Is optometry a less stressful career than dentistry?

[Neil45]

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Obviously every career has added stress involved. But when comparing optometry to dentistry, I think the career of optometry has less tension involved due to the fact that optometrists do not perform surgery(except in Oklahoma). I went for an interview with my optometrist and dentist last week and both said that their career has low stress and high stress, respectively. What does everyone in here think about the stress involved in both careers?

 

[Kristene9]

Obviously every career has added stress involved. But when comparing optometry to dentistry, I think the career of optometry has less tension involved due to the fact that optometrists do not perform surgery(except in Oklahoma). I went for an interview with my optometrist and dentist last week and both said that their career has low stress and high stress, respectively. What does everyone in here think about the stress involved in both careers?

Personally, I hate going to the dentist, I get the impression the general public does too. I mean getting needles in the mouth and drills..... that’s just not my thing. It would be VERY stressful that no one wanted to come into my office. ya know??? That’s kind of like Medicine, who wants to go to school for 10 years to be around sick people all day?? I'm really not nice when I'm sick, I have found that others aren't ether, and I personally would rather spend my time NOT with sick people. These are both great professions and you can really help people! but you also have to find something you ENJOY doing. If you enjoy making people cringe when you stick drills in there mouth... I think dentistry would be perfect! If you enjoy sick people, go into medicine!!! These people get paid the big bucks for a reason...

So! If that isn’t your cup of tea, you could become an optometrist! I think it’s a great deal. We have our problems.. no doubt, but go shadow a optometrist and see what kind of patients he has. Everyone I encountered were friendly and happy to be there... well at least a lot more then at the doctor's office or the dentist. And! As if we weren’t lucky enough, the eye is VERY interesting. We get a great part of the body and the perks of dealing with happy people who don’t mind being there! Wow, listen to me, I should work in admissions! I would rather get my eyes dilated any day then go to the doctors or the dentist!

 

[Neil45]

Honestly, I never met anyone in my life who is scared to see an optometrist. They do not do any harm(I could be wrong) than compared to dentists or doctors. Also, my dentist told me that if I am interested in a career in dentistry, I should be good at putting nervous patients at ease. I am not sure if I could do that. I do not think anyone is nervous seeing an optometrist(except maybe if optometrist have to fit contact lens to their eyes). I remember when I was so nervous when I got my contact lens fitted.

 

[aphistis]

There are oral surgeons who've done both med & dental schools, and ophthalmologists who've done both opto & med schools...but it might be a little more work to dig up a DDS/OD. Without someone who's done both careers, it's all just stabs in the dark.

That said, based on my limited exposure to both professions, I can easily imagine optometry being a less stressful profession depending on the individual practice variables.

But on the other hand, good luck convincing your optometrist to prescribe pre-op sedatives for your yearly eye exam. 😉 I guess it's probably close to a wash overall, perhaps tilted somewhat toward optometry. You just have to do what you love.

 

[drmhyde]

There are oral surgeons who've done both med & dental schools, and ophthalmologists who've done both opto & med schools...but it might be a little more work to dig up a DDS/OD. Without someone who's done both careers, it's all just stabs in the dark.

That said, based on my limited exposure to both professions, I can easily imagine optometry being a less stressful profession depending on the individual practice variables.

But on the other hand, good luck convincing your optometrist to prescribe pre-op sedatives for your yearly eye exam. 😉 I guess it's probably close to a wash overall, perhaps tilted somewhat toward optometry. You just have to do what you love.

I should have been a dentist! You guys are SO MONEY and you don't even know it.

 

[drmhyde]

I really have to applaude the profession of dentistry. They've done a fantastic job of PR and people really value thier service. I think OD's are trying to model that, but we have a long way to go. That being said..I probabbly think dentistry is more stressfull. People aren't usually afraid to see an eye guy so the fear factor I think adds to the stress. Also dentistry is more invasive and carries more malpractice I would think? Plus ...you have to learn a new language...Mumblish. I read one time dentists have the highest suicide rate. (is this true?) If so I was wondering why... from your perspective.

 

[gsinccom]

There is definetly more money in dentistry and medicine (especially outside of primary-care) but you'll make a good living as an Optometrist. Optometry is a great route (although it is going more and more comercialized like Pharmacy) and will continue to be so if the legislators and insurance companies will continue to work with us as much as they work aganist us.

 

[aphistis]

I really have to applaude the profession of dentistry. They've done a fantastic job of PR and people really value thier service. I think OD's are trying to model that, but we have a long way to go. That being said..I probabbly think dentistry is more stressfull. People aren't usually afraid to see an eye guy so the fear factor I think adds to the stress. Also dentistry is more invasive and carries more malpractice I would think? Plus ...you have to learn a new language...Mumblish. I read one time dentists have the highest suicide rate. (is this true?) If so I was wondering why... from your perspective.

Based on what I dimly remember seeing here, I think dental malpractice is a little more expensive than opto. My understanding is that a 1,000,000/3,000,000 dental malpractice policy typically runs ~$2000/year. Seems like I remember someone saying opto malpractice runs <$1000/year, but I could easily be imagining it.

The suicide thing is urban legend. I don't have time to dig up links right now, but the short version is that the whole dentists & suicide thing sprang up from a single, terribly designed sociology research project. Several studies since then have refuted its conclusions, but we all know how much attention corrections get compared to the original headline. Right now it looks like dentists do have an elevated suicide risk relative to the general population, but it's right in line with other demanding white-collar jobs--physicians, attorneys, executives, etc.

 

[r_salis]

Right now it looks like dentists do have an elevated suicide risk relative to the general population, but it's right in line with other demanding white-collar jobs--physicians, attorneys, executives, etc.

I think with attorneys you meant to say *homicide* rate, not suicide rate. 😉

(I love bad lawyer jokes, sorry...)

 

[RLK]

Giving impressions & x-rays would suck. I still get nervous when I have to get those and I'm 29 yrs old.

 

[busupshot83]

I think the career of optometry has less tension involved due to the fact that optometrists do not perform surgery(except in Oklahoma).

In my opinion, a general dentist, due to the surgical aspects of the job, is a more stressful career than a primary care optometrist.

However, I'm sure there are optometrists that have more stressful practices than dentists... it comes down to the person. I shadowed a dentist that claimed "dentistry is as stressful as you make it." He continued that he use to work 6 days a week, but almost burned out. Since then, he says he cut back to working 3-4 days a week, taking a pay cut in the process, but is far less stressed as a result.

 

[aphistis]

Giving impressions & x-rays would suck. I still get nervous when I have to get those and I'm 29 yrs old.

That's what assistants are for. 😀

 

[ucbsowarrior]

Obviously every career has added stress involved. But when comparing optometry to dentistry, I think the career of optometry has less tension involved due to the fact that optometrists do not perform surgery(except in Oklahoma). I went for an interview with my optometrist and dentist last week and both said that their career has low stress and high stress, respectively. What does everyone in here think about the stress involved in both careers?

i found it to be a blast

depends on you and your school