orthodontics...boring?

[frubeak]

Hi,

I just shadowed my orthodontist that I used to go to and really liked it. It was cool to watch him do a case presentation and put on a girl's braces. But, as I got to thinking, all I saw him do was this and adjustments/change rubber bands. I still think the profession is really cool, but am wondering does it ever get boring, or did i just not see that much variety that day. How does it compare to a GP's day? Does GP get boring?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[psiyung]

I was contemplating ortho, but found out that it was boring as ****. Go assist an ortho student and bring a pillow with you.

 

[esclavo]

I was contemplating ortho, but found out that it was boring as ****. Go assist an ortho student and bring a pillow with you.

It must be the money you make for the time you put in that makes ortho exciting because nothing else they do excites me except for the surgical cases and they only excite me about a week before the surgery through 8 weeks post operatively.... then I get sleepy again....

 

[frubeak]

ok...so I'm getting the feeling that it is a little dull. How about GP? Does that get dull?

 

[aphistis]

ok...so I'm getting the feeling that it is a little dull. How about GP? Does that get dull?

The words every pre-dental and D1 student say are "I want to be an orthodontist."

In my experience, what most of them are really saying is "I want to earn $300,000 a year working three days a week and having my staff do all the work."

 

[armorshell]

The words every pre-dental and D1 student say are "I want to be an orthodontist."

In my experience, what most of them are really saying is "I want to earn $300,000 a year working three days a week and having my staff do all the work."

Is it really that suprising? I think if a business student said that, people would look at him a *****, for stating the obvious.

That being said, I shadowed on orthodontist for an entire, 697 hour week. Longest week of my life, yet somehow it was only 4 days...

 

[dc-10]

I was contemplating ortho, but found out that it was boring as ****.

Yeah, but you know what doesn’t get boring: patients that show up on time, that aren’t screaming bloody murder during the procedure… patients that have a BMI of <25, patients that don’t constantly ask “can I be put to sleep for this?”
You know what else isn’t boring? Not working through your lunch hour cause somebody’s temporary bridge came off while they were eating “starbursts”, not having your underarms pit through two shirts cause you’ve spent 40 minutes and still can’t get that root tip out, and not having patients that come at 4:59 with a “toothache”.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

Yeah, but you know what doesn’t get boring: patients that show up on time, that aren’t screaming bloody murder during the procedure… patients that have a BMI of <25, patients that don’t constantly ask “can I be put to sleep for this?”

I like your reasoning here. Though I'm confident in thinking that my patients' average BMI will halve when I get out of this place and into private practice...I'll be thrilled to leave the dead weight behind...

 

[SquidsLife]

I like your reasoning here. Though I'm confident in thinking that my patients' average BMI will halve when I get out of this place and into private practice...I'll be thrilled to leave the dead weight behind...

So you think you're done with having chubsters in your practice, eh?
Sorry, just had to laugh a little at at "average BMI will halve when I get...into private practice"...I have at least one per day come into my office and challenge the mechanics of my dental chairs.

 

[vorosvirag]

All jobs become jobs after a while. I will have to reinvent or tweek my practice several times during the next 20-30 years to keep it interesting.

I just talked w/ a GP who shared he doesn't like what he does. He likes the $, but doesn't particularly like dentistry. In his case, he prefers kids over adults, but is already fatigued after 5 years in practice. Orthodontists may get bored if they don't "spice" up their practices. Yet, I doubt many of us dislike what we do.

Further, I doubt many orthodontists are taking our own lives. I've never known if the alleged suicide reports among dentists are true. I just don't think orthodontists fall into deep depression over their work. If it is boring work, they seem to find the right therapy to get over it before jumping off the bridge.

 

[dmd2011]

bending wires seems pretty boring to me but every pre-dental i know at my school with the exception of me wants to be an orthodontist.

 

[OMFSZADE]

All jobs become jobs after a while. I will have to reinvent or tweek my practice several times during the next 20-30 years to keep it interesting.

I just talked w/ a GP who shared he doesn't like what he does. He likes the $, but doesn't particularly like dentistry. In his case, he prefers kids over adults, but is already fatigued after 5 years in practice. Orthodontists may get bored if they don't "spice" up their practices. Yet, I doubt many of us dislike what we do.

Further, I doubt many orthodontists are taking our own lives. I've never known if the alleged suicide reports among dentists are true. I just don't think orthodontists fall into deep depression over their work. If it is boring work, they seem to find the right therapy to get over it before jumping off the bridge.

How can orthos "spice up" their practice? Invisalign?

)

 

[SquidsLife]

I think he meant spice as in hot female assistants

My two ortho buddy's have some of the hottest (and talented of course) assistants!

Can't wait to open my practice up when I'm done residency....

.....of course I think my wife will be picking the assistants

 

[oms fan]

.....of course I think my wife will be picking the assistants

Yeah, my wife has already said that she wants in on the interviews...she knows what "qualifications" I'll be looking for in an assistant

 

[Firm]

I Can't wait to open my practice up when I'm done residency....

.....of course I think my wife will be picking the assistants

That's a shame.

The best way to spice up an ortho practice is to have a few challenging cases. I mean totally f***** up mouths that you transform in about 2 years. The patients are so happy, and you feel pretty good about yourself at the end of the day. To me Orthodontics is like playing mind-building games all day. I'm challenged by the ones who say "I bet you can't figure this one out".

 

[SquidsLife]

Further, I doubt many orthodontists are taking our own lives. I've never known if the alleged suicide reports among dentists are true. I just don't think orthodontists fall into deep depression over their work.

Most of the suicide data that helped give credence to this rumor comes from 1970's data regarding white male dentists. It was often misinterpreted and apparently a poor study (death certificates from 31 states, reported in "Mortality of Dentists, 1968 to 1972," Bureau of Economic Research and Statistics). Other health professions were left out of this often quoted study and apparently psychiatrists had the highest suicide rate among health professionals in the 70's....makes sense (dentists actually had a lower suicide rate than physicians back then but both were slightly higher than the average white male)

The stats i transcribed from a 1999 article (JADA?....notes from while I was in school) were...

Suicide took the lives of 30,575 Americans in 1998 or 11.3 per 100,000 population (according to the CDC). The average for health professionals including dentists and physicians was slightly higher at 11.8 per 100,000.
(This data was collected from death certificates from a majority of states from the eastarn and central united states)

Apparently this is a very unfounded rumor that just doesn't want to die...no pun intended

 

[ItsGavinC]

ok...so I'm getting the feeling that it is a little dull. How about GP? Does that get dull?

Think about your question. It only gets dull if you don't like dentistry.

 

[Orthros]

I was contemplating ortho, but found out that it was boring as ****. Go assist an ortho student and bring a pillow with you.

Maybe its boring cuz you dont understand what they're doing and when you assist, you're just their b**** running around and retrieving things for them and tying the bands. In dental school, you get to experience all specialties except for ortho (and maybe public health). It's only interesting when you get to participate in diagnosis and treatment planning.

 

[pacbum]

don't all dental procedures get redundant, especially for specialist and even for gp's? i've worked in an office for 4 years, and trust, after a few times, the procedures get very repetitive.

the difference is the patients. yes, true there are slight differences in treament but the majority is the same. however, each patient is different. it is this patient interaction that brought me to dentistry in the first place. what great about ortho compared to other specialties if you ask me, is that you get to see your patients for an extended period of time every month. you watch the children grow up, and that is something rewarding in itself. plus people don't mind going to the orthodontist...they're not as hated as let's say, an endo guy. so yes, the work may become boring, but your patient interaction is great in ortho.

and just for the record, i don't wanna become ortho, so i am not biased in any way.

 

[OceanDMD]

Yeah, but you know what doesn’t get boring: patients that show up on time, that aren’t screaming bloody murder during the procedure… patients that have a BMI of <25, patients that don’t constantly ask “can I be put to sleep for this?”
You know what else isn’t boring? Not working through your lunch hour cause somebody’s temporary bridge came off while they were eating “starbursts”, not having your underarms pit through two shirts cause you’ve spent 40 minutes and still can’t get that root tip out, and not having patients that come at 4:59 with a “toothache”.

They may or may not scream bloody murder, but I see plenty of kids going through ortho with crap hygienel swollen gums, stinky breath, dont wear their rubber bands, continuously eat tacos and knock off their brackets, etc...etc...

Its whatever floats your boat. Every specialty, and as a GP, has its moments. Its how you run your practice and handle the moments that make things exciting or boring. As a GP, there is nothing more exciting than taking someone whos a mess, combining all the disciplines, and producing a result that a patient is excited about.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Its whatever floats your boat. Every specialty, and as a GP, has its moments. Its how you run your practice and handle the moments that make things exciting or boring.

Well said. To each his own, which allows us to have all types of dentists practicing all types of dentistry. Some may find ortho boring, while others may find it intriguing, but neither of those arguments should be made on behalf of the OP. Their mission is to find out for themselves what they want out of their profession.

 

[pazdent]

Maybe its boring cuz you dont understand what they're doing and when you assist, you're just their b**** running around and retrieving things for them and tying the bands. In dental school, you get to experience all specialties except for ortho (and maybe public health). It's only interesting when you get to participate in diagnosis and treatment planning.

It seems to me that no one from this thread had heard this:"NOWADAYS ORTHODONTICS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PLAIN ORTHODONTICS"
I am talking about MINIANCHORAGE SISTEMS for example, were orthodontists themselves, properly trainned, are placing them since the size and the procedure itself is less invasive than doing a simple Exo, and you still can get the fun of a more or less bloody procedure and ofcourse,enjoy great results.

 

[DrJeff]

I was contemplating ortho, but found out that it was boring as ****. Go assist an ortho student and bring a pillow with you.

Must be a slow, small ortho practice. I know that my wife's practice averages 55 patients per day. No nap time there! If you like seeing alot of people, where your making ALOT of the same descions day in and day out, then ortho might be for you.

Or as I like to put it "what do you call a dentist who can't use a handpiece???? An orthodontist "

 

[docj1]

Nevermind

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

So you think you're done with having chubsters in your practice, eh?
Sorry, just had to laugh a little at at "average BMI will halve when I get...into private practice"...I have at least one per day come into my office and challenge the mechanics of my dental chairs.

Never thought I would be "done with having chubsters," but I can guarantee you that my AVERAGE private practice patient will not be 5'2" and 260 pounds. The normal-BMI patient is the exception to the rule here...

 

[esclavo]

Never thought I would be "done with having chubsters," but I can guarantee you that my AVERAGE private practice patient will not be 5'2" and 260 pounds. The normal-BMI patient is the exception to the rule here...

I don't know, I've seen that "southern-fried"/"Midwest-cornfed" physical presentation and coming from the west, you can tell some regional differences.....

 

[Doggie]

I like your reasoning here. Though I'm confident in thinking that my patients' average BMI will halve when I get out of this place and into private practice...I'll be thrilled to leave the dead weight behind...

Why is it that in each omfs program, there seems to be a strong correlation between the patients' education level, BMI, and oral/personal hygiene.

 

[Doggie]

All jobs become jobs after a while. I will have to reinvent or tweek my practice several times during the next 20-30 years to keep it interesting.

I will keep my practice interesting by hiring associates, assistants, and office managers who will occasionally do this.

 

[piko00]

I will keep my practice interesting by hiring associates, assistants, and office managers who will occasionally do this.

Such a refreshing pic. But Doggie, I thought you were gay. Maybe it's just your co-residents' wry sense of humor that gave me that impression.

 

[docj1]

I will keep my practice interesting by hiring associates, assistants, and office managers who will occasionally do this.

Nice.

 

[toofache32]

I will keep my practice interesting by hiring associates, assistants, and office managers who will occasionally do this.

Wear headphones?

 

[drben]

Orthodontics like any "job" gets boring...don't get me wrong I love my job, but as I have said before if it came down to going to work or going fishing, spending time with my kids, travelling, etc...I would chose the latter.

Dr. Jeff described it accurately when he stated that you are making a lot of the SAME decisions day in and day out. There are many days where I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhogs day...same discusussion about wearing rubberbands, brushing better, and explaining to Mom that finishing up in the estimated treatment time is contingent on Johnny's cooperation.

I have a good life, and this profession has been good to me...I have been out for 4 years, work 4 days a week, see between 75-95 patients a day, take around 10 weeks of vacation a year, and am on track to make $560K this year...not a bad life by anyones standards

 

[docj1]

Orthodontics like any "job" gets boring...don't get me wrong I love my job, but as I have said before if it came down to going to work or going fishing, spending time with my kids, travelling, etc...I would chose the latter.

Dr. Jeff described it accurately when he stated that you are making a lot of the SAME decisions day in and day out. There are many days where I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhogs day...same discusussion about wearing rubberbands, brushing better, and explaining to Mom that finishing up in the estimated treatment time is contingent on Johnny's cooperation.

I have a good life, and this profession has been good to me...I have been out for 4 years, work 4 days a week, see between 75-95 patients a day, take around 10 weeks of vacation a year, and am on track to make $560K this year...not a bad life by anyones standards

10 weeks of vacation a year will cure any boredom.

 

[Doggie]

Such a refreshing pic. But Doggie, I thought you were gay. Maybe it's just your co-residents' wry sense of humor that gave me that impression.

Could you blame me? A look at toofache would turn even arnold schwartzenegger gay.

 

[piko00]

Could you blame me? A look at toofache would turn even arnold schwartzenegger gay.

Well, at least my gf now knows who her real compitition is gonna be when I visit your program.. Does he look good in drag. You never know, maybe I'll give him a try. I think I may be drunk.

 

[toofache32]

Well, at least my gf now knows who her real compitition is gonna be when I visit your program.. Does he look good in drag. You never know, maybe I'll give him a try. I think I may be drunk.

Only on weekends.

 

[texas_dds]

The words every pre-dental and D1 student say are "I want to be an orthodontist."

In my experience, what most of them are really saying is "I want to earn $300,000 a year working three days a week and having my staff do all the work."

careful! please dont assume all ortho wannabes are chasing the money
pedo is where the money is at anyways.
my motivation for going into ortho came from my own treatment as a teen - i had some seriously snaggly teeth and my confidence and self perception were so positively impacted that i knew i had to become an orthodontist! after all the school, the money will be nice - but honestly never a motivator.

is ortho boring? 99% of the effort is in the diagnosis and plan - the rest is the part that im sure looks boring. its a thinking man/woman's game for sure.