Existential dilemma

[fug]

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Alright, so maybe the thread title is a bit of an exaggeration, but I do have some serious concerns about becoming a dentist that I thought other people on the forums might like to discuss with me. I'm sure similar issues have been addressed in the past, but I can't see that it would hurt at all to readdress them.

To start, I don't believe that a doctor of dental medicine is any less of a healthcare professional than a doctor of any other kind of medicine. I just want to get that out of the way, since many of the posts I've read here on the forums seem to turn into pissing matches between pre-dents and pre-meds, wherein each group tries to prove to the other that their future salary/lifestyle/sense of achievement will be greater than the other's. I suppose, then, that I should pose my question to aspiring doctors in all fields, not just those in dentistry: will your career of choice be mentally and emotionally fulfilling to you? Why?

I've found that it's easy to get swept up into thinking about abstract notions of what a healthcare provider does, how much he/she earns, and the procedures he/she performs, without really envisioning myself in that role day in and day out for the next 30-40 years. One minute, I feel absolutely confident in my decision to go to dental school, and the next, it seems, I wonder if I will truly be happy filling cavities and pulling teeth for the rest of my life.

What do you look forward to in the years to come? Is dentistry (or any healthcare profession, for that matter) an end in itself, or simply a means to one day being able to pursue other goals in life? I'm asking these questions because I am one of only two pre-dent students at my school, and I would like to know more about what has led other people to this profession.

Thanks.

 

[longhornpride]

Alright, so maybe the thread title is a bit of an exaggeration, but I do have some serious concerns about becoming a dentist that I thought other people on the forums might like to discuss with me. I'm sure similar issues have been addressed in the past, but I can't see that it would hurt at all to readdress them.

To start, I don't believe that a doctor of dental medicine is any less of a healthcare professional than a doctor of any other kind of medicine. I just want to get that out of the way, since many of the posts I've read here on the forums seem to turn into pissing matches between pre-dents and pre-meds, wherein each group tries to prove to the other that their future salary/lifestyle/sense of achievement will be greater than the other's. I suppose, then, that I should pose my question to aspiring doctors in all fields, not just those in dentistry: will your career of choice be mentally and emotionally fulfilling to you? Why?

I've found that it's easy to get swept up into thinking about abstract notions of what a healthcare provider does, how much he/she earns, and the procedures he/she performs, without really envisioning myself in that role day in and day out for the next 30-40 years. One minute, I feel absolutely confident in my decision to go to dental school, and the next, it seems, I wonder if I will truly be happy filling cavities and pulling teeth for the rest of my life.

What do you look forward to in the years to come? Is dentistry (or any healthcare profession, for that matter) an end in itself, or simply a means to one day being able to pursue other goals in life? I'm asking these questions because I am one of only two pre-dent students at my school, and I would like to know more about what has led other people to this profession.

Thanks.

This is a really good question. I'll start my first year in about 2 months and I'm really excited. There's going to be more than just cavities and fillings. You make your job what you want it to be. However, I'm not sure if I envision myself practicing for the next 50 years. There's so much I want to do. I see myself branching out at some point and using my experience to pursue other goals. But who knows...

good luck.

 

[Nat426]

I'll put it the way my dentist/mentor told it to me.

Fact: Most people hate their job. They have to keep it because they would lose everything if they lost their job.

If you are smart enough and talented enough to become a dentist (or doctor), do it. The worst case scenario, you find yourself 5-6 years into the profession and hate it. Great! you're just like most everyone else, except you earn 5-6 times more than the average Joe who also hates his job and you work 3.5 days per week. If you really hate it, cut back to 1-2 days a week and just earn 2X what the average Joe does and explore your hobbies.

In my opinion there is nobody on here who can honestly say they love dentistry (or medicine) until they spend a few years in the trenches. Even dental school will be dramatically different than actually working as a dentist. Either way you go there will be times when you want to quit, that's when you stop and remember that's normal and push through it. From what i've heard from a few dentist's, at about 5 years out you may question why you ever became a dentist but if you push through it, you will do well. There will always be things you dislike/like about your chosen career. You just have to weight the benefits against the drawbacks and decide if it's something you can do.

Sorry, that was a bit lengthy, more like 2 cents + a dime.

 

[ZzZzSleepyhead]

I'll put it the way my dentist/mentor told it to me.

Fact: Most people hate their job. They have to keep it because they would lose everything if they lost their job.

If you are smart enough and talented enough to become a dentist (or doctor), do it. The worst case scenario, you find yourself 5-6 years into the profession and hate it. Great! you're just like most everyone else, except you earn 5-6 times more than the average Joe who also hates his job and you work 3.5 days per week. If you really hate it, cut back to 1-2 days a week and just earn 2X what the average Joe does and explore your hobbies.

In my opinion there is nobody on here who can honestly say they love dentistry (or medicine) until they spend a few years in the trenches. Even dental school will be dramatically different than actually working as a dentist. Either way you go there will be times when you want to quit, that's when you stop and remember that's normal and push through it. From what i've heard from a few dentist's, at about 5 years out you may question why you ever became a dentist but if you push through it, you will do well. There will always be things you dislike/like about your chosen career. You just have to weight the benefits against the drawbacks and decide if it's something you can do.

Sorry, that was a bit lengthy, more like 2 cents + a dime.

👍

 

[DoctreDrey]

just live day by day, dont think too far into the future and ull be happy for the rest of ur life