First Shadow

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N1264d

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I did my first shadow today. Good times. I watched 4 fillings and 2 veneers over the course of about 4.5 hours. It was great and I learned a lot. I am learning that posture is going to be very important. The dentist I shawdowed was very friendly and helpful. Then I went to another "public health" type place and wasn't impressed with their operation. I have been calling them over the last two weeks to set up an appointment to shadow. Finally through messages I set one up for tomorrow but they wanted me to show up a day early just to meet and greet. On the meet and greet the dentist discouraged the shadow for tomorrow because they didn't have much staff around and said a few months down the road would be better. ???? I don't think I am going to pursue that one. Rather, I will shadow a few GPs and maybe a specialist or two.
 
What year are you? You still have time to check it out, but yeah doing what you're doing is fine. I only shadowed a GP and then a clinic.
 
Yeah, public health can be messy. I volunteered at one dental clinic and it was pretty disorganized.

I'm shadowing a GP right now. I've seen a bunch of fillings and one root canal, hoping to see an extraction or 2 soon

What do you suggest asking the dentist? I've only done 10 hours and getting bored (there's only so much you can "see"). I need to do at least 20 more hours at the same dentist before (some school's requirement) I look for specialists to shadow.
 
What do you suggest asking the dentist?

ask the dentist about how they run the business. From my interaction with them, they enjoyed the business aspect of it much more now because the procedures are second nature to them. Also ask them if you can help out around the office, filing, sterilizing, taking out the trash, or even organizing the supply room. When I shadowed (which was a 😴) I asked the dentist if I could help in any way and he let me.
 
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