Pre-Dent ~ Crooked Teeth

[El Toro]

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I am cautious to post my question considering the response that similar topics have received in the past. However, I have interested enough to put it out there.

I am a 27 y.o. career changer enrolled in a post-bacc program. While I originally planned on med school, a number of recent experiences have led me to get very excited about the possibility of dental school. My question: Will the fact that I have several dental issues be to my detriment in the application/interview process?

I have an open anterior bite, a cross-bite (not sure if this is the correct name; top teeth/jaw are smaller across than bottom jaw, general crowding to the point that one of my top lateral incisors is pushed back a little and non-pearly whites. Not Austin Powers teeth but certainly not perfect. I have good hygeine and have taken care of everything non-orthodontic/surgical over the past few years while I was working and had good dental insurance. I simply didn't have the family situation or financial resources to have orthodontics/surgery growing up.

I really appreciate any input. FWIW GPA and EC's are very solid.

 

[321931]

I am cautious to post my question considering the response that similar topics have received in the past. However, I have interested enough to put it out there.

I am a 27 y.o. career changer enrolled in a post-bacc program. While I originally planned on med school, a number of recent experiences have led me to get very excited about the possibility of dental school. My question: Will the fact that I have several dental issues be to my detriment in the application/interview process?

I have an open anterior bite, a cross-bite (not sure if this is the correct name; top teeth/jaw are smaller across than bottom jaw, general crowding to the point that one of my top lateral incisors is pushed back a little and non-pearly whites. Not Austin Powers teeth but certainly not perfect. I have good hygeine and have taken care of everything non-orthodontic/surgical over the past few years while I was working and had good dental insurance. I simply didn't have the family situation or financial resources to have orthodontics/surgery growing up.

I really appreciate any input. FWIW GPA and EC's are very solid.

Explain in your interview/personal statement. When they asked me why dental school: I explained my personal experience with teeth and how mine aren't straight etc etc. Blah blah. You don't have to have perfect teeth to become a dentist. Just make sure you do communicate the importance of teeth, how to take care of them, and make sure they are white.

FYI: I've had several friends get into dental school with not the most perfect teeth. Overcrowded bottoms, spaces in the two front teeth, braces: you name it.

 

[Maygyver]

It shouldn't affect it, as long as you still appear confident. I've seen a few dental students with braces, so you can always get your problems fixed in dental school (for cheap) if you wish.

 

[soon2bedds]

You should be fine, when I was at my interviews I saw a number of students who had braces on and they either got them for free or very cheap from someone who was "practicing" on them from an ortho residency or something like that. Go for it!

 

[Vicviper]

I've got a friend in my class who has a pretty big class III occlusion (where the mandibular teeth are in front of the maxillary teeth), and he got into school without any problem - now that he's in dental school, he used is discount to get braces to fix his problem. Adcoms realize that people don't all have amazing teeth. I've seen plenty of dentists with imperfect teeth as well. If you're nervous about it, go talk to your dentist about bleaching trays - while it won't straighten, it will improve the color.

 

[El Toro]

Thanks for all of the responses. While I hate to be "needy" or require excessive reinforcement this was a real concern for me and I feel better. I appreciate the candor.

 

[SeattleRDH]

If you had generalized decay and active gingivitis I would be a little concerned about why someone with such poor homecare is wanting to become a dentist. Your conditions are just what you were born with and the adcoms know that. It's not like you could have created an anterior open bite through years of neglect.

I see a lot of people posting about how they think they have these embarrassing yellow teeth but you are your own worst critic. Ask for a shade guide at your next dental visit and see how yellow your teeth really are. You could be a A-1 and not even know it. Most celebrities (and many dental professionals) have whitened their teeth beyond a normal shade and are into the 'bleaching shades'. No one expects you to have paper white teeth when you go in to your interview. It's expensive!

 

[z3u2]

If you had generalized decay and active gingivitis I would be a little concerned about why someone with such poor homecare is wanting to become a dentist.

Majority of the population have active gingivitis, most of people aren't aware of it. Even with the best oral hygiene practiec it's still likely that one misses a spot or 2.

Your conditions are just what you were born with and the adcoms know that. It's not like you could have created an anterior open bite through years of neglect.

anterior open bites are mostly typically caused by actions such as thumb sucking. So no, it's often not something which somone is born with.

as to the OP, i don't think you need to be concerned.