dental to pharm?

[smrtypntz]

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I'm a dental student who is interested in switching to pharmacy. Anyone here have experience with doing so? Do you guys think i could receive credit for core classes i have taken such as biochem, physiology, gross anatomy, histo, etc.?

 

[PharmDstudent]

I'm a dental student who is interested in switching to pharmacy. Anyone here have experience with doing so? Do you guys think i could receive credit for core classes i have taken such as biochem, physiology, gross anatomy, histo, etc.?

Are you in dental school right now?

 

[sdn1977]

I've known it to happen on rare occasions. Your biggest hurdle will be with the admissions process. They will want to know if you are just as undecided about pharmacy as you became to be about dentistry.

However, as far as the courses go, you just challenge the class. That means taking an exam to pass. It doesn't really get you that far since the years are so programmed. But, I've known many in both fields who came in with degrees & challenged some of the courses. It gave them an easier first year, but that was about it. It didn't shorten their ultimate course nor make it less expensive. But, since dental school is one of the most expensive professional schools anyway, you'll feel as though you're saving money to make a switch.

 

[smrtypntz]

Thanks for he reply. I've learned my lesson. I wouldn't make the switch unless i was absolutely sure about this, which is why i am here trying to get more insight from those you with experience. I've done quite a bit of research, but know i have a lot to learn about pharmacy.

My interest in pharmacy was sparked after i experienced a health setback which put on multiple drug regimes. I think it'd be pretty intersting to know how all drugs interact with one another and affect your body. that coupled with gaining a different perspective on life through this whole experience has shifted my interest. I still enjoy dentistry, but just feel as though pharmacy would be a better fit for me in terms of personal satisfaction and lifestyle, plus you get to travel during clinical years for rotations, and it seems easier to re-locate once you are licensed, which is something i'd really like to do.

Tuition at my dschool is equal to if not less than the cost to attend my local (private) pharm school (about 150k) so making the switch will actually put me more in debt. I would think that if i were to receive credit for basic science classes that i have taken than i would be charged less tuition, is this not the case? being in debt is a huge concern for me, but my happiness is my priority. I'm just not sure if i could be happy being in so much debt.

 

[sdn1977]

I'm not sure how much traveling you might do on pharmacy rotations. I didn't do much & I know the students currently go up or down the state depending (CA). Its a big state, but not a very pleasant way to see the state, if you ask me. (I'd rather travel for pleasure rather than be forced to find housing for a few months, do a M-F rotation with projects after work in a place which is unfamiliar. But, thats just me).

No - just like dental school, pharmacy school tuition is based on semesters/quarters of attendance. Its not based on units (at least in CA). So, if you have to attend 12 quarters or 8 semesters, thats what you pay for. You rarely can start part-way since one course is based on the next and the next, etc.

As for classes like gross anatomy, you wouldn't have a fully dissected body to test from until the completion of the course, so you might as well just take the course.

I suppose you could test out of the others. My husband tested out of biochem when he was in dental school, but he was a working biochemist at the time. He didn't get a break in tuition, but got to be a really good pool player (oh & spent lots of time watching the Watergate trials).

Kind of funny you'd be so debt-worried. Dentistry is one of the biggest debt jobs there is. I've lived that life for 30+ years & we've always had a loan for one piece of equipment or another (& each one costs 30K+). Its just something I've learned to live with. Drsdn, on the other hand, apparently knew all about this & actually loves to seek out each new piece of dental gadgetry out there (a characteristic I've come to realize is consistent in the personality of dentists🙄).

You are correct though. Once you set up a practice, you stay. The cost of moving it is prohibitive (other than down the street).

 

[Epic]

I'm a dental student who is interested in switching to pharmacy. Anyone here have experience with doing so? Do you guys think i could receive credit for core classes i have taken such as biochem, physiology, gross anatomy, histo, etc.?

not sure you'll get credit for those classes... but I know a staff pharmacist who is a practicing dentist. He spends more time as a pharmacist but he hopes to open up his own dental practice one day.

I know another pharmacist who dropped out of dental school to go to pharmacy school.

 

[MountainPharmD]

I think I would stay in dental school. Dentistry doesnt seem to have the same problems that retail pharmacy, optometry and podiatry have. People, no matter how old, will need someone to take care of their teeth.

 

[Requiem]

I think I would stay in dental school. Dentistry doesnt seem to have the same problems that retail pharmacy, optometry and podiatry have. People, no matter how old, will need someone to take care of their teeth.

Is this a joke?

Because people will randomly cease to have eye/feet/medical problems?

If anything, the opposite of your post is true; throw in some dentures and be done with it.

 

[MountainPharmD]

Is this a joke?

Because people will randomly cease to have eye/feet/medical problems?

If anything, the opposite of your post is true; throw in some dentures and be done with it.

Nope, spend some time on the other forums. I could go into a lenghty explanation but I am not sdn1977. So here is the short version.

Optometry - Over supply, poor insurance reimbursement, not alot of private practice opportunities, most working for eye care centers in Wal-Mart

Podiatry - Over supply, poor or no insurance reimbursement, MD and DO able to do the same thing

Pharmacy - Where do I start.

Dentists seem to be in demand always. Dental insurance never really covered much other than basic stuff and this does not seem to bother people. People will pay out of pocket to get thier teeth whitened and braces put on no problem. Have the same person pay one more dollar than they did last month on their prescription co-pay and they have a coronary. Most Dentists are in private practice, there are few national or regional chains. All in all there seems to goog opportunities for dentists.

 

[sdn1977]

Nope, spend some time on the other forums. I could go into a lenghty explanation but I am not sdn1977. So here is the short version.

Optometry - Over supply, poor insurance reimbursement, not alot of private practice opportunities, most working for eye care centers in Wal-Mart

Podiatry - Over supply, poor or no insurance reimbursement, MD and DO able to do the same thing

Pharmacy - Where do I start.

Dentists seem to be in demand always. Dental insurance never really covered much other than basic stuff and this does not seem to bother people. People will pay out of pocket to get thier teeth whitened and braces put on no problem. Have the same person pay one more dollar than they did last month on their prescription co-pay and they have a coronary. Most Dentists are in private practice, there are few national or regional chains. All in all there seems to goog opportunities for dentists.

I have to agree with Requiem, but won't go into the reasons since they don't apply to this forum.

I don't have any knowledge of optometrists or podiatrists.

But, you're missing some major economic reasons why dental practices succeed or not & why some areas are saturated or not.

The forces which control dentistry are very different from that which controls medicine or pharmacy. Dentists are not in demand always & in fact, in my area we are very, very slowly coming out of a period of low demand which significantly affects our income.

 

[Requiem]

Pharmacy - Where do I start.

First, how was anyone supposed to know from your post you're talking about insurance? It's one thing to not be SDN, it's another to state the barebones of what you're talking about.

There's a very easy solution to the problems of insurance compensation and pts. ready to have a coronary because their Rx is $1 more -> get out of retail pharmacy.

 

[genesis09]

My understanding about dentistry is that the demand has decreased because of better dental care. The other local dentistry school, Northwestern, closed because of that reason.

 

[MountainPharmD]

I guess the crux of my argument, which is my opinion only, is insurance is killing the medical profession. Dentistry does not seem to be affected by this as adversly as other professions due to a larger portion of their patients willing to pay cash for their services. Not that insurance is the great and only evil, big pharm has a role as well. My point to the OP was if you are in dental school stay, I do not think it is so bad or pharmacy is that much better..

 

[MountainPharmD]

My understanding about dentistry is that the demand has decreased because of better dental care. The other local dentistry school, Northwestern, closed because of that reason.

You could make that argument about every single field in medicine.

 

[alwaystired]

OP, I don't agree with some of the posters that you won't get any credit for your classes. A lot of schools, especially private just want your science prereqs done before you start (and in your case you'd have them for pre-dental). The prereqs are often called pre-pharm and are bio, chem, etc. If they are not in the actual pharm program, you may have a chance to save some money. If the pharm program starts from day 1 and includes all the basic sciences and is a flat fee, then no chance at saving.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

After reading this...I think most guys are going to want to switch from pharm to dental...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071013...sed_dentist;_ylt=AjLy012dyqJY3Uv_qjaG2uEDW7oF

 

[MountainPharmD]

After reading this...I think most guys are going to want to switch from pharm to dental...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071013...sed_dentist;_ylt=AjLy012dyqJY3Uv_qjaG2uEDW7oF

Awsome!!!! Count me in!!!👍👍👍

I have also thought of setting up a breast exam clinic.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

Awsome!!!! Count me in!!!👍👍👍

I have also thought of setting up a breast exam clinic.

Perfect...that's exactly what we want. A one-stop shop. 😛

 

[NewRx]

Perfect...that's exactly what we want. A one-stop shop. 😛

SpirivaSunrise is the most beautiful avatar lady on SDN pharmacy. You gooo gurrrllll.... 😍

 

[Epic]

SpirivaSunrise is the most beautiful avatar lady on SDN pharmacy. You gooo gurrrllll.... 😍

You haven't seen Caverject's old avatar..

 

[PharmDstudent]

You haven't seen Caverject's old avatar..

Please don't bring that up! Which one...the butt shaking or Jessica Alba? It's probably something else.

 

[Epic]

Please don't bring that up! Which one...the butt shaking or Jessica Alba? It's probably something else.

yes and yes

 

[jlc111]

1

 

[sdn1977]

1

😕?