How much harder is Dentistry than Optometry?

[MasterStrike]

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I am talking about in terms of the DAT/OAT, dental/optometry school, and the boards.

 

[deleted678432]

Apples to oranges

 

[ncide]

Probably the best person to ask that would be someone who went to both schools and got both degrees.

Good luck.

 

[MasterStrike]

Probably the best person to ask that would be someone who went to both schools and got both degrees.

Good luck.

Damn Idk where to find a person like that

 

[deleted678432]

Damn Idk where to find a person like that

Because it is likely not possible, just as it is not possible to compare the education/boards of two completely unrelated fields.

 

[MasterStrike]

Because it is likely not possible, just as it is not possible to compare the education/boards of two completely unrelated fields.

How would I then be able to gain more info about the 2 for a decision?

 

[deleted678432]

How would I then be able to gain more info about the 2 for a decision?

Find which one you'd enjoy more, then go do it. If you really love it then the difficulty will not matter

 

[MasterStrike]

Find which one you'd enjoy more, then go do it. If you really love it then the difficulty will not matter

It seems as if I would like the eyes more than working with someone's teeth. However, Idk if the career for optometry is good because I've heard from many people that it is losing traction and becoming a dentist is better.

 

[ringofkeys]

It seems as if I would like the eyes more than working with someone's teeth. However, Idk if the career for optometry is good because I've heard from many people that it is losing traction and becoming a dentist is better.

you could do more research into both. maybe post in the forums for dental and optometry, rather than pre-dental. Also consider shadowing an optometrist and a dentist. My optometrist was the first healthcare professional I shadowed, and I had to make up an excuse about picking up my sibling from school for an appointment so I could leave after like two or three hours because I was so bored lol. But that's just my experiences. Shadowing definitely helps with deciding.

 

[DentEngineer]

Dentistry > Optometry. IMO, don't even consider optometry. I have a brother who is an ophthalmologist. Basically, ophthalmologists can do everything that optometrists do.
He said he's annoyed how optometrist association is trying to do LASIK surgeries and they do not have sufficient training to do so. My brother also mentioned that dentistry is respected in medical field because no medical specialty specializes in oral cavity and TMJ (jaw joint). No MDs can do what dentists do. It is a highly specialized field whereas optometry is not.
Also, keep in mind that dentistry is recognized internationally, whereas optometry is not a degree in a lot of countries. In some countries, optometry is just 1-year certificate.

Job prospects, income potential
Dentistry >>>>>>>>>>>>> Optometry

 

[grapefruit!]

Don't make major life decisions based on how hard an admissions test is! Both programs are hard. If you love the field, you won't mind putting in the work. If you hate your life everyday, no matter what the program is, it will be very, very hard. I mean, even if I could tell you that dentistry is 36% harder than optometry, would that mean anything to you?

If you read the comments above & SDN in general, you will find very different reasoning behind how people chose their careers. People have different values and it is important that you figure out what matters to YOU.

For example, a lot people on SDN talk about prestige and salary, and while there’s nothing wrong with caring about those things, those things just don’t particularly matter to me as long as I have some kind of stable career. However, it is INCREDIBLY important to me that I genuinely enjoy how I am spending my time, so that is what I focused on when making my decision.

For me, probably the biggest reason I chose dentistry over any other healthcare field is that it is very important to me that I spend a lot of time working with my hands and doing procedural stuff. Also, I want to have a lot of autonomy over how I practice (small business owner), I want to build long term relationships with my patients, and I definitely want to have more work/life balance than I would have in surgery.

Everyone will tell you that you should do some shadowing, and that is because it works. Just do it. It will help you assess how you will be spending your days in each career, what kind of people go into each career, what kind of opportunities will be open to you, etc. Just do it. Also, talk to as many dentists/optometrists as you can. Those question/answer sessions they hold with different professionals in the various pre-health clubs on campus are very helpful.