I hate dental school...
Started by aida87
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Had to get the last word in, eh?
Ok, DONE! No more comments. Its an argument that went all the way to the Supreme Court. No way we can settle it with a throwdown on SDN. 🙂
I am STILL curious though about OP's original post. They should be a dentist at this point. I want to know how they would reflect on their experience now that they should be a few years out.
Ok, DONE! No more comments. Its an argument that went all the way to the Supreme Court. No way we can settle it with a throwdown on SDN. 🙂
I am STILL curious though about OP's original post. They should be a dentist at this point. I want to know how they would reflect on their experience now that they should be a few years out.
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putting race and and affirmative action aside, the group with a larger population usually have an advantage over those of a smaller population
You reread what you wrote.
In these statements you are referring to a persons skills as a dentist, mechanic, etc. That is making reference to how qualified they are once they are out of school. It is perfectly possible to be treated by a dentist that got into dental school to fill a quota and at the same time was a good student and did well in dental school. My point is how a student gets in has nothing to do with the their quality as a professional once they get out. All dental students pass the same boards and learn the same things. This is why what you ar saying doesn't make sense. You don't look a dentist and say they must not be qualified as a dentist because they got into dental school based on a disadvantage. How they got in school has nothing to do with end result. Once you are a dentist whether I got in with higher grades than you is a mute point.
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Andre3k, you see affirmative action as giving those an opportunity to prove what they are made of, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Teeth63a, you see affirmative action as taking spots from those that have already proved what they are made of.
This is no different than the debate about when life starts when it comes to debating abortion. Each side sees themselves as right and nothing you say will change it, yet both of you are fighting tooth and nail for the other to see your side.
Its not gonna happen. At least, not by yelling at them on SDN. Just walk away.
Teeth63a, you see affirmative action as taking spots from those that have already proved what they are made of.
This is no different than the debate about when life starts when it comes to debating abortion. Each side sees themselves as right and nothing you say will change it, yet both of you are fighting tooth and nail for the other to see your side.
Its not gonna happen. At least, not by yelling at them on SDN. Just walk away.
I see what you mean, but usually when they say disadvantaged background they are also talking about underrepresented minorities in the health field and asians usually don't fit into this group. I also honestly (no offense or anything) don't think asians fit the same category as other minorities, but I don't want to start a war online over why not. Perhaps you and I can talk about it when we see each other at UCSF or something if you want.
WTF?!? This statement was purely ignorant. What about minorities makes them less qualified than others? I know plenty of minorities who are well-qualified to do whatever they please.
Lol. I feel you. I guess I feel like people look at certain things a certain way because thats all they know. I think if I explain my view well enough people will start to see it my way. Thats not going to work here I see.
Dental school sucks
End of Conversation.
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Huh?
I think people have the misconception that dentistry is a one dimensional field. That if you can't prep, you are doomed. Not true at all. You may have a hard time in preclinical courses, but get through it and you'll see that dentistry has a wide array of procedures that will fit your skill set and personality.
I personally feel dentistry has a little something for everybody. Some dentists just end up scaling and doing small fillings. Others end up only doing 3rds. Some will only do ortho. Obviously you need to get through the basic prep stuff to graduate, but once your done with that you can choose what procedures you want to focus on.
To the OP, do not quit dental school. If you have to take remedial courses, just take them and become better.
I personally feel dentistry has a little something for everybody. Some dentists just end up scaling and doing small fillings. Others end up only doing 3rds. Some will only do ortho. Obviously you need to get through the basic prep stuff to graduate, but once your done with that you can choose what procedures you want to focus on.
To the OP, do not quit dental school. If you have to take remedial courses, just take them and become better.
OK, obviously you need to go back to school and take English 101 and learn spelling and grammar.....👎
If the school is accredited then those that graduated are competent to practice dentistry. This thread is so off topic now!!
Bottom line, don't give up yet. First year sucks everywhere!! I don't think it gives you a true feeling of how you will do in dentistry. You've gotten some really good advice so use it. Nevermind all this negativity. Some people just have no people skills and obviously are ignorant.
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This was the most entertaining trainwreck I've read for a while now. Netter's doesn't count.
Please continue with the racist rants, and philosophical bullying. Oh yeah, where did that guy from Yale dental school go? And the guy who just wants everyone to get along?
This is like SDN Jersey Shore.
Please continue with the racist rants, and philosophical bullying. Oh yeah, where did that guy from Yale dental school go? And the guy who just wants everyone to get along?
This is like SDN Jersey Shore.
It baffles me why this awful thread hasn't been locked or deleted ><
new to this forum and came to "i hate dental school" after reviewing some remarks on the residency thread. aside from the tangent that was discussed - discussion about the curriculum in dental school was identical 30 years ago. many of us would discuss, (around a table) the necessity of this particular course or that...so, your argument for the meaningless courses or curriculum is old. there are a few perspectives worth reviewing; one is that dentistry has moved closer to medicine as a healing science. believe it or not, you will be called upon to know, or at least be able to know how to identify certain concepts learned in dental school...your patient and colleagues will expect that from you and it will separate you as a practitioner from a tooth fixer. ( you will then feel an enormous sense of pride that your school had that concept within it's curriculum). secondly, just as in the diverse undergraduate curriculum ( will i ever need history, math or english???), one must have exposure to the varying components of dentistry. all of your classmates are not going to become general practitioners; some researchers, some academicians, some specialists and some GP's. the spine of knowledge, as a base, must be present for the body to function. it's difficult, it's hard and it's challenging - but, please don't be bitter about your training and education. it will make sense and perhaps then you can mentor a student through their difficult times.
To the Op,
Handskills is not a "either you have it in you or not". Granted some people are born mozart. Remember, most of us are keyboard pluckers once in our lives, at least before we start IM and playing games. Same goes for dental school. No one expects you to be able to prep a molar, wax a tooth, or do a class II at the beginning of school. That's why we call school, "school". It is a place where we make mistakes and learn.
A motivated person will not see failures as "failures", but opportunities for success. Please do not quit dental school because of handskills. My professor said to us once, "Of all my years teaching, I probably had 2 students failed because of handskills". He's only been teaching for 30 years. However, he has seen countless students failed due to lack of motivation, unwilling to change or listen, arrogant, or just plain lazy.
I think this thread is old, so the op might already made the decision to quit. But to those that come later and might be in the same dilemma, please please reconsider. Getting into dental school is no easy feat.
When I read this threat, it is disheartening to know that someone is throwing away an opportunity to make a big difference for many people because he/she is struggling with school. Remember, 4 years of struggling and "suffering" in exchange for 54 years of rewards (assuming we live until 80) is a trade that I and many people will take without any hesitations.
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Help please
D1, I really hate dental school, its a pain waking up every morning
Is it normal to hate it? I totally bombed a final because I didnt have enough time to study because I was sick of school, dont know if I will be passing or not but if I dont I will freaking lose 1 year! 1 more year stuck in dental school, I'm really depressed right now can anybody share any similar experience? I mean I dont think everyone loves dental school but hating it so much that it makes you sick and vomit because you stress so much??? 🙁
D1, I really hate dental school, its a pain waking up every morning
Is it normal to hate it? I totally bombed a final because I didnt have enough time to study because I was sick of school, dont know if I will be passing or not but if I dont I will freaking lose 1 year! 1 more year stuck in dental school, I'm really depressed right now can anybody share any similar experience? I mean I dont think everyone loves dental school but hating it so much that it makes you sick and vomit because you stress so much??? 🙁
What aspects do you hate? Possibly this is similar to an UG major shift - you start doing course work and realize it's not for you. Some drop out - some switch majors. Just make sure you're making decisions that are best for you and will ultimately make you happy.
GL
GL
You need to ask yourself if you really love dentistry, forget the schooling part. If you don't, leave now before it becomes more painful.
Don't listen to these people who are telling you to just quit right away. That's not a positive solution and will only foster a quitter's mentality which will follow you for the rest of your life. If you quit on something as important as dental school, you're going to make excuses to quit anything else that might seem tough at the moment.
I understand the concept of cutting your losses, but you are nowhere near that reality. You're actually in a winning position. You made dental school, and have a great opportunity in a great career.
My advice to you is to change your personal/social life. I don't think it's dental school itself, but your personal life in general that is affecting your mood. The school might kick you out for poor grades/performance, but don't quit.
Its a great job I loved shadowing but dentistry wasnt my first career choice but I cant change anyway anymore and Im kinda excited when I think Ill get to meet my first patients ever in a few weeks!
Thank you for your comment, actually I cant be kicked out because of poor grades because my school is kinda cool, you can chill with the director when you want it just knocking on the door
And I kinda feel that my hate for dental school also comes from the fact that Im alone far away from my family and friends for the first time in my life, I hate going to the apt and find myself alone and my friends well they stUdy all the time but when they dont they are my their bf/gf...
So yea Im alone doing something I never pictured doing even if dentistry was my 2nd choice (there was 1/1000 chances I dont get in med school and it did happen and I still cant get over it today)
All my marks are great (As) except for that one class, but I got As in classes that have nothing to do with dentistry (biochem/histology etc)
I think I really did fail the exam and its the most important class 🙁 I didnt have time to study, I got myself so sick during finals I was vomitting everyday and wanted to go back home and never ever come back, it wasnt even a virus, just me being fed up and so stressed up and I hate myself for feeling that way, Im a loser but Im going to the doc to see if it has a physiological reason or its just my mind
I absolutely hate having to memorize teeth anatomy and then carving teeth in wax! Everybody is good at it except me, my teeth look like little houses its not even funny!!!
I have 2 weeks vacations now for christmas and I cant even enjoy it because I wont have the results before mid january 🙁 I just wish I could know to move on
I have no doubt you can get through dental school. You should have that faith in yourself. However, I do question your overall happiness in dental school and am surprised you didn't just reapply to medical school.
I'm not so sure the OP would be happier in medical school. I could be wrong; but, from what I've seen working at an academic hospital it can be much more isolating than dental school. You'll be put on floors, with staff that you don't know, that are not very nice, at odd hours of the day (1900-0700). That sort of lifestyle is very demanding and isolating.
F
Frank22
It amazes me the number of people that make threads talking about how they're in dental school or already practicing and that they hate their profession. Honestly, dentistry isn't for everyone, and many people are attracted to the field for the wrong reasons.
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This is true for every field. If you get out there and work, in any field, you'll notice how 33% seem to enjoy there day, 33% don't give a ****, and 33% hate it. My personal philosophy is that these groups would fall into their respective third no matter what field they were in. Work, like life, is what you make of it. The only unique thing about dentistry is it takes eight years to get there....
Re-apply VERY BROADLY for medicine. There are a metric f*ck ton of Canucks studying med in Ireland / Australia / Philippines (UST) / Caribbean (mostly Saba).
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I think I can give you some of my tips to get through these classes:
1. Waxing:
Do not just build up a big junk wax and carve into a tooth. This method is unpredictable and not very productive. If you haven't already tried this method, then do the followings:
First, always wax to occlusion. You will be amazed at how this step will give you a perfect anatomy, given that you are waxing to an opposing teeth with perfect anatomy. You can achieve this by waxing cusp by cusp (drop wax and build it up until it contact the opposing structure)
After establishing the cusp heights, build up your marginal ridge because this will allow you to build your proximal wall with the proper convexity and contact width. You want to get the proximal convexity right at this point because proper proximal convexity will prevent your wax pattern from breaking. You can check your contact with shim stock or articulating tape, which will help you see the location of the heavy contacts and shave them down.
Now use your wax dropper and build "axial" line angles (usually there would be three lines on the facial and three on the lingual axial wall). After the line angles, then the next step is to fill in the open areas with wax following the curve established by your line angles.
I always have my wax dropper really hot so that I smooth out my wax pattern as I build it up. You need to find out the temperature that works for you.
When you go back and finish the occlusal anatomy, try to avoid as much carving as possible. You want your wax dropper to do the works for you. A good looking central groove is created by the convergence of the cusp's inclines as the hot wax flows. Also, know you tooth anatomy.
Last step is finishing and polishing.
2. Crown prep:
I always break proximal contacts first. Do this with a 169 or 170. Keep the bur straight as you go through the proximal. Try to have your rough proximal margin about 1 to 1.5 mm above the FGM because your will smooth this out with a diamond at the end.
Now use your 330 to make occlusal depth grooves. I tend to make my depth grooves at the high and low points on each cusp.
You can use a straight diamond bur to do the occlusal reduction.
Now you can start on preping the buccal and lingual axial wall. If you're type of person who tends to over taper, then you should use a straight diamond instead of a tapered diamond. Once you pick out your diamond bur, use the same bur to make your depth grooves and your reduction. I recommend your depth grooves to be no greater than 1/4 to 1/2 mm.
When you're working to perfect a technique, you should work slowly until you get a hang of it.
3. Caries prep:
Do not cut corners. Remember that these preps are small and remember which purpose of each instrument.
I assume that your instructor give you a step by step instructions. If this is the case, you should follow the instructions and only deviate from the instruction when you become sufficient. For example, for a class II amalgam on a molar I always do my proximal first, in which I will establish and finish my gingival floor, proximal walls and pulpal axial wall before I carry to occlusal reduction.
Do not get discouraged. If you work on a tooth and make a mistake (eg. over extend your proximal walls, over taper your lingual wall, etc.), keep working on the same tooth because you will better off working with what you have instead of restarting the prep on the brand new plastic tooth. Remember, in real life you do not prep a perfect and sound teeth but rather a broken or highly decayed tooth. So learn to work with what you have is a good way to think critically and enhance your skills.
I know this is a lot of info, but read and re-read and try it. Also, you will see that when you get good at waxing, the very same technique that you use in caring will carry onto carving a wet/half-set amalgam.
So good luck and do not hesitate to ask for more help.
Obviously Sciencegod did not do their homework. Next time you decide to put a school on blast like that check your facts. In addition just because you perceive Howard to be some kind of cake walk does not make it true.
Howard is difficult just like any other Dental school. They are accredited and follow the same curriculum you do so their students can be successful in their boards. Last I checked the students take the same licensing exams that other Dental schools take and have been successful.
As far as I know their DAT acceptance scores across the board is 18 and lowest GPA 2.85. So what if 2.85 is lower than some schools, most of the people they accept are usually higher anyways.
Don't cast judgments before you get your facts straight.
Everybody hates dental school the first two years. It's frustrating.
And then they start seeing patients and things change.
And then they start seeing patients and things change.
i feel sorry for the chap earlier who didnt get into med school. I cannot imagine having to mess around in someones mouth all day if it wasnt my first career choice.
Also Im confused how you didnt get into med school yet got into D school. Both take 40% of applicants and have very similar gpa/sgpa. If you can get into one you can get into the other. If for some reason the MCAT was just beyond you, getting into DO school compared to dentistry is a cakewalk. Youre still a dr, you still specialize, you still "made it".
Also Im confused how you didnt get into med school yet got into D school. Both take 40% of applicants and have very similar gpa/sgpa. If you can get into one you can get into the other. If for some reason the MCAT was just beyond you, getting into DO school compared to dentistry is a cakewalk. Youre still a dr, you still specialize, you still "made it".
Why do people hate dental school (specific reasons?) is it because the classes are dry, too much work, etc? I'm about to start dental school and I sincerely hope that I won't hate it ! Maybe the fact that I'm a self admitted workaholic will help me?
This is true for the most part, but things can also go the other way. We had 2 students dropped out in class be low me during 1st semester of their 3rd year, after seeing patients. Sometimes you just don't know if you really like being a dentist unless you interact with patients first hand.
Reasons why people hate dental school.... go:
1. It's hard. Not necessarily difficult concepts, just a lot of material and not enough time in the day.
2. Some people don't like working with their hands, and get frustrated easily.
3. Instructors can be a pain in the @#$, and make you feel like @#$%.
4. Often students in professional schools are more used to doing well, and when they finally get a challenge in dental school, they start hating it.
5. It's frustrating because it's ALL NEW CONCEPTS. It's not repeats of things you've seen over and over. so you're not going to know it 100% the firs time around. It's taxing to constantly learn new material, and it can wear people down.
- Therefore you make a lot of mistakes because you're learning.. which can make you angry, sad etc.., especially when you have to repeat things over and over because it didn't work the first time.
6. Many late nights, studying, or in the lab.
7. Students don't always get the grades they're used to getting, and that upsets them.
8. Patients can be a pain in the butt, especially when you need requirements fulfilled, and they just no-show.
9. The weeks can go by SOOOOOO slowly.
10. Many weekends can be wasted studying when your friends are out having fun.
11. There seems to be additions of lots of pointless work and classes which your and classmates will complain about endlessly at lunch.
I could go on.. but you get the point. maybe people want to add their own?
This a pretty awesome thread. Chocked full of innuendo and racism. Exciting! (not really).
I agree with every single one of these points, except with #3 because the dentist instructors at my school are pretty awesome (for the most part).
I think it's perfectly natural to dislike dental school for all sorts of valid reasons. Personally, I loathed it because of the junvemile atmosphere, majority of my classmates and what they do (rumoring, gossiping, backstabbing, etc.), and of course the endless quizzes/exams/practicals.
What I find, however, is that people who hate dentistry tend to be those who got into the field before they are truly 'mature.' They lack real-world experience to show them what other alternatives present and what they can be saddled with instead. Personally, I don't know of anyone who hated dentistry after getting into it as a career change (like myself) or as an older individual several years after college. Instead, the haters tend to be those who got into it right after college, have no idea what the real-world is like, and tend to complain about things that more experienced folks find trivial. For example, I had a high school acquaintance who got into dentistry young right after high school as part of a BA/DDS program in six years, and has been practicing a while now. He lives in a nice house, drives a fancy car, and admits that he is financially secure and that the paycheck is nice. He complains, however, about having to deal with patients everyday and laments that he should have become a bodyguard or realtor. Whenever I hear this I have to suppress a smile, because I don't think he realizes that a lot of what he has he would not have from those fields instead. Money can't buy everything, but without it you can't do much either.
I like dentistry because it is a practical field. It allows me to do something I like, interact with people, and get paid well for it so that I can pursue the things I like in my free time. On most days I work hard from 8-5 but go home free from obligations (like on-call) and enjoy my own hobbies and activities. It is just a means to an end, being the practical person that I am. On the other hand I wouldn't be doing it if it paid like crap and I am not the kind of person to buy into the "passion" BS.
What I find, however, is that people who hate dentistry tend to be those who got into the field before they are truly 'mature.' They lack real-world experience to show them what other alternatives present and what they can be saddled with instead. Personally, I don't know of anyone who hated dentistry after getting into it as a career change (like myself) or as an older individual several years after college. Instead, the haters tend to be those who got into it right after college, have no idea what the real-world is like, and tend to complain about things that more experienced folks find trivial. For example, I had a high school acquaintance who got into dentistry young right after high school as part of a BA/DDS program in six years, and has been practicing a while now. He lives in a nice house, drives a fancy car, and admits that he is financially secure and that the paycheck is nice. He complains, however, about having to deal with patients everyday and laments that he should have become a bodyguard or realtor. Whenever I hear this I have to suppress a smile, because I don't think he realizes that a lot of what he has he would not have from those fields instead. Money can't buy everything, but without it you can't do much either.
I like dentistry because it is a practical field. It allows me to do something I like, interact with people, and get paid well for it so that I can pursue the things I like in my free time. On most days I work hard from 8-5 but go home free from obligations (like on-call) and enjoy my own hobbies and activities. It is just a means to an end, being the practical person that I am. On the other hand I wouldn't be doing it if it paid like crap and I am not the kind of person to buy into the "passion" BS.
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N
NAVY DDS 2010
Not to discredit your experience at your school, but aren't you a 1st yr dental student? If so, you have plenty of time to develop an opinion contrary to what you feel at this point. If you ask most dentists, they will tell you there were always at least a few that were jerks. Don't take me wrong. I loved most of the faculty I worked with at UTSD. But, there were a few that were jerks and I don't care if I ever see them again. Wait until you work in the clinic and especially with some specialists.
That said, if it weren't for the faculty I had, i probably wouldn't have graduated.
That's true what you say about real world experience making a difference, personally I have a lot of it, I'm slightly older for a D1 (25 years old) have worked ft in a clinic for 15 months as a receptionist so I have experienced medicine from another angle - and from a low totempoll position at that, so I know what the real world is like and it's not like undergrad, and am really grateful just to be in dental school and hard work and challenges don't scare me, I've already been through a lot.
But then again time will tell, I guess I'll find out.
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mid 30s, professionally licensed married with a few kids here starting dental school this year:
AMEN.
regarding the bolded, underlined portion I've quoted:
In my research in the years preceeding my commitment to the path I am currently on (dentist) I was interviewing a successful dentist and he displayed this phenomenon as well.
In his case he lamented that he'd listened to his parents and gone into dentistry instead of pursuing a career as a racing car engineer (aka mechanic).
At the time his lamentation didn't make any sense and I've been wondering about it for a few years. Thank you for this post: I think I can appropriately categorize his remarks, now.🙂
The most outlandish comment I've heard from a dentist is that I should become a navy seal instead. My response was "why not an astronaut?"
I've noticed that people attracted to dentistry often have broad interests and retrospectively ponder different careers they think they may have enjoyed more. I imagine I'll do the same, to some degree degree, too.
Congratz on your acceptance, Bobby Fischer. I think you're going to tear it up.
I've noticed that people attracted to dentistry often have broad interests and retrospectively ponder different careers they think they may have enjoyed more. I imagine I'll do the same, to some degree degree, too.
Congratz on your acceptance, Bobby Fischer. I think you're going to tear it up.
mid 30s, professionally licensed married with a few kids here starting dental school this year:
AMEN.
regarding the bolded, underlined portion I've quoted:
In my research in the years preceeding my commitment to the path I am currently on (dentist) I was interviewing a successful dentist and he displayed this phenomenon as well.
In his case he lamented that he'd listened to his parents and gone into dentistry instead of pursuing a career as a racing car engineer (aka mechanic).
At the time his lamentation didn't make any sense and I've been wondering about it for a few years. Thank you for this post: I think I can appropriately categorize his remarks, now.🙂
Thanks, I hope I can endure d school well (enjoy it to the extent possible and then ignore the inevitable nasty parts like Shunwei and others in this thread have described).
Actually yappy I don't think these individuals are more interesting than the average Joe. Instead they are just people who have their basic needs met with no financial concerns, get bored, and start pondering ridiculous ideas. It's simple as that.
25 entering dental school really is slightly older.. you will find that you will likely have a lot of students the same age as you.
