Is being a bad artist a ticket out of dental school?

[GiantCrab]

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My biggest fear about dental school is my lack of artistic ability. It is such a fear that it makes me question my career choice. I have the skills in the sense I know how to work with my hands. I work with dentist all the time, so I know what I would be getting into, but the more I read about dental school the more I feel like it is less about academics and more about art. I was the kid who got a "C" in art class back in middle school and high school.

How will this affect me in dental school?

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

My biggest fear about dental school is my lack of artistic ability. It is such a fear that it makes me question my career choice. I have the skills in the sense I know how to work with my hands. I work with dentist all the time, so I know what I would be getting into, but the more I read about dental school the more I feel like it is less about academics and more about art. I was the kid who got a "C" in art class back in middle school and high school.

How will this affect me in dental school?

Before dental school, I couldn't draw things other than stick figures. I could only paint by numbers. Snowmen were the only thigns I could sculpt. Overall, my hand skills pretty much sucked. But things are different in dental school. If you are able to follow directions and make your hands move in very small motions accurately, then you will do fine. You do need a little creativeness, but for the most part most things in dental school done in a particular way. By the time you have been able to master those skills, you will be ready to use the more creative side of you.

Don't worry. Most people have had no artistic background and don't really know if they can wax a tooth or prep a tooth prior to entering dental school. There are many others in the same shoes as you who excell in dental school.

 

[GiantCrab]

Thanks for the feedback.

Your words are very encouraging.

When you read about people having to sculpt masterpiece teeth out of blocks of wax it makes me question if I signed up for art school.

 

[Visceral]

I wouldn't worry about it. I am really bad at art and things are just fine. Even during first year I struggled with my wax ups a bit, but in second year we had to wax up some teeth for mock treatment planning and they all turned out really well. You'll be surprised how quickly you improve.

 

[denner]

Before dental school, I couldn't draw things other than stick figures. I could only paint by numbers. Snowmen were the only thigns I could sculpt. Overall, my hand skills pretty much sucked. But things are different in dental school. If you are able to follow directions and make your hands move in very small motions accurately, then you will do fine. You do need a little creativeness, but for the most part most things in dental school done in a particular way. By the time you have been able to master those skills, you will be ready to use the more creative side of you.

Don't worry. Most people have had no artistic background and don't really know if they can wax a tooth or prep a tooth prior to entering dental school. There are many others in the same shoes as you who excell in dental school.

I wouldn't worry about it. I am really bad at art and things are just fine. Even during first year I struggled with my wax ups a bit, but in second year we had to wax up some teeth for mock treatment planning and they all turned out really well. You'll be surprised how quickly you improve.

I'm glad the OP asked this question because I am no good at art (most of the time) and have been a bit concerned about this. I am more than willing to put in the work required (probably more for me compared to others) to become good at it, but was worried about the possibility that maybe I just wouldn't "get it" no matter how hard I tried.

Thanks for the encouraging responses.

 

[mcider]

As much as if you have fine motor skills you could learn the so called 'tricks of the trade' I think it poses as an advantage to have some sort of artists background. I'm writing the Canadian DAT and find the soap carving a piece of cake because of my Bio/Art split program.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

As much as if you have fine motor skills you could learn the so called 'tricks of the trade' I think it poses as an advantage to have some sort of artists background. I'm writing the Canadian DAT and find the soap carving a piece of cake because of my Bio/Art split program.

Yeah, OP is not questioning whether having an artistic backgound will be advantageous. That is pretty obvious there. Having the 'eye' of an artist does make it easier. Some artists do have more refined fine motor skills. But, by no means do you need to have any artistic background to be a dentist.

Like I said before, my artistic skills sucked before dental school and I was still able to be right at the top op my class when it came to classes like dental anatomy where we would wax crowns, operative where we would drill and fill, and prosthodontics where we would also wax crowns, prep teeth and make dentures.

Having an artistic background: Advantageous - YES Necessary - NO!!!!

 

[mcider]

Having an artistic background: Advantageous - YES Necessary - NO!!!!

I mean that's a huge reason why dentistry appeals to me, this is something I can use to my advantage in say interviews and personal statements for sure?