Dentist Parents

[dentistry4lifee]

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In regards to the application/interview, do you guys have any do's/don't for applications who have dentist parents? Aside from the obvious, like not shadowing them. I'm just worried because some people have told me that dental schools won't take some of my extracurriculars seriously (like shadowing) because I have a dentist mom, and she could have helped.

If it happens to be that I worked in my mom's office at the front desk, is it in my favor to write that in my application, or would that harm me?

Aside: my mom didn't go to dental school in America, so no "legacy" involved.

 

[Aspiringdentit16]

I am interested in this as well, my father is a dentist, and I have worked in his office since I was 12 years old. shadowed him and did an internship at his office. what do people think about this stuff?

 

[Bifenthrin]

I worked as a dental assistant in my aunt's office for five years. I put that on my application. Who cares if the experience comes from working for a family member? It's still experience. And tbh I would think it's better experience because a family member will take time to explain things to you and teach you something while you're shadowing, while a stranger might not bother to do so.

 

[Blake1e]

I am interested in this as well, my father is a dentist, and I have worked in his office since I was 12 years old. shadowed him and did an internship at his office. what do people think about this stuff?

just curious, what kind of work did you do as a 12 yr old?


As for the original post, it would not harm you to mention in your app that you used to work in your mom's office, in fact it will likely help you as you have some real experience in working in a dental office even if you were just at the front desk.

 

[AG94]

I am interested in this as well, my father is a dentist, and I have worked in his office since I was 12 years old. shadowed him and did an internship at his office. what do people think about this stuff?

I'm in your boat. I shadowed my dad senior year of high school and then worked with him as an assistant since my freshman year in college. I don't think it would be perceived as odd for a child of a dentist to want to get experience at their parents practice since this is one dentist they know the best. I also know that some people who don't have parents as dentists find a hard time getting a lot of opportunities at practices. The one no-no I was told was obviously don't have them be the dentist who writes a letter on your behalf because there will inherently be some bias but I don't see how that could carry over to actually working for/observing them. Overall I think admissions just wants to make sure it's you who made the decision to become the dentist and not your parent.