Dentistry, teeth vs Medicine, organs

[ssingh0]

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Hi. I've been reading this section a lot. I'm applying to med school, but reconsidering. I am a very nerdy, conceptual type of person. My ideal would be to do a Ph.d. and research in basic science, but there's comparatively a lot less income that route. There's high job dissatisfaction among MDs.

Dentistry seems better in every aspect, except one things preventing me from feeling comfortable with long term satisfaction. Teeth are not a very mystical, vital organ. (I was about to say not complex, but I don't know much about teeth/oral cavity, gums, etc. to say, but i think what I'm trying to say is understood.)

Stomach, heart, kidney, intestine, brain, endocrine system, ears... all these are hidden, vital, interconnected to physiological function, beyond voluntary control, do discrete biochemical/neuronal processes.

Teeth aren't so?

 

[vaio]

nerd 😛

shadow a dentist....shadow a physician....decide.....apply...the end

 

[rarm1]

I agree... visit/shadow/ ask dentists (different specialists) and MDs (different specialists) and see what you like. While most dentistry is more "9-5" you have OMS, and other hospital based specialities...
medicine also has some 9-5 types... derm, some non admiting generalists..

both need school educators and researchers.

 

[coolraz]

If you're very nerdy, you might not be very sucessfull in dentistry (or even in getting into dental school). This is because dentistry relies very much on people skills because you have to build and maintain relationships with patients and also be a decent salesman to effectively present the right treatment to patients and get the to accept it n whatever. If you dont have any people skills experience yet, try it (like go work as a salesman on comission in a store or smfin) and see if you like it.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[PeterEP]

Hi. I've been reading this section a lot. I'm applying to med school, but reconsidering. I am a very nerdy, conceptual type of person. My ideal would be to do a Ph.d. and research in basic science, but there's comparatively a lot less income that route. There's high job dissatisfaction among MDs.

Dentistry seems better in every aspect, except one things preventing me from feeling comfortable with long term satisfaction. Teeth are not a very mystical, vital organ. (I was about to say not complex, but I don't know much about teeth/oral cavity, gums, etc. to say, but i think what I'm trying to say is understood.)

Stomach, heart, kidney, intestine, brain, endocrine system, ears... all these are hidden, vital, interconnected to physiological function, beyond voluntary control, do discrete biochemical/neuronal processes.

Teeth aren't so?

Dental school might be to easy for you. Definetly go to med school, unless if you like coloring books and finger painting.

 

[aphistis]

Hi. I've been reading this section a lot. I'm applying to med school, but reconsidering. I am a very nerdy, conceptual type of person. My ideal would be to do a Ph.d. and research in basic science, but there's comparatively a lot less income that route. There's high job dissatisfaction among MDs.

Dentistry seems better in every aspect, except one things preventing me from feeling comfortable with long term satisfaction. Teeth are not a very mystical, vital organ. (I was about to say not complex, but I don't know much about teeth/oral cavity, gums, etc. to say, but i think what I'm trying to say is understood.)

Stomach, heart, kidney, intestine, brain, endocrine system, ears... all these are hidden, vital, interconnected to physiological function, beyond voluntary control, do discrete biochemical/neuronal processes.

Teeth aren't so?

All those apply to oral tissues too. Ask someone with an abscess how much voluntary control s/he has over their teeth. 😉

The big one is "hidden." Dentistry is less sexy to some folks just because there's no mystery about teeth are, compared to some of the more exotic organs.

 

[molarama]

If you're very nerdy, you might not be very sucessfull in dentistry (or even in getting into dental school). This is because dentistry relies very much on people skills because you have to build and maintain relationships with patients and also be a decent salesman to effectively present the right treatment to patients and get the to accept it n whatever. If you dont have any people skills experience yet, try it (like go work as a salesman on comission in a store or smfin) and see if you like it.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Ya go work as a salesman to see if dentistry is right for you!!! I hope you're being sarcastic. My friend when presenting diagnosis and treatment planning to patients it is about educating them about their options. Don't "get" them into accept it. Treatment decisions are mutually made depending on a number of variables. I think you've listened to one too many cosmetic sales "guru's."

 

[dentalman]

Thank you, molarama!

 

[vaio]

Ya go work as a salesman to see if dentistry is right for you!!! I hope you're being sarcastic. My friend when presenting diagnosis and treatment planning to patients it is about educating them about their options. Don't "get" them into accept it. Treatment decisions are mutually made depending on a number of variables. I think you've listened to one too many cosmetic sales "guru's."

i don't think he was being sarcastic.. thats why ppl hate dentists, they remind them of salesmen

 

[superchris147]

Dentistry seems better in every aspect, except one things preventing me from feeling comfortable with long term satisfaction. Teeth are not a very mystical, vital organ. (I was about to say not complex, but I don't know much about teeth/oral cavity, gums, etc. to say, but i think what I'm trying to say is understood.)

Stomach, heart, kidney, intestine, brain, endocrine system, ears... all these are hidden, vital, interconnected to physiological function, beyond voluntary control, do discrete biochemical/neuronal processes.

Teeth aren't so?

Teeth arn't vital in terms of life or death but they are very important for someone's quality of life. For example, how many chicks could you pick up if you didn't have your front teeth? You'd also have a hard time talking let alone eating solid foods. Basically you're never going to save anybody's life (well u do learn how to do CPR in dental school) but you will certainly make a difference in a lot of people's lives. But in the end, you really need to get over your ego if you want to do dentistry. The public just doesn't view dentists as prestigious as medicine. So if you need "mystical" organs to make yourself feel better then don't come into dentistry.

 

[gryffindor]

You could still do dentistry, but day to day dentistry is a lot of tooth "procedures." The type of dental career you seem to be looking for would be found in a hospital setting where you do a lot of dental consults in conjunction with the host of medical problems the patient has. If you describe yourself as a "nerdy" type, maybe being an academic in certain areas and specialties would interest you more - such as Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Temporomandibular Disease & Oral-facial Pain.

 

[jr8047]

Ya go work as a salesman to see if dentistry is right for you!!! I hope you're being sarcastic. My friend when presenting diagnosis and treatment planning to patients it is about educating them about their options. Don't "get" them into accept it. Treatment decisions are mutually made depending on a number of variables. I think you've listened to one too many cosmetic sales "guru's."

👍 👍 👍 👍

 

[drhobie7]

I don't see anything mystical or magical about writing scripts all day. Now if you're going to do surgery that's a different story. Then you can really open up a world few people get to experience.

Teeth are vital tissues. You want to have your meals pureed? You want to be able to communicate with other people? You want to avoid looking like a freak and becoming a social outcast? Without your teeth you won't be able to eat, talk, or function in society.

If you're interested in cultivating a passion for dentistry I encourage you to get the appropriate experience to help guide your decisions. Don't apply because you think you might like it. Apply because you know medicine won't satisfy you and dentistry will.

 

[lnn2]

Ya go work as a salesman to see if dentistry is right for you!!! I hope you're being sarcastic. My friend when presenting diagnosis and treatment planning to patients it is about educating them about their options. Don't "get" them into accept it. Treatment decisions are mutually made depending on a number of variables. I think you've listened to one too many cosmetic sales "guru's."

Well said!
I wish that people could keep their mouths shut if they don't really know what they're talking about. Clueless.

Interpersonal skill is very different from salesmanship. A salesman doesn't not have your best interest at heart. Go buy a car and find out the hard way. If you have any integrity as a dentist then you will never "sell" anything. You present your diagnosis and treatment options base on the patient's needs, not on how much money you can get out of it. You don't say, hey if you do 10 veneers then I'll my assistant wash your car and the 11th veneer is on the house (even though you don't need it).

Just like any other professions, there're unethical dentists who would over diagnose/treatment for a quick buck. There's nothing glorify, mystical about dentistry, except the "glorified tooth puller" (oral surgeon!). Oral cavity contains many known facts such as oral cancer, decays, rotten teeth, oozing pus, left over lunch, unidentifiable smells...

I am a very nerdy, conceptual type of person. My ideal would be to do a Ph.d. and research in basic science, but there's comparatively a lot less income that route. There's high job dissatisfaction among MDs.

There's job dissatisfaction in any professions.

If you're nerd without any manual dexterity then dentistry might not be for you. If you like dentistry but still want the "mystical", the prestige, apply for OMFS. You can work in a hospital, taking call 24/7...

It sounds like a MD/PhD is a good choice for you (if you can get in) or a PhD program. Shadow a few dentists and learn from their experiences...

Stomach, heart, kidney, intestine, brain, endocrine system, ears... all these are hidden, vital, interconnected to physiological function, beyond voluntary control, do discrete biochemical/neuronal processes.

That's fascinating! I doubt that a dermatologist really care about that!

 

[Gargamel]

Hold on a minute. Salesmanship is not a negative attribute and may be vital in obtaining the best outcome for a patient. Often there are many treatment options each having its own unique advantages and disadvantages. As a dentist you will have a good feel for which option will provide the best long term outcome. This is information gained by experience and years of training. No matter how good a job is done explaining these options to a patient, without the formal education and experience they will be unable to make the best decision. While giving patients options it is often necessary to “sell” them on what you believe is the best option. Statements such as if I were in your position or if my wife/child etc needed this done this is the option I would choose is salesmanship. Provided you are being honest it’s not negative at all simply a strong statement of fact.

 

[johnwoo19]

If you're "very nerdy" you'll likely be able to get interviews from your book smarts, but probably get killed on the interviews. Now this isn't to say that people with book smarts will do poorly on the interviews - all I'm saying is that there's so much more to getting into dental/med schools than having stellar marks and good DAT/mcat scores. A health professional has to be sociable and likeable. If you prefer to not work with people, look into doing research.