How to choose a dentist to shadow...

[mynameistino]

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Do y'all just walk in to some random clinic and ask if you can shadow or how do you come about to shadow one?
Thank you

 

[PDizzle]

If you don't know a dentist personnaly,...then yeah. Walk in and introduce yourself.

I shadowed a friend of a friend sort of thing. Remember that most dentists had to do the very same thing so most should be understanding.

 

[teethextraction]

I tried the clinic affliated with my school first and then opened up the yellow pages and started calling dental offices around the area I lived by....many of them turned me down but a few offered me a chance to shadow...so don't give up, keep on calling those offices or if your school has a predental club, they usually have something arranged with local offices that will allow you to do some shadowing...

 

[Demeter]

a letter of rec from a faculty member would help you get in. many work part time and are part time faculty.

 

[polarnut]

Do y'all just walk in to some random clinic and ask if you can shadow or how do you come about to shadow one?
Thank you

Unless you're planning to make the grand entrance with a well-oiled shotgun, no, you dont just walk into a random office in a scrub and ask someone who takes you as a complete stranger if you can stand behind his/her back and stare. You'll either be treated as a psycho and be quickly ushered out of the door, or you'll get the more common response, "sorry, we're full", in which case you'll still be quickly ushered out of the door.

 

[Comet208]

Make an appointment with your own dentist first.

 

[aggie-master]

I met one dentist through a pre-dental society on campus and the other one was suggested by a family member that uses him as her dentist. I impressed one enough to already get a letter of recommendation from him after only 12 hours of shadowing him.

 

[Comet208]

I impressed one enough to already get a letter of recommendation from him after only 12 hours of shadowing him.

Maybe he just wants to get rid of you already!

 

[ias2512]

Maybe he just wants to get rid of you already!

LOL

 

[geckel]

I don't get what the big deal about this is.........I just showed up at my family dentist's office and asked. I also just called a volunteer clinic and asked over the phone and they were cool too. The volunteer clinic was a lot more laid back but the private practice was more related to what I wanted to see of the field.......I plan on private practicing 👍 .

 

[geckel]

I met one dentist through a pre-dental society on campus and the other one was suggested by a family member that uses him as her dentist. I impressed one enough to already get a letter of recommendation from him after only 12 hours of shadowing him.

I've had simmilar experiences with dentists just offering me letters of rec. Dentists are really helpfull people

 

[Generallee]

If you have a dental school nearby, try and get in contact with a professor who has his own practice as well. Usually, students will be helpful in helping you get in contact with someone. This way, you would have developed a "connection" to that dental school.

You could also try your local pre-dental society if you have one. Usually members will know some dentist they can hook you up with...

 

[mickeyaddi]

I started with my family dentist and she agreed. Then I contacted the office where I used to work and he agreed. When talking to each of them, I asked them if they knew of any dentists that I really should take the time out and try to observe and they each had suggestions. (They also had suggestions of ones to avoid--however, after thinking about it, maybe I should observe them to see what NOT to do).

I've shadowed five dentists, and one has actually offered me a temporary full-time position over the summer. You never know where these opportunities can take you!

To answer your question--phone at least a couple of offices and explain your situation. While observing those, ask for other dentists in the area that might not mind you shadowing them.

 

[lgreen_aci]

what types of practices or situations do you guys think might have better chances of offering part time employment to shadowers? Bigger practices, smaller, newer, older, private vs. clinic???

thnx