First year dental student- Feel like I made a mistake

[Confused45]

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Hi All,

I need some sound advice! I am a first year dental student and I feel like I made a bad choice going into dentistry. I thought I would love it, but I haven't so far. When school was about to start I didn't have any excitement, I knew then that I wouldn't enjoy it, but thought that because I put so much effort into keeping my grades up, applying, and going to interviews that I should just suck it up.

I don't know what to do. I am very confused and scared at this time. I am also 1,000 miles away from my girlfriend who I've been with for 5 years, who I spent almost everyday with.

 

[sugartooth]

Is there a particular aspect you don't like? If you are a 1st year student, I assume you've only been at it for a few months at the most. If you could talk more about exactly what it is that isn't doing it for you, or why you think dentistry might not be for you, people might be able to give you better advice. What made you want to become a dentist in the first place?

That being said, dental school isn't necessarily something I did because I "enjoyed it", but practicing dentistry is a lot different than dental school was (especially the first year dental school, at least for me). It reminds me of a former classmate of mine. She dropped out after the first year because she "didn't like all the lab work." Well, as a dentist you can do as much or as little lab work as you want. Apparently she tried to get back into our class, but it was too late then. Just an example of someone who couldn't stick it out long enough, in my opinion.

 

[theartofzahn]

That's rough. It sounds like you had enough reason to pursue dentistry? What would you do instead? Think about that, don't forget that the first year of dental school is the worst year of dental school. Stay positive and do your best. You had to have picked dentistry for a reason. Missing your gf sounds like a factor too, so sort it out with us.

 

[Shazzam]

That being said, dental school isn't necessarily something I did because I "enjoyed it", but practicing dentistry is a lot different than dental school was (especially the first year dental school, at least for me).

This. If you enjoyed what you saw when you shadowed, stick it out. School isn't a good representation of what you'll be doing later.

 

[djeffreyt]

Why did you go into dental school. What were your reasons for wanting to be a dentist at all. All things in life require going through hurdles in order to achieve the goal, and dental school is a big hurdle.

That being said, consider carefully if the end goal of a life as a dentist is what you want, either for the lifestyle and money or for the sheer love of working in iny saliva filled mouths. If you really don't know why you decided to go through and get into dental school or don't think being a dentist in the real world (not in school), then get out before you accumulate $200,000+ in debt.

 

[preOMFS]

I hate dental school. Lets face it: it blows. Its hard, you dont get much sleep, the school (at least mine) makes you jump through ridiculous hoops, but at the end of the day I know that I have to have a DDS behind my name to achieve my goal of becoming an oral surgeon.

My advice to you: stick it out for at least the first semester (since you already paid anyways) and then make a decision. Try to do well in your classes and reach out to your classmates for social support.

Good Luck.

 

[OMFS08]

Wow. I am sorry to hear that. I can attest that I too did not and still do not like dental school. But as PreOMFS said, my end goal is to get accepted to oral surgery residency then I will truly be happy. Bare in mind that 1st year of dental school is not dentistry. You do not get exposed to real dentistry until you get into clinics in your 3rd year. With that said, I am now a 4th year student, still not loving dental school but I am excited to be almost done so I can truly start what I love which is ORAL SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay! Stick it out for the semester and see if it gets better. Also ask your girlfriend to move closer or take every break you get to go visit her. Good luck! Its tough but at the end its all really rewarding. PM me if you need any more personal advice. All the best!

 

[Daurang]

Dental school suxs and first year suxs the most. I myself almost flunk out the first year but it gets so much easier afterward. However it's not too late to drop out if it's simply not in you. I have friends that have dropped out of dental and med school after the first year because they didn't like it.

 

[Timpson]

How can you guys say you hate dentistry but love oral surgery? The two are very similar. I mean, there might be parts of general dentistry that you dislike but overall??? You do realize that many general dentists do 50%-90% of their own oral surgery.

 

[OMFS08]

This post is for addressing the OP's concerns not discussing why our personal choices are what they are. You can start another thread if you feel so strongly about the matter.

p.s I do not "hate" Dentistry, but I dislike dental school. The two are different.

 

[John Durian]

You sound like 1/2 to 3/4 of my classmates, especially around finals week 😀.

And it does suck. But you'll be done in 3 more years, so just keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[mixoma]

Hang in there, everyone feels like you during dental school especially 1st and 2nd year (those years suck!) but it does get better especially when you get in clinic, and when you are out not dealing with school BS getting a pay check it is all worth it.

 

[preOMFS]

You do realize that many general dentists do 50%-90% of their own oral surgery.

This may be true, but this doesn't mean they do 50-90% of what oral surgeons [can] do. The oral surgery general dentists are allowed to do isn't the best part of oral surgery IMO.

Also, like the other person said, I don't like dental school, but parts of dentistry are somewhat tolerable.

To get back to the OP's concerns, my point was simply that they should figure out if having a DDS is needed to reach their goals. There is a lot more you can do with a DDS besides just "drilling and filling" (i.e. specialties, research, organized dentistry, academia etc.)

 

[diasIItema]

Personally I'm having more fun in dental school than I had in undergrad. I think it's what you make it.

 

[OMFS08]

80% of dental school blows!!!! 20% is just okay! But what counts is getting to the endpoint whether it be residency or general practice. IMHO!

 

[anotherpredent]

Whoa. Everlasting residency? That's a sucky endpoint! I hope you eventually get out of there!

 

[uthscsaalum]

I can't even describe how much I hated dental school. It was the worst time in my life and I often wondered if I made the right decision to attend.

Flash forward to now with me as a general dentist... I work only 35 to 37 hours per week, I generally like going to work, and I make a ridiculous amount of money per hour. The only thing I don't have that I want is to be "the boss" but I am on a path where I know it's just a matter of time before I take that step.

My point here is just to show that dental school and being a dentist are worlds apart from eachother. I would bet that missing your girlfriend is messing with your mind more than anything. I hope you don't quit and then regret it later. If your thoughts are based on what you saw shadowing then maybe now might be the time to quit, but don't base this decision only on hating dental school because that's normal, IMO.

 

[jpark1800]

I can't even describe how much I hated dental school. It was the worst time in my life and I often wondered if I made the right decision to attend.

Flash forward to now with me as a general dentist... I work only 35 to 37 hours per week, I generally like going to work, and I make a ridiculous amount of money per hour. The only thing I don't have that I want is to be "the boss" but I am on a path where I know it's just a matter of time before I take that step.

My point here is just to show that dental school and being a dentist are worlds apart from eachother. I would bet that missing your girlfriend is messing with your mind more than anything. I hope you don't quit and then regret it later. If your thoughts are based on what you saw shadowing then maybe now might be the time to quit, but don't base this decision only on hating dental school because that's normal, IMO.

how much do you make, if you don't mind me asking

 

[bikedoc]

80% of dental school blows!!!! 20% is just okay! But what counts is getting to the endpoint whether it be residency or general practice. IMHO!

This quote sums it up for me. Dental school does not represent what you will be doing later. You have to ask yourself if you will enjoy working with people in a sometimes challenging atmosphere. I can tell you that there are days that I am really happy I chose this profession, then there are days that are quite tough. Overall its a good profession, just a long haul to get there.

 

[FlyingSky]

need your opinion please
I always wanted to be a doctor (medicine), it didnt work out but I got accepted in both dental and pharmacy school, had a big decision to make, I chose dentistry when everybody else was suggesting pharmacy (including dentists)...
Its been 3 weeks of school and I'm not sure I made the right decision... I mean, if I did, I wouldn't be asking myself?

My physiology/anatomy/histology/etc classes are really interesting (I love learning about the whole body) but I kinda dislike the classes about TEETH alone, learning all the details about each teeth, I don't really feel passionate... I almost fall asleep in class... Carving teeth is a long process, it's not particulary fun either, just okay...
Is it normal to not be that excited to learn about teeth?
I'm wondering if I'd rather be learning about chemicals effects on body (pharmacy)...

 

[KAIN DDS]

Homesick maybe distracting you? Piece of advice career first! But I understand as I'm married to my best friend! But you need a good career to help you and her through yr life!

 

[KAIN DDS]

That's easy, yes u should have bc chem students more often than not wouldn't like teeth! If you even think you would enjoy chemicals more you should definetly switch! I'm the opposite can't stand org chem but would love to carve teeth!

 

[yappy]

Who cares what you are learning about? Think about what you'll be doing. No disrespect to pharmacists but they don't get to use their Pharm D. knowledge very often while working. This is because the majority of them are employed by corporate employers who only care about volume and money. Also, the practice of pharmacy doesn't exactly lend itself to you being able to talk chemistry with your patients or even pick medicines as RX is a physician right.

Think about what you'll be doing post grad rather than in school. IMO being a dentist is better because you're the sole practitioner who takes a history, interp imagines, employed a treatment plan, then carries it out. You need a great deal more understanding of chemistry doing that than bottling pills, making phone calls, and explaining precautions to patients.

One key thing is since you started dental school the pharmacy job market has tanked. I remember in 08 when I started college EVERYONE was going to be a pharmacist because it was an easy 100k and you didn't even need a BA/BS. I would count yourself lucky that you went into dentistry.

need your opinion please
I always wanted to be a doctor (medicine), it didnt work out but I got accepted in both dental and pharmacy school, had a big decision to make, I chose dentistry when everybody else was suggesting pharmacy (including dentists)...
Its been 3 weeks of school and I'm not sure I made the right decision... I mean, if I did, I wouldn't be asking myself?

My physiology/anatomy/histology/etc classes are really interesting (I love learning about the whole body) but I kinda dislike the classes about TEETH alone, learning all the details about each teeth, I don't really feel passionate... I almost fall asleep in class... Carving teeth is a long process, it's not particulary fun either, just okay...
Is it normal to not be that excited to learn about teeth?
I'm wondering if I'd rather be learning about chemicals effects on body (pharmacy)...

 

[miravyn]

You're not the only one feeling this way. I've been out of dental school for more than 2 years. Sometimes I think back and wonder how in the whole I was able to sleep 2-4 hours per day for 7 days straight during finals week. Knowing what I know now about the dental school curriculum, I don't think I can go through dental school again. But what got me through dental school was being so busy that I didn't have time to be depressed and have good friends with whom I could complain. It helps to talk to your classmates and have a bit ching session every week or everyday.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

need your opinion please
I always wanted to be a doctor (medicine), it didnt work out but I got accepted in both dental and pharmacy school, had a big decision to make, I chose dentistry when everybody else was suggesting pharmacy (including dentists)...
Its been 3 weeks of school and I'm not sure I made the right decision... I mean, if I did, I wouldn't be asking myself?

My physiology/anatomy/histology/etc classes are really interesting (I love learning about the whole body) but I kinda dislike the classes about TEETH alone, learning all the details about each teeth, I don't really feel passionate... I almost fall asleep in class... Carving teeth is a long process, it's not particulary fun either, just okay...
Is it normal to not be that excited to learn about teeth?
I'm wondering if I'd rather be learning about chemicals effects on body (pharmacy)...

Hello,

I am afraid dentistry is not for you so I highly recommend you to withdraw and pursue medicine, Dental education is expensive and will take a toll on you mentally and physically. At the end, you want the result to be worthwhile rather than something that you are not happy of. DP

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

I'm not sure there are a whole ton of people in dental school that like learning about teeth or are passionate about teeth per se...

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I'm not sure there are a whole ton of people in dental school that like learning about teeth or are passionate about teeth per se...

Happy dentists are passionate about their career choice and not the medium that they work on. DP

 

[kyak]

Hi All,

I need some sound advice! I am a first year dental student and I feel like I made a bad choice going into dentistry. I thought I would love it, but I haven't so far. When school was about to start I didn't have any excitement, I knew then that I wouldn't enjoy it, but thought that because I put so much effort into keeping my grades up, applying, and going to interviews that I should just suck it up.

I don't know what to do. I am very confused and scared at this time. I am also 1,000 miles away from my girlfriend who I've been with for 5 years, who I spent almost everyday with.

OP-

I'm also a first year, and I mostly like it. At times it sucks- especially with next to zero pt interactions during 1st year (@ my school anyway). It can turn a well-intentioned future dentist into a robot of memorization for NDBE-I...

On the academic side, one thing to remember is that with all the didactic med science of first yr, dental school isn't anything like practice. We have virtually 0 clinic hrs, the human element is missing from your work (staff and pt interactions)...it can just really suck.

And that human side...that can really suck. It's a big part of why I chose this career. A bright part of my day to fill that void has been interactions with fellow students, professors, the DA's in the lab/clinic (sweet ladies, seriously, you should get to know them)... Your colleagues - classmates, professors - want to see you succeed! Lean on them when you need to. Classmates can bond over some of the miserable items, and for the remaining 3/4 of this academic year I feel like there will be many more bitching sessions.

Another thing is hobbies. I would go nuts if I just memorized content all day, plus that inkling of lab work. Go do things you enjoy. Get outside, exercise, build something, break things, whatever you do. Distract yourself for an hour or so each day from the misery that is didactic lectures for 7+ hours/day. If the med science of 1st year has taught me anything, it's that the human body cannot sit in lecture halls passively absorbing content for that much time each day, and still remain sane.

And after you've studied, AFTER you've shared in a bitching session with classmates, distracted yourself with your hobbies, had dinner, memorized all that **** for tomorrow's exam....THEN you call your friends, your family, sit with your spouse, whatever it is, as a calm and sane person.

[Personal experience: Keep the complaints with family/non-dent friends to a minimum- they want to know you're doing well. Complain with classmates, not girlfriend.]

Hope first year picks up for you OP.

 

[sandy1]

The best thing you do is withdraw from that and join in the field in which you are interested because if you have interest you can enjoy every walk of your life. And the second one if you are not able to live without your gf then try to study at the nearby places!!