[Life of Pablo]

Reason to go: specialization.

Reason not to go: cost (especially if you don't want to specialize).

Also, if you got a 26 AA on the DAT, I think you'll have no trouble specializing no matter where you go to school.

 

[ncide]

Research opportunities tend to be more accessible.

 

[deleted696582]

I'm at Michigan right now, so I can speak on that school a little bit. Their research program is one of the best in terms of funding if you're interested in that. Heavy research funding is a common theme at the schools you listed. One thing that the "big name" schools have an advantage in is that they draw in very capable and respected faculty, which can make learning a lot more smooth.

Not sure if the other schools you listed have similar program features, but at Michigan we have what's called a pathway project. We start our pathway during D1 and work on it until graduation when we present it. The project is open ended and you work with a faculty adviser throughout. So say you think you want to be a periodontist, you could do some sort of periodontics related project throughout your time, and touch on it when applying to residencies. Or say you're an military scholarship student - one of them here is working on a project that deals with veterans and dental care.

I wouldn't really worry much about specializing yet if that's why you want to go to these schools. I'll probably say until the end of time that specialization rates aren't worth the difference in tuition. I think the most important thing after cost is when you visit campuses and see which one you would feel happy living around for four years. See how impressed you are by their clinics and simulation labs. Then consider neat features within the program like the pathways project for example, or off-site clinic rotations.

I'd apply to a few schools that aren't traditionally "top schools" too. As cool as it is to say I'm going to Michigan, there's thousands of dental students at other schools having a blast and getting amazing educations too. That's why I say you should check out campuses, facilities, and program features. Never know where you might feel at home. You'll have plenty of choices with your DAT score.

 

[Stanelz]

 

[jg4318]

Those schools are great if you want to go into research or specialize. But if you are looking to just be a general dentist, they aren't necessarily worth the price compared to your state school other than maybe for networking.

 

[fit2]

as an international it doesn't make much of a difference really since most OOS school's tuition is pretty much the same as private school's.
I guess if price isn't an issue (something you can change much) I'd probably apply to a bunch of those good schools since you can more easily specialize and maybe make some good connections

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Reasons to go: Higher specialization rates, generally plenty of research opportunities.

Reasons not to go: if you're dead set on general dentistry

 

[Craig_Sherwood234]

I would add Tufts, Florida, and UConn to that list.

 

[Stanelz]

People who go to expensive ive league private schools have a million reasons to go there
People who go to cheaper state schools have a million reasons to not

Im a TX resident so my opinion doesnt count ....cuz cheap tuition>everything

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Not everyone can get into state schools
Not every private school has a COA > than 350k

 

[#cariology]

It's mostly to impress distant cousins and other acquaintances who don't actually care. This isn't law school or a biology PhD program, where pedigree matters as far as career and job prospects. The extra 100k+ spent on a private dental education when cheaper options are available isn't worth anything other than a few impressed eye brow raises when you mention "Harvard" or "Penn". A dentist is a dentist is a dentist.

 

[Craig_Sherwood234]

It's mostly to impress distant cousins and other acquaintances who don't actually care. This isn't law school or a biology PhD program, where pedigree matters as far as career and job prospects. The extra 100k+ spent on a private dental education when cheaper options are available isn't worth anything other than a few impressed eye brow raises when you mention "Harvard" or "Penn". A dentist is a dentist is a dentist.

Nah. In the real world, people do in fact look at the name. Now, to the extent that I define "people" as the general population, which is what--for all intents and purposes--drives professional careers, I personally know dentists that tell me they do have potential patients that ring in their office from time to time asking the receptionist where the dentist got his DMD/DDS; this phenomenon is especially prevalent in dominantly Asian communities where the culture, to a sickening degree, celebrates the name of the school. To the extent that the name of the institution matters, it is equally weighed, conversely, in the other direction.


-Craig_sherwood234

 

[Medin2017]

Reason to go: specialization.

Reason not to go: cost (especially if you don't want to specialize).

Also, if you got a 26 AA on the DAT, I think you'll have no trouble specializing no matter where you go to school.

Dunno how true this is tbh. I got a decent DAT but i've read on med forums that some people with like top 1-5% mcat scores don't end up that highly ranked in med school (even in mid tier or even low tier med schools). Theoretically it should be true but it just doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[deleted696582]

Nah. In the real world, people do in fact look at the name. Now, to the extent that I define "people" as the general population, which is what--for all intents and purposes--drives professional careers, I personally know dentists that tell me they do have potential patients that ring in their office from time to time asking the receptionist where the dentist got his DMD/DDS; this phenomenon is especially prevalent in dominantly Asian communities where the culture, to a sickening degree, celebrates the name of the school. To the extent that the name of the institution matters, it is equally weighed, conversely, in the other direction.

Every dentist I've ever shadowed or spoken to says nobody asks them where they went to school. If someone chooses to go to an Ivy and potentially pay a lot more, it better not be for the off-chance that a few extra patients will come to your practice down the line.

It's mostly to impress distant cousins and other acquaintances who don't actually care. This isn't law school or a biology PhD program, where pedigree matters as far as career and job prospects. The extra 100k+ spent on a private dental education when cheaper options are available isn't worth anything other than a few impressed eye brow raises when you mention "Harvard" or "Penn". A dentist is a dentist is a dentist.

I'm sure Ivy dental students have lots of reasons for their choice. Not just an attempt to impress people. In the Midwest, many people didn't even know what Columbia was when I told them I was traveling there. I interviewed there because the program interested me, finance wasn't an issue, New York seemed like a cool place to live, and blue is a nice color.

 

[Medin2017]

Use the search function. Harvard or UF (state school)?

Has specialists, ivy students, predents, and more going at it. Honestly the thread should be stickied. It's like 5 pages of people thoroughly debating on the subject and past and future threads are all weaker/less elaborated versions of this post. Also quoted some OMFS before who wish he went ivy since he had a hard time landing a residency within that thread.

 

[Medin2017]

Med school and MCAT are a different ball game so it's not comparable. There is ADA research that shows correlations between dental school success and GPA/DAT. Really though, there's only one way to find out...

oh true i remember we discussed this lmao I must have forgot.

 

[deleted696582]

This was a fun one.

Which schools should I apply to?

 

[#cariology]

Every dentist I've ever shadowed or spoken to says nobody asks them where they went to school. If someone chooses to go to an Ivy and potentially pay a lot more, it better not be for the off-chance that a few extra patients will come to your practice down the line.



I'm sure Ivy dental students have lots of reasons for their choice. Not just an attempt to impress people. In the Midwest, many people didn't even know what Columbia was when I told them I was traveling there. I interviewed there because the program interested me, finance wasn't an issue, New York seemed like a cool place to live, and blue is a nice color.

In your situation, with a full military scholarship, all the time power to you to be picky and choose the absolute best fit. For most people, cost is the #1, 2, 3... most important consideration.

I also agree with your sentiment about patients not caring about school choice. I worked at an office with dentists trained at Columbia and Harvard. Only one person asked in the year and a half I worked there.

 

[deleted696582]

In your situation, with a full military scholarship, all the time power to you to be picky and choose the absolute best fit. For most people, cost is the #1, 2, 3... most important consideration.

With that being said I still think people should apply to and visit expensive schools. This is because they could get offered a scholarship or those expensive schools end up being their only acceptance. It's too risky to apply to only your state school. If it comes down to a big price difference though, I think inexpensive is the way to go every time.

 

[Don Kim]

The Pass/ Fail Curriculum at Harvard really helps. Harvard only ranks its #1 and #2 so technically everyone else is #3. Since you don't have to compete with your classmates for that A or A+, you will have more time to do researches and volunteer works, which will help to buff up your resume. Also, many ppl from HSDm specialized so program directors have good track records of HSDM students' performances. Penn, Columbia and UCLA love love love to take harvard grads into their residency programs. In some years, 3 out of 4 ortho residents at UCLA were Harvard grads. Harvard usually sent at least one kid to Penn and one kid to Columbia each year for endo. I have never heard of anyone at HSDM who had to do one year of internship to get into OMFS since everyone got in the first time (not necessarily their first choices though). When i went to residency interviews with HSDM on my resume, program directors never bothered to question me about my academic performance since they automatically assumed that I had to be quite good to be at Harvard. Program directors also told me that they have been working with many Harvard grads and all seemed to be outstanding residents; as a result, they strongly believe that i will be doing well as well. I understand you can specialize from any schools; however, it is NOT easy to be in top 10 at rank schools since third year and fourth year grades are quite subjective. There is no guarantee that a top predent student will turn out to be an excellent dental student (high rank and GPA) so I have to say Harvard name and its connection matter quite a bit. If you just want to do general dentistry, one year of good AEGD will prepare you well enough for anything.

PS: In the past when NBDEs were still scored, as long as HSDM grads did well on NBDE part I, they wouldnt have any problems in getting into the residencies of their choices. I believe ADAT will serve the same purpose in a few years.
Predents are too concerned about dental school graduation requirements for no reason. I only did 18 crowns to graduate and dental students from other schools might have graduated with 25+crowns. however, after prepping and cementing 1025 crowns, I doubt that my handskills will be worse than handskills of those guys who prepped 1050 crowns.

wow that was amazingly insightful. Thank you so much for your input!

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

The idea that all dental specialists had an innate talent which destined them to specialize independently of their pre-doctoral institution is backwards, fairy-tale thinking.

This is so true! I went to a podunk state school and only scored in the 99th percentile on the ADAT. Maybe if I hadn't turned down highfalutin Columbia I would have been Mr. 100th Percentile. Hindsight is 20/20, I suppose. Do I even have a shot next year at pedo or am I wasting my time?

Go to the cheapest school you get into! The work you put in will get you into a residency, NOT the name of your school.

Big Hoss

 

[MidwestOwl]

This is so true! I went to a podunk state school and only scored in the 99th percentile on the ADAT. Maybe if I hadn't turned down highfalutin Columbia I would have been Mr. 100th Percentile. Hindsight is 20/20, I suppose. Do I even have a shot next year at pedo or am I wasting my time?

Go to the cheapest school you get into! The work you put in will get you into a residency, NOT the name of your school.

Big Hoss

The work you put in will get you into residency, that is true but not always true. Hard work can only take you that far. Have you ever been in situations in which even though you've worked your best, you still did not achieve what you want? I have been in those situations a few times. You got 99% percentile on ADAT, that's great and kudos to you - you will get in somewhere. What do you think the chance of some one, who ranks 30/90 in his class and also scores 50% to get into ortho the first time, slim. If that someone were at Penn, his ranking would bump to #11 instead. All he has to do is to retake that ADAT, which is easier than improving his rank from 30 to 11.

Life doesn't always reward you for effort; most of the time it rewards you for your results. Yeah, I know if someone tries hard enough and works as an intern for 2 or 3 years, he will be an OMFS eventually. However, if he has much better chance to get in as a first timer by have some extra connections and preparation, would he take that chance? I would. When interview time comes, you will see how important connection is in the game called residency application. Please apply to programs other than your own dental school and see the game for yourself

 

[C10H15N]

Nothing makes them special. Some of these schools have famous medical or law programs that make the name of the school sound really good. Then come along a bunch of predents who think because that school is special then the dental program is special too, which it's not. Don't get distracted by the name of the school rather the quality of the program. All dental schools will prepare you to enter the dental field. You can all see and do so much while in school so most of the true learning and practice comes when you enter the professional world.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

The work you put in will get you into residency, that is true but not always true. Have you ever been in situations in which even though you've worked your best, you still did not achieve what you want? I have been in those situations a few times. You got 99% percentile on ADAT, that's great and kudos to you - you will get in somewhere. What do you think the chance of some one, who ranks 30/90 in his class and also scores 50% to get into ortho the first time, slim. If that someone was at Penn, his ranking will bump to #11 instead. All he has to do is to retake that ADAT, which is easier than improving his rank from 30 to 11.

Life doesn't always reward you for effort; most of the time it rewards you for your result. Yeah, I know if someone tries hard enough and works as an intern for 2 or 3 years, he will be an OMFS eventually. However, if he has much better chance to get in as a first timer by have some extra connections and preparation, would he take that chance? I would. When interview time comes, you will see how important connection is in the game called residency application. Please apply to programs other than your own dental school and see the game for yourself

I agree there's no guarantee to anything in life, but chance favors the prepared. Your example of UPenn has nothing to do with its caliber or quality, just the fact it institutionally games the system to help its students - i.e. its misleading ranking system and grade inflation. Is this "help" worth potentially an extra $200,000 in student loans? Absolutely not! And, if any program director has wised up to this scheming, the advantage instantly disappears.

So, what happens when an unranked student goes up against someone with a top 10% rank, all else being equal? You know the answer. Class rank cuts both ways.

Connections are indeed very, very important! That's why your best chance of getting in is at your home school. You've got years to make a positive impression. Two classmates of mine got straight into endo with below average stats simply because of this.

I want to make an exception to my above statement that there are no guarantees in life. I can guarantee that paying back student loans sucks. I have absolutely no personal vendetta against these "fancy," expensive dental schools. If UPenn is the cheapest place you get into, then by all means that's where you should go! In my short time on SDN I've noticed (1) predents are way too preoccupied with academic "prestige," and (2) predents are way too cavalier towards student loans.

Big Hoss

 

[wengerout]

The Pass/ Fail Curriculum at Harvard really helps. Harvard publicly ranks its #1 and #2 students so technically everyone else is #3. Some residency programs specifically asked for the student's rank in the dean's letter; however, HSDM never disclosed it.
Since you don't have to compete with your classmates for that A or A+, you will have more time to do researches and volunteer works, which will help to buff up your resume. Also, many ppl from HSDm specialized so program directors have good track records of HSDM students' performances. About 15-18 (sometimes more) out of 35 picked more competitive specialties such as Ortho, OMFS, endo and pedo at HSDM every year. Penn, Columbia and UCLA love love love to take harvard grads into their residency programs. In some years, 3 out of 4 ortho residents at UCLA were Harvard grads. Harvard usually sent at least one kid to Penn and one kid to Columbia each year for endo. I have never heard of anyone at HSDM who had to do one year of internship to get into OMFS since everyone got in the first time (not necessarily their first choices though). When i went to residency interviews with HSDM on my resume, program directors never bothered to question me about my academic performance since they automatically assumed that I had to be quite good to be at Harvard. Program directors also told me that they have been working with many Harvard grads and all seemed to be outstanding residents; as a result, they strongly believe that i will be doing well as well.
I understand you can specialize from any schools; however, it is NOT easy to be in top 10 at rank schools since third year and fourth year grades are quite subjective. There is no guarantee that a top predent student will turn out to be an excellent dental student (high rank and GPA) so I have to say Harvard name and its connection matter quite a bit. If you just want to do general dentistry, one year of good AEGD will prepare you well enough for anything.

PS: In the past when NBDEs were still scored, as long as HSDM grads did well on NBDE part I, they wouldnt have any problems in getting into the residencies of their choices. I believe ADAT will serve the same purpose in a few years.
Predents are too concerned about dental school graduation requirements for no reason. I only did 18 crowns to graduate and dental students from other schools might have graduated with 25+crowns. however, after prepping and cementing 1025 crowns, I doubt that my handskills will be worse than handskills of those guys who prepped 1050 crowns.
Harvard trains you to become independent learner (aka you need to teach yourself or learn from your classmates, faculty only provide guidance - they are not there to spoon-feed you). Program directors seem to like this a lot cuz they don't have to do much handholding to train you.

I'm still pretty early on but I'll say already that P/F is so nice it's not even funny.

 

[C10H15N]

I'm still pretty early on but I'll say already that P/F is so nice it's not even funny.

I wish I went to a participation trophy graded school. That'd be so easy.

 

[wengerout]

I wish I went to a participation trophy graded school. That'd be so easy.

Whatever helps you sleep at night man!



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[Alpha Centauri]

I wish I went to a participation trophy graded school. That'd be so easy.

 

[8_man]

SAKAMOTO UR SO COOOOOL!!

 

[Str82th]

The work you put in will get you into residency, that is true but not always true. Hard work can only take you that far. Have you ever been in situations in which even though you've worked your best, you still did not achieve what you want? I have been in those situations a few times. You got 99% percentile on ADAT, that's great and kudos to you - you will get in somewhere. What do you think the chance of some one, who ranks 30/90 in his class and also scores 50% to get into ortho the first time, slim. If that someone were at Penn, his ranking would bump to #11 instead. All he has to do is to retake that ADAT, which is easier than improving his rank from 30 to 11.

Life doesn't always reward you for effort; most of the time it rewards you for your results. Yeah, I know if someone tries hard enough and works as an intern for 2 or 3 years, he will be an OMFS eventually. However, if he has much better chance to get in as a first timer by have some extra connections and preparation, would he take that chance? I would. When interview time comes, you will see how important connection is in the game called residency application. Please apply to programs other than your own dental school and see the game for yourself

You're operating under the incorrect assumption that program directors do not know Penn ranks above #10 are bogus.




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[MidwestOwl]

You're operating under the incorrect assumption that program directors do not know Penn ranks above #10 are bogus.




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are you still in dental school? if you are, please just wait until the residency time comes and see for yourself. OP just asks ppl about the pros and cons of their dental schools. I just gave him my 2 cents about Harvard since i graduated there. You can take it or leave it.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

are you still in dental school? if you are, please just wait until the residency time comes and see for yourself. OP just asks ppl about the pros and cons of their dental schools. I just gave him my 2 cents about Harvard since i graduated there. You can take it or leave it.

 

[Incis0r]

This is so true! I went to a podunk state school and only scored in the 99th percentile on the ADAT. Maybe if I hadn't turned down highfalutin Columbia I would have been Mr. 100th Percentile. Hindsight is 20/20, I suppose. Do I even have a shot next year at pedo or am I wasting my time?

Go to the cheapest school you get into! The work you put in will get you into a residency, NOT the name of your school.

Big Hoss

Yo, congrats man. On the 99th percentile ADAT. That's really something. Proud of you

 

[Str82th]

are you still in dental school? if you are, please just wait until the residency time comes and see for yourself. OP just asks ppl about the pros and cons of their dental schools. I just gave him my 2 cents about Harvard since i graduated there. You can take it or leave it.

I am a verified dentist, and an orthodontic specialist. You?

Being familiar with the screening process for competitive residencies qualifies me to make the statement that one should be careful trying to game the system.


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[MidwestOwl]

I am a verified dentist, and an orthodontic specialist. You?

Being familiar with the screening process for competitive residencies qualifies me to make the statement that one should be careful trying to game the system.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

That is great, some ppl got in those specialties the first time because they are pure geniuses - kudos to them. Others got in cuz they have some talents, luck and connection - kudos to them too. im just telling OP the reasons why we chose Harvard in the first place. We might have not been "so bright" because we turned down scholarships from other schools to go to Harvard. However, most of us or usually all of us at Harvard, got into the residencies that we wanted the first time we applied - we are quite contented with our decisions.

 

[2TH MVR]

Patients don't care where you went to school. If I were getting a law degree or MBA .... then yes .... an IVY league school will have more emphasis.

People .... go to the least expensive typical state dental colleges and skip the more expensive private schools. You'll thank me later.

 

[setdoc7]

Since I receive the "product" year after year from dental schools across the country, I thought I would chime in. Describing the "best" d school is an imaginary acronym. Some schools have big specialty acceptance rates (we have already mentioned some of these). Some produce superb clinical dentists ( U of P, Tufts, Rutgers, Maryland....for example). Some are cheaper, some not so much. Depends what your end game is. I have had lots of Penn and Columbia grads in my program over the years. So far one Penn grad and one Columbia grad were exceptional dentists (could perform most dental procedures at an advanced level). This year there is a neck and neck tie with a Columbia grad who was rated "best hands in the class" by administration and a Nova grad who is straight up awesome. Go figure. The most financially successful grad from my program was a Howard grad. Making bank down in Maryland.
Long story short, things are what you make of it.

 

[wengerout]

Since I receive the "product" year after year from dental schools across the country, I thought I would chime in. Describing the "best" d school is an imaginary acronym. Some schools have big specialty acceptance rates (we have already mentioned some of these). Some produce superb clinical dentists ( U of P, Tufts, Rutgers, Maryland....for example). Some are cheaper, some not so much. Depends what your end game is. I have had lots of Penn and Columbia grads in my program over the years. So far one Penn grad and one Columbia grad were exceptional dentists (could perform most dental procedures at an advanced level). This year there is a neck and neck tie with a Columbia grad who was rated "best hands in the class" by administration and a Nova grad who is straight up awesome. Go figure. The most financially successful grad from my program was a Howard grad. Making bank down in Maryland.
Long story short, things are what you make of it.

100% this, each person's "best school" just depends on their priorities.

 

[toothdoctor123]

This is so true! I went to a podunk state school and only scored in the 99th percentile on the ADAT. Maybe if I hadn't turned down highfalutin Columbia I would have been Mr. 100th Percentile. Hindsight is 20/20, I suppose. Do I even have a shot next year at pedo or am I wasting my time?

Go to the cheapest school you get into! The work you put in will get you into a residency, NOT the name of your school.

Big Hoss

congratulations

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

congratulations

I think you meant to write, "CONGRATULATIONS!!!" Let's see if we can get a little more enthusiasm out of you next time.

Big Hoss

 

[Vicviper]

Having gone to a dental school with nearly every specialty residency, and then working with students from a school that has almost no residency programs, I strongly recommend looking at schools in the later category if you're considering being a GP - which ~70-80% of you will be.

When I was trying to decide what school to go to - (one of the most agonizing decisions of my life!) - the thought of having nearly every specialty program at a school seemed great. I only later recognized that it really stinks if you want experience beyond entry level things in each field. The obvious reason that most people don't think about is that residents need patients too. I've heard the same thing from many dentists from many schools, and many of the residents that I have in my program. Oh? Slight Occlusal discrepancy? That's a Grad Prostho case, sorry. There's a crown on that tooth? Sorry, that's going to Grad Endo. The root tip fractured, and it's taking you longer than ten minutes to get it out? Gotta have an OS resident take over.

Not every school is like this, but many are. This is part of the reason why so many GP's do AEGD/GPR now is that the experience you get at many old school dental schools is significantly watered down from what it used to be. My graduation requirement for crowns got reduced to 6 in 2013 - that's a joke. I've heard some people getting out of schools doing 2-3 crowns. When you go to interviews, ask 3rd year students how often they get cases taken away from them and given to 4th years, and ask 4th years how often cases get sent to Grad. This is one of the most important factors determining how your clinical experience and competency will be.

Sorry for the rant... haha. A "top school" is relative. They don't rank them anymore. Bottom line however, the dental school you get into is the best one. What do they call the person who graduates at the bottom of their dental school class, from the "worst" dental school? A dentist. Also, strongly consider cheaper schools

 

[2TH MVR]

Well ... I'm biased because I went to a traditional dental school (Univ. of Nebraska .... not Creighton). I guess it you want to put out these "Super Dentists) than the schools without the specialty programs is best. My feeling is that every patient is different and will require different levels of treatment. Some by Generalist and some by Specialist.

My concern is these "Super Dentists" who went to programs without the specialty programs will have more indecision regarding when to refer and not to refer. If they make the wrong decision and the treatment outcome is not to the standard of care set by specialists. Who pays the price. The patient.

 

[Vicviper]

Well ... I'm biased because I went to a traditional dental school (Univ. of Nebraska .... not Creighton). I guess it you want to put out these "Super Dentists) than the schools without the specialty programs is best. My feeling is that every patient is different and will require different levels of treatment. Some by Generalist and some by Specialist.

My concern is these "Super Dentists" who went to programs without the specialty programs will have more indecision regarding when to refer and not to refer. If they make the wrong decision and the treatment outcome is not to the standard of care set by specialists. Who pays the price. The patient.

You do have a good point - one of the most important things about being a general dentist is to know when to refer. The dental school I was referring to, ASDOH, still does have students refer cases out - you're totally correct, trying to take on every case would be irresponsible. I do think though, that dental schools are beginning to turn out many new dentists that are only comfortable with a very limited skill set of procedures - fillings, uncomplicated crown and bridge, anterior / some premolar endo, and basic removable. I think dental students are in general getting significantly less experience than when you were in school [D1 + 30 years right? ]. Something that I tell my residents is that if there's something you didn't do in dental school, and you don't do in residency, you're unlikely to ever do it once you're in private practice / real world. People get into their comfort zones, and there's nothing wrong with that - it's one of the nice things about being a GP that we have that freedom, but I feel like comfort zones are becoming smaller and smaller.

For example - when I was in school (class of 2013), they never let us use root tip picks or a surgical hand piece for extractions, saying it was too complicated, and so I believed them. It wasn't until residency that I realized the fact that many teeth (often maxillary molars) simply can't be extracted without sectioning, and that given the correct tools, these are totally doable procedures.

 

[FanOfCostco]

Depends on how well dating apps works around the school.