Find a Dentist to Shadow!

[thyphamster]

Hi!

I live in the Southeast Houston area and I'm looking for a Dentist to Shadow.
Please let me know if you know any dentist that wouldn't mind having an undergraduate student shadow. I'm willing to drive anywhere in Houston.

Thanks!

Thy

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[lkdeidaho]

I haven't ever come across a dentist that didn't want you to shadow them. Maybe other people have had bad experiences, but I think most are pretty happy to show you what they can do. What would be REALLY good is if you can somehow find a dentist that is on an AD-COM somewhere. Don't bring it up, but you will at least let them get to know you so you may have a better shot that way.
Good luck!

 

[flyingforever]

Go to whitepages.com and open the dentist directory within 5 to 10 miles radius. Save some gas money.

 

[MAdental]

Oh man, I have been to 6 places. They got my name and phone number and non of them called me. Its not like i am gona go and steal their patients, I just wana sit there and see what they do. I need hours God damits lol Some DDS are real *** ****s. I am in Canada btw.I gota go check 10 other clinics this week

 

[slm266]

Oh man, I have been to 6 places. They got my name and phone number and non of them called me. Its not like i am gona go and steal their patients, I just wana sit there and see what they do. I need hours God damits lol Some DDS are real *** ****s. I am in Canada btw.I gota go check 10 other clinics this week

EDIT: rude comment deleted

start with your own dentist.

 

[chickensoupdr]

Just from experience, I think dentists will more likely allow you to shadow them if they know a little bit about you. So try visiting his/her office and introduce yourself, or ask the front desk people if you can leave your resume with them.

Good luck!

 

[slm266]

Too many predents view shadowing as a service that ought to be provided to us.

You will have greater success if approach an office offering your service. Spend 30 min at home online learning the basic dental instruments and approach offices by saying you would like to sterilize instruments, clean operatories, and shadow when time is available. I was able to help a small office run a little more smoothly by helping with the basics and they really took the time to teach me. Before no time I had 150 hrs of shadowing and the dentist wrote me an amazing LOR.

I think it's silly to drop off a resume to shadow. They don't care what your GPA is or that you got a 20 on the DAT. They just don't want a weirdo making their patients feel uncomfortable. Be humble and hard working and you'll hear those magic words at the end of the day:
"we'd love to have you again; feel free to come and help any time".

 

[John Durian]

Try dental practices near universities. Oftentimes, they are used to undergrads coming in to observe.

If that doesn't work, then go into the office in person (hopefully at your own dentist's office or a friends dentist). Talk to the receptionist about how highly your friend spoke of his/her dentist and how you would love this opportunity to learn more about the field of dentistry blah blah blah

Last option would be to pay for an exam so that way the dentist will have to see you. During this short time period, you must give it your all to impress him and get him to let you come in and observe.

 

[7 Iron]

Also try asking your personal dentist if you could shadow him or her. That's how I started. Share your interest in dentistry and more than likely your dentist will let you come in to shadow. If they decline, ask him/her for the name of a colleague who might not mind a pre-dent standing around.

 

[MAdental]

The comment was not rude at all. I personally went to those offices, spent 2 hours of my time. I was polite, explained my situation and i didnt even ask for alot of shadowing hours. I just said 2-3 sessions of 3-5 hours. They all have been in my situation, they should know better. Just cuz you are a doctor , doesn't mean you can ignore people; atleast call me and say you cant have me or LIE, say you dont have enough patients. As you guys said, my best bet is to either go to my own dentist or just ask my Hospital volunteer coordinator if i can go spend some time at the dental office.The hospital office treats low income families.

 

[jonishere5]

I had the exact same problem as you, I called up around 10 dental offices in my area and received no reply =(

The way I got the opportunity to shadow a dentist was I started asking around my friends/coworkers if they knew dentists. My co-worker had a cousin who was a dentist and I shadowed him, and my friends dad was a dentist, and I shadowed my friends dad!

I also started volunteering at my local Oral Health Coalition, and they introduced me to a lot of dentists that I later shadowed!

You should ask around, and maybe start volunteering at a local organization that seeks to improve access for dental care, and I'm sure you will meet a lot of dentists that you could potentially shadow, plus it will be fun, you will help out the community, and it will look great on your resume for dental school!

Good Luck!

 

[slm266]

I personally went to those offices, spent 2 hours of my time. I was polite, explained my situation and i didnt even ask for alot of shadowing hours. I just said 2-3 sessions of 3-5 hours. They all have been in my situation, they should know better. Just cuz you are a doctor , doesn't mean you can ignore people; atleast call me and say you cant have me or LIE, say you dont have enough patients. As you guys said, my best bet is to either go to my own dentist or just ask my Hospital volunteer coordinator if i can go spend some time at the dental office.The hospital office treats low income families.

Wow. Maybe try asking from the beginning if he will be willing to write you a 2 page LOR as well, or a free cleaning.

If I was a dentist and some kid walked in with that sense of entitlement, I wouldnt even bother to call him back either. You should print this page and keep it until you are a dentist.

Shadowing in someone's private practice is a privilege, not the duty of all dentists. Never ask to do multiple shadowing sessions, but ask for a 1 hour block of time. You then will have 1 hour to prove to them that you can be pleasant to be around.

After that hour as you say good bye and thank them for having you, they may tell you that you are welcome to come back. If they do not offer it, don't ask.

I did not get a good vibe from the very first office that I shadowed at. The Dr was very friendly with his patients but did not really address me very much or invite me back. I was cool with it and didn't bother asking if I could come back. I went to 3 or 4 more offices and those ones were very nice and said I was welcome to come back any time.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

One of the very first things that I've learned as a full time assistant was that reaching a dentist over the phone should be made impossible... it should be like fort knox.

You can try calling any office and not once will a dr ever pick up the phone unless it happens to be incredibly early and the assistant or w/e didn't come in yet. 99% of the time it will be someone else picking up. Your message will be taken but more than likely, it will never reach the owner of the practice.


My advice is to visit in person or better yet be smart about it and get a cleaning done at the right place.

 

[lululime]

I think that visiting the clinics is much better than phoning. The effort to visit shows how important shadowing is to you. And it also gives you to interact so that the dentist can see that you are personable. Also, try dentists of the same ethnicity as you---they may feel more comfortable.

 

[MAdental]

Wow. Maybe try asking from the beginning if he will be willing to write you a 2 page LOR as well, or a free cleaning.

If I was a dentist and some kid walked in with that sense of entitlement, I wouldnt even bother to call him back either. You should print this page and keep it until you are a dentist.

Shadowing in someone's private practice is a privilege, not the duty of all dentists. Never ask to do multiple shadowing sessions, but ask for a 1 hour block of time. You then will have 1 hour to prove to them that you can be pleasant to be around.

After that hour as you say good bye and thank them for having you, they may tell you that you are welcome to come back. If they do not offer it, don't ask.

I did not get a good vibe from the very first office that I shadowed at. The Dr was very friendly with his patients but did not really address me very much or invite me back. I was cool with it and didn't bother asking if I could come back. I went to 3 or 4 more offices and those ones were very nice and said I was welcome to come back any time.

You are right, I should have just asked for one 1 hour session. My mistake.

 

[hopefullyadent]

it is super hard to find dentists to shadow..i must admit..the ones who say yes tend to say yes very quickly (within the same first phone call u make)

i like john durian's suggestion

 

[UBDent19]

I recommend going in person right away. If you call or email, they may just be too busy to get back to you. The first dentist I asked said he didn't have room. The second dentist said okay and I've had a great experience. He even introduced me to some specialists that I have been shadowing.

 

[americanpierg]

I haven't ever come across a dentist that didn't want you to shadow them. Maybe other people have had bad experiences, but I think most are pretty happy to show you what they can do. What would be REALLY good is if you can somehow find a dentist that is on an AD-COM somewhere. Don't bring it up, but you will at least let them get to know you so you may have a better shot that way.
Good luck!

I've asked probably over 30 different dentists to shadow over the past 7 years... and I've gotten probably 5 yes and 25 nos