dentist shadowing

[hs113891]

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How do you guys go about shadowing a dentist?
Do you need to write a resume and a cover letter as if you're interviewing for a job? Or do you usually just walk in and ask?

Also, I know that some schools like USC requires you to have a letter of recommendation from a dentist you've shadowed with. How many hours do they usually want you to have shadowed?

 

[razblo]

How do you guys go about shadowing a dentist?
Do you need to write a resume and a cover letter as if you're interviewing for a job? Or do you usually just walk in and ask?

Also, I know that some schools like USC requires you to have a letter of recommendation from a dentist you've shadowed with. How many hours do they usually want you to have shadowed?

I posted this in a different thread that I just asked my dentist after a checkup. I said something like "I have a question for you. I'm interested in dentistry (or I might have said "being a dentist"), so I was wondering if I could job shadow you?". He said that was fine and that I should go to the front desk and that the receptionist/assistant would help me pick out a day/morning that I could come in.

The hardest part is just getting the nerve to ask them 🙂

 

[hs113891]

I posted this in a different thread that I just asked my dentist after a checkup. I said something like "I have a question for you. I'm interested in dentistry (or I might have said "being a dentist"), so I was wondering if I could job shadow you?". He said that was fine and that I should go to the front desk and that the receptionist/assistant would help me pick out a day/morning that I could come in.

The hardest part is just getting the nerve to ask them 🙂

When people say they've shadowed a dentist for 300 hours,
do they generally mean that they've shadowed 300 hours with the same dentist? Or they've shadowed six dentists, 50 hours each?

Also, how do you go about documenting how many hours you shadowed?
Will the admission committee just take your word for it when you tell them that you've shadowed 10 dentists, totaling 30 hours? Or do you have to create some kind of a time sheet that you get your dentist to sign?

 

[razblo]

When people say they've shadowed a dentist for 300 hours,
do they generally mean that they've shadowed 300 hours with the same dentist? Or they've shadowed six dentists, 50 hours each?

Also, how do you go about documenting how many hours you shadowed?
Will the admission committee just take your word for it when you tell them that you've shadowed 10 dentists, totaling 30 hours? Or do you have to create some kind of a time sheet that you get your dentist to sign?

Not sure on the first question. I've only shadowed about 30 hours with the only dentist I've ever known, or that I can recall, and he's writing me a letter of recommendation so I'm guessing they'll take his word for it.

I think they do prefer some kind of documentation though. Maybe you fill out a chart of what days you've shadowed and what you've seen and have the dentist initial it or sign it. I'd have to think that would be a valid for of documentation.

 

[SoonDent]

Your best bet is to just ask! What I did was looked in the phonebook, wrote down the names and addresses of 10 dentists in the area and went down the list. The first one was closed, at the next one the doctor was on lunch, at the third I asked the receptionist and he came out to the front and we set up a time right then.

Another time I just drove around and stopped at all the dental offices I could find. It was Saturday so most were closed, but the first one that was open said I could come in anytime!

I think you'll be surprised how readily doctors will invite you in to watch.

 

[razblo]

Your best bet is to just ask! What I did was looked in the phonebook, wrote down the names and addresses of 10 dentists in the area and went down the list. The first one was closed, at the next one the doctor was on lunch, at the third I asked the receptionist and he came out to the front and we set up a time right then.

Another time I just drove around and stopped at all the dental offices I could find. It was Saturday so most were closed, but the first one that was open said I could come in anytime!

I think you'll be surprised how readily doctors will invite you in to watch.

All of the dentists I've come in contact are VERY passionate and are pretty nice when it comes to asking them any kinds of questions about job shadowin or the dental field in general