Negative aspects of dentistry

[adr12]

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In your opinion what are the negative aspects of dentistry?

Cost of school?
Frustration of treating some patients that do not follow/want treatment?
Possibility of managed care in the future?

I can think of a ton of positive things, but am having a hard time thinking of any negative things.

 

[IcemanDDS]

One of the most positive and negative things I can think of in dentistry is owning your own practice. With all the great things that go along with that such as independence, job security, etc... I could see that as a negative when it comes to ALL the responsibility associated with it. You are ultimately responsible for your entire staff and their well being, your property management and all the regulations and financial obligations associated. Also you are in charge of your retirement, etc etc. You're not working for a company that will have all that set up for you, and have your back if you get sick, injured, or whatever.

It just seems like all these factors are overwhelming to me, and I can see that as a possible negative. Oh, and also having to decide on what color 911 to get 😀

 

[food4thots]

yeah.. managing a practice is a heavy load.

 

[SuperC]

One negative aspect of dentistry, this is more of GPs, is that it is impossible to be great at everything. Essentailly you have to be a jack of all trades.
-C

 

[beannaithe]

Trying to get deadbeat patients to pay. That could be a bit of a problem...

 

[food4thots]

patients with bad breath?

 

[SuperC]

Patients whose files are maked PITA. In house jargon for Pain In The A$$
-C

 

[Sprgrover]

...dental school...

 

[howui3]

how about dealing with teeth all day?

 

[aphistis]

...dental school...

Ladies & gentlemen, we have a winner.

 

[adr12]

Thanks for the replies, the financial responsibility and stress of owning a practice is definitely one I overlooked. Of course, it's also one of the primary reasons why I want to become a dentist!

 

[LadyxJC]

back pain when you start seeing patients? a few of the students at a school I interviewed at told me that it's one thing that they had trouble with, especially in the beginning

 

[Oppenheimermann]

back pain when you start seeing patients? a few of the students at a school I interviewed at told me that it's one thing that they had trouble with, especially in the beginning

Go to a school that teaches Ergonomics.

I thought teaching students how to operate in their most healthy positions was mandatory in dental schools.

Which school was it, just out of curiousity?

 

[Dental Mom]

How about dealing with people not showing up for their appt? 😡

I don't think having your own practice will be that bad. As you guys get older and gain confidence you will become a leader & a great manager 🙂

I have relatives and friends that own their practices. None complain at all....now the MDs 😱 oh, yes....lots of garbage there 🙁

 

[aphistis]

Go to a school that teaches Ergonomics.

I thought teaching students how to operate in their most healthy positions was mandatory in dental schools.

Which school was it, just out of curiousity?

Most schools will *teach* ergonomics, yes.

Wait till you're in clinic, though, working frantically to finish a huge MODBLXYZ amalgam before your instructors all leave for the night, and then see how interested you are in using indirect vision to keep your back ramrod-straight. It's the smart way to practice, but sometimes the immediate situation militates against doing it that way.

 

[Woodsy]

Ladies & gentlemen, we have a winner.

i agree dental school is the one of the worse aspects of dnetistry.

 

[adr12]

How about dealing with people not showing up for their appt? 😡

I don't think having your own practice will be that bad. As you guys get older and gain confidence you will become a leader & a great manager 🙂

I have relatives and friends that own their practices. None complain at all....now the MDs 😱 oh, yes....lots of garbage there 🙁

I am older (30), and have plenty of leadership experience/confidence being a Naval Officer/Aviator. I still feel that the burden of financial debt required to begin a new practice or buy into a practice will be stressful.

 

[Dental Mom]

I am older (30), and have plenty of leadership experience/confidence being a Naval Officer/Aviator. I still feel that the burden of financial debt required to begin a new practice or buy into a practice will be stressful.

Well, no bank will give you a loan until you have paid a good portion of it to show that you are financially stable. My uncle opened a practice 3 yrs ago in central CA. His bigest concern was to always be booked. Well, 3 months later and until these day he is booked! Sometimes for 3 months! 😀 He's now opening another practice on his own and is stressing about the color of the walls. It all depends on how well you manage things, how things go for you where ever you are trying to start, and how smooth your loan goes. Buying a home could be a very traumatic experience for some, or a very pleasant one for others. I have another relative in CO opening his own practice. Same thing, the stress is about always been booked. He says that things are going extremely well, and people are showing up daily. So it depends....

My friends here in FL say the hardest thing was to pass the FL board. After that, piece of cake to find a place, get the loan, hire people as so on....it really helps to have an older sucessful dentist to be your mentor too. It's also very important to work for few yrs for another dentist before having your own practice.

I look at life this way: raising children is the harderst thing I'll ever do. Anything else is manageble! I'm 30 will be done by 38! 😉 I'm very confident at 30--imagine what I'll be at 38! 😍