Dentist potential over 50???

[freedyx3]

Hi all

I was talking to my dentist the other day and he told me something that is quite disturbing. He told me that since so much of dental work is based on hand manipulations, many dentist's careers are cut short after they get over 50 years old because they start to lose their abiliity to perform well with their hands.

I'm wondering do you guys know anything about this?

 

[ddstothecor]

My Dad is almost 60 years old, and he's never enjoyed dentistry more than he is now. His good friend just retired at close to 80 years of age. On the other hand, an assistant's father at my Dad's office has a dentist father who retired in his 50's due to arthritis. I guess, it all depends on the person, but I don't believe that it is a problem to maintain your dexterity beyond 50. Probably, the main concern is that your hands don't degenerate, and that your back and neck can hold out.