Pre-dental advice

[bevoMBA90]

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COMING OUT...Confessions of a 3rd year dental student who called it quits

Here is what happened to me 30 years ago, while attempting to become a dentist. Please go to my blog for the entire story. I cover 5 topics:

1.DENTAL school vs. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
2.PRE-DENTAL ADVICE...are you sure you want to do this?
3.WAR STORIES...30 years ago, in a dental school far, far away...
4.COLITIS...or, dropping out becomes an option when you get really sick
5.VINDICATION...why I am still a good person after leaving dental school in the junior year

I hope things have changed for the best, but probably not. (I compared notes with my dentist who graduated in 1999.) Having earned a degree in science and another in business, let me set the tone: dentistry is just too hard for what you get! If you think you can make it in dentistry, its better to go medical school. If you are like me, and want to make a difference (save the world), then you will have more options as an MD than as a dentist.

So, if you still want to go to dental school, then here's the minimum you need.

1.The Kaplan course is absolutely vital. You need to learn how to take the test.
2.Take a jewelry-making class. You need to learn to work with wax and hot metal.
3.Start memorizing human anatomy, especially head-and-neck anatomy.
4.Start memorizing pathology with stress on the oral, face and head manifestations.
5.The same goes for pharmacology. Start memorizing drugs used in dentistry.
6.View ALL the U of Michigan Dental School videos posted on YouTube.
7.Get a jar full of extracted teeth.
8.Go on eBay and buy the following: 1) a typodont with pole, 2) extra ivorene teeth, 3) dental exam kit: mirror, probe, cotton pliers, and explorer, 4) several enamel hatchets and hoes, 5) glass ionomer cement kit, 6) dental wax and waxing instruments. Start using these tools as stated in various other websites.
9.Recommended books—currently available from eBay for $10 each, including S&H.
Pocket Atlas of Human Anatomy by Feneis and Dauber.
Churcill's Pocketbook of Clinical Dentistry by Chestnut & Gibson.

GOOD LUCK. You are about to make a $200,000 plus investment. Be sure it pays off.

 

[peanutb123]

1. I dont know how you guys did it back in 85 or whatever... but currently we take step by step, b/c trying to climb the whole mountain in one step will leave us at the same step that we start at. (which is what you are trying to prove buy telling us to do all that stuff ie. taking jewelry making class... THEY DONT EVEN OFFER THAT ANYMORE)...

Non of my friends d-school did not do any of the above mentioned and they are doing fine. They did take anat & phy.

2. Its very disrespectful that you(old fool) who dismisses the fact that a dentist cannot save the world... Can you provide the proff... NOTE* NOT ALL MD's ARE GOING TO SAVE THE WORLD... Man if you were not old. i would have flipped you off.

3. Business administrations vs. Dentist Come on man... we dont want to be sitting at the damn cubicle to develop 'COLITIS' we want to go around meet new people and user our skill obtained in D-school to help them feel better. If they feel better they will feel healthier, when they feel healthier they are healthier and live longer...

Ps. thanks for your depressing advice... i hope no one follows it...

 

[dentalWorks]

There are so many things wrong with this post... I dunno where to begin

I hope things have changed for the best, but probably not. (I compared notes with my dentist who graduated in 1999.) Having earned a degree in science and another in business, let me set the tone: dentistry is just too hard for what you get! If you think you can make it in dentistry, its better to go medical school. If you are like me, and want to make a difference (save the world), then you will have more options as an MD than as a dentist.

Anyone who thinks dental school "should" be easy... I am sorry to say, is an idiot... This is a professional level system, it is NOT A SCHOOL, it is a 4-year TRAINING program.... You go in and you learn a skill thats supposed to almost guarantee you a 6-figure income in the USA.

6-figure incomes are easy to come by right? 🙄

Honestly man, I don't think your "advice" is sound at all:
(a) you dropped out, sure you had a strong reason, but to be fair, you are not a dentist, you DON'T KNOW what its like to be one, so how can you compare medicine vs dentistry when you have never worked in either profession?
(b) if your natural desire is to "save the world" why did you pick dentistry 30 years ago? (I haven't read your blogs nor do I want to)
(c) this other thing you are trying to prove about how dentistry is "harder" than medicine is simply NOT TRUE. In most states, you go into dental school and 4 years later you are a general practitioner ~ to me thats the primary care of dentistry. As a physician, you CANNOT do this, you need a minimum of 3-year residency in a primary care field. I have a few relatives who are internists, do you know how much they hated thier residency years? They work between 60-80 hours a week for 3 years straight and made about 40-50k a year. 4 years of hell (dental school) vs 4 years of "easy" MD + 3 years of hell (residency)..... 4 v 7, I dunno about you, but i'd rather do the 4.
(d) your lack of talk in regards to life style.... and clearly, this goes back to my point (a), you don't understand the life style difference between an MD and a DDS. Many of us choose dentistry NOT because its easier or harder than medicine, but because it offers a better life style.... did you ever consider this factor?

So, if you still want to go to dental school, then here's the minimum you need.

1.The Kaplan course is absolutely vital. You need to learn how to take the test.

Maybe you shoulda spent sometime in the DAT forums and learned that there are good (and IMO) better and CHEAPER resources than kaplan

2.Take a jewelry-making class. You need to learn to work with wax and hot metal.
3.Start memorizing human anatomy, especially head-and-neck anatomy.
4.Start memorizing pathology with stress on the oral, face and head manifestations.
5.The same goes for pharmacology. Start memorizing drugs used in dentistry.
6.View ALL the U of Michigan Dental School videos posted on YouTube.
7.Get a jar full of extracted teeth.
8.Go on eBay and buy the following: 1) a typodont with pole, 2) extra ivorene teeth, 3) dental exam kit: mirror, probe, cotton pliers, and explorer, 4) several enamel hatchets and hoes, 5) glass ionomer cement kit, 6) dental wax and waxing instruments. Start using these tools as stated in various other websites.
9.Recommended books—currently available from eBay for $10 each, including S&H.
Pocket Atlas of Human Anatomy by Feneis and Dauber.
Churcill's Pocketbook of Clinical Dentistry by Chestnut & Gibson.

GOOD LUCK. You are about to make a $200,000 plus investment. Be sure it pays off.

Do you know how many students are admitted into dental schools nation wide each year? Its about 4500. Do you know how many of them actually do any of the above suggested? I don't have any data, but I am betting MOST students don't do any of this. And yet, more than 90% of those 4500 are going to eventually graduate and earn that DDS/DMD.

 

[7 Iron]

Sounds like dental school was never for you. I'm glad you found your way in business. To each his own!

 

[Seahawk]

My troll-dar is going off.

 

[Montserrat]

2. Its very disrespectful that you(old fool) who dismisses the fact that a dentist cannot save the world... Can you provide the proff... NOTE* NOT ALL MD's ARE GOING TO SAVE THE WORLD... Man if you were not old. i would have flipped you off.

Perhaps the OP should have included "critical reading" as a useful skill for future students.

He didn't say that a dentist could not save the world. What he did however say was that more options are afforded to MD's based upon the training they receive. This much is true. If you take a look at various medical and dental organizations that provide international work... many of the immediate medical concerns including Dengue, malaria, the ever morphing flu, cholera, and etc -- all of which are more pressing than caries in a developing or third world nation. This doesn't understate the importance of domestic oral healthcare, but internationally, they have bigger fish to fry. And note, the OP said save the world, not a modernized nation.

3. Business administrations vs. Dentist Come on man... we dont want to be sitting at the damn cubicle to develop 'COLITIS' we want to go around meet new people and user our skill obtained in D-school to help them feel better. If they feel better they will feel healthier, when they feel healthier they are healthier and live longer...

Should you decide to work as a practicing dentist, you'll be spending a good number of your working hours with your ass planted in a chair. However, should you decide to stand and dance while helping your patient for that oh so good tingly sensation, take this particular dentist's experience under consideration ...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21599495/

 

[SuperTank]

COMING OUT...Confessions of a 3rd year dental student who called it quits

Here is what happened to me 30 years ago, while attempting to become a dentist. Please go to my blog for the entire story. I cover 5 topics:

1.DENTAL school vs. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
2.PRE-DENTAL ADVICE...are you sure you want to do this?
3.WAR STORIES...30 years ago, in a dental school far, far away...
4.COLITIS...or, dropping out becomes an option when you get really sick
5.VINDICATION...why I am still a good person after leaving dental school in the junior year

I hope things have changed for the best, but probably not. (I compared notes with my dentist who graduated in 1999.) Having earned a degree in science and another in business, let me set the tone: dentistry is just too hard for what you get! If you think you can make it in dentistry, its better to go medical school. If you are like me, and want to make a difference (save the world), then you will have more options as an MD than as a dentist.

So, if you still want to go to dental school, then here's the minimum you need.

1.The Kaplan course is absolutely vital. You need to learn how to take the test.
2.Take a jewelry-making class. You need to learn to work with wax and hot metal.
3.Start memorizing human anatomy, especially head-and-neck anatomy.
4.Start memorizing pathology with stress on the oral, face and head manifestations.
5.The same goes for pharmacology. Start memorizing drugs used in dentistry.
6.View ALL the U of Michigan Dental School videos posted on YouTube.
7.Get a jar full of extracted teeth.
8.Go on eBay and buy the following: 1) a typodont with pole, 2) extra ivorene teeth, 3) dental exam kit: mirror, probe, cotton pliers, and explorer, 4) several enamel hatchets and hoes, 5) glass ionomer cement kit, 6) dental wax and waxing instruments. Start using these tools as stated in various other websites.
9.Recommended books—currently available from eBay for $10 each, including S&H.
Pocket Atlas of Human Anatomy by Feneis and Dauber.
Churcill's Pocketbook of Clinical Dentistry by Chestnut & Gibson.

GOOD LUCK. You are about to make a $200,000 plus investment. Be sure it pays off.

Although I am certain that you mean well, most of your advice isn't going to be beneficial to someone considering dentistry.

To make a sweeping statement such as "dentistry is just too hard for what you get" is pretty outrageous. What exactly do we "get" from dentistry? An opportunity to serve others, the ability to work closely with patients and build relationships that can last a lifetime, a good income to support our families, the chance to work for ourselves (if we desire), the ability to set our own hours, etc etc etc. I also noticed from reading your blog that you are currently unemployed. Something else we'll 'get' from dentistry is job stability. I am not sure that 4 years of graduate school is too hefty of a price to pay to be able to 'get' the things listed above.

I think it's interesting you suggest that we attend medical school if we think we can make it in dental school. This is the career that we've decided upon. I don't know how things worked 30 years ago, but today you are required to spend hours in dental offices watching the doctor, learning about his schedule, the work he does, the conditions in which he works, etc to see if dentistry is right the right choice. We are not throwing darts at a board to decide our future. We have weighed our options, examined our goals and decided that dentistry will best help us to achieve them.

I am curious what 'notes' you compared with your dentist friend. Whatever they were, I wonder if your sample size (of one) may have been too small, and the feedback (from your friend) may have been biased. Regardless, here's my take:
#1: This is useful in a way; we do need to become familiar with the exam before we take it. But there's more than just Kaplan out there. There is an entire section of this community dedicated to DAT preparation; you can look there to see how far it's come in 30 years.
#2: While this may give you a slight advantage during your first two weeks of dental school, the learning curve is very high. Of the 111 students in my class, ZERO are having difficulty with waxing... and I would say about that same number (zero) have taken a jewelry making class.
#3: The point of going to dental school is to learn. The school will teach you head and neck anatomy on an actual cadaver, which is far better than any computer simulator. You will be taught everything you need to know in school, and will have time to learn it.
#4: Same as #3. It would be pretty ridiculous to expect a pre-dental student to locate, organize and memorize all the pertinent oral pathology when a professor has already organized it and will give it to you in a way that will simplify the learning process. Memorizing oral pathology prior to dental school will provide NO benefit to the student.
#5: Same as #4. We will learn this in school. Memorizing it prior to school will not be beneficial to the student, especially if his/her information is inaccurate or incomplete.
#6: I haven't viewed these videos, but I wouldn't be surprised if they ARE beneficial. The more exposure you have to dentistry, the better.
#7: This is not useful.
#8: What do you expect a pre-dental student to do with all of this? Learn improper techniques without the supervision of a trained professional? For me, the down-side of learning to handle the instruments incorrectly and creating improper muscle memory is too great. Besides that, we learn to use these instruments in school, just as #3, 4 and 5.
#9: These books may be useful as we are learning the anatomy to supplement our text books and lectures, but are of little use to a pre-dental student.

Again, we appreciate your opinion, but I think that many of us feel more comfortable getting our advice from current students, and current dentists, as opposed to someone who dropped out of dental school 30 years ago.

A $200,000 investment may seem daunting, but it isn't much cheaper (if it's cheaper at all) than medical school. Besides that, very few dentists have a hard time repaying their loans, especially the ones who have put thought into their career choice (as most of us, if not all, have).
-SuperTank

 

[kayakdude]

Strong 8th post...

 

[ugapharm]

Dental school obviously isn't for everyone. Business and dentistry are very different things to specialize in for a graduate school, and it's not a surprise at all that you would prefer one to the other.

Don't come here and try to sway those who prefer the dental route though.

 

[hoylematt]

1.The Kaplan course is absolutely vital. You need to learn how to take the test.

I would laugh my butt off if this insane rant was just some hidden advertisement for Kaplan!

It's their new advertising campaign to show how even someone who quit dental school in their 3rd year can pass the DAT using their course!

 

[yappy]

It's prob best for those who want to go on to any graduate school where the investment is ~200k and 4 yrs to question and toil over their decision for a long period of time. If somone was swayed but this guy - my guess is there heart wasnt really in it.
That's a morgage to a house no one will be living in if they're not genuine in their interest and find themselfs like the OP.

Dental school obviously isn't for everyone. Business and dentistry are very different things to specialize in for a graduate school, and it's not a surprise at all that you would prefer one to the other.

Don't come here and try to sway those who prefer the dental route though.

 

[MacPreDent]

 

[bevoMBA90]

Thanks Montserrat, I'm glad someone is using critical reading and correct grammar. I'm only providing my POV and experience from 30 years ago. Take it for what it is. No, this is not and ad for Kaplan. Kaplan was the only prep class available 30 years ago. I'm glad that there are other and better options. I did not want to start my own practice. I wanted to work in a clinic and be able to take time off to work at the free clinic and go on med/dent charity trips to Latin America.

I'm glad pre-dents have to shadow a dentist. Perhaps you will get a better idea of what dentistry will be like. But, dental school and the practice of dentistry are totally different. If you get a chance, talk to several post-doc students. Ask why they left their practice and went back to school. Two told me they could not “stand” doing one more amalgam. One classmate went back to medical school (he went right into the junior year) after one near fatal incident with a patient under general anesthesia.

Another class mate told me about his cascade of fears: 1) not passing the DAT, 2) not getting into school, 3) flunking out, 4) flunking the boards, 5) not getting a loan to start his practice, 6) not getting paid, 7) getting sued for malpractice. The disco dentist link is a good idea of what can happen in dental practice.

For other similar stories, look up your state's Board of Dentistry web site. Read the minutes of disciplinary inquests into alleged malpractice. The defendants have dental licenses, and they are doing all sorts of crazy things!, some of which they are not qualified to do. Some have been found guilty of practicing medicine instead of dentistry.

My recommendations are based upon what I experienced. Except for the 2 hygienists, 2 dental assistants, the 1 kid born into a family of dentists, and 1 dental lab tech, most students in my class went in “green.” We didn't know mesial from buccal, nor an MD4 from a rongeur. The undergrad anatomy class was only the beginning, that's why I suggested getting a head start and begin reviewing anatomy in greater detail. That's going to be the hardest class in year one.

Repetition is the Mother of Understanding! The academics were straight-forward, there was just so much data, it was hard to keep facts straight. My undergrad biochem, organic chem and cell biology classes were harder. The jewelry-making class was actually suggested by a 1st-year instructor.

Some of the notes I compared with my dentist:

1.Are you still having to fabricate on-lays and in-lays? Answer: Yes.
2.Is half the work / curriculum still dental laboratory work? Yes.
3.Do instructors still ignore (and deride) students, especially during clinical? Yes.
4.Does it still take 2 years to see the first patient? Yes.
5.Did you get to collaborate on patients with the dental hygiene and dental lab students: No.
6.Would you do this all over again? Question evaded.
7.Did he go on a med/dent charity trip? Yes, only once to Guatemala.
8.During a Class I restoration, 1st mandibular right molar, I asked his assistant whether she knew what nerves were going to be anesthetized? No. I told her it was Cranial nerves V and VII. The dentist then gave me an injection into the canine fossa. I asked what nerve was being anesthetized? He had forgotten! No worry, no foul, no hurt. Been there myself. OOOPS and sorry about that! (Infra-orbital nerve.)

I didn't have to ask about his financial status. He had 7 operatories. During my 4 appointments, I only saw 2 other patients in the chairs. He was operating at 50 percent capacity? It's tough to “make it” at 80 percent capacity, let alone at 50 percent capacity.

I read some very positive stats on dentistry. Starting in 2012, there will be more old dentists retiring than fresh graduates to take their place. Maybe my dentist's 7 chairs will fill-up.

 

[Maygyver]

It seems like you came to this forum to basically convince people not to do dentistry. A lot of the "notes" you compared with you dentist friend differ depending on what school you go to.

Also, your status is misleading, unless you decided to go back to dental school. Are you a dental student?

 

[UndergradGuy7]

.

 

[jeffity]

Funny. I left business to go back to school for dentistry. To each his own.

No disrespect to the dental students of a decade ago and beyond, but from what I gather, things have changed quite a bit. This isn't the same game. The 'typodont with pole' dates this advice.

It's kind of you to care, but I think most of us have a slight idea of what we're in for. You kind of have to be aware to even convince a school to let you in.

 

[SeattleRDH]

Thanks Montserrat, I'm glad someone is using critical reading and correct grammar. I'm only providing my POV and experience from 30 years ago. Take it for what it is. No, this is not and ad for Kaplan. Kaplan was the only prep class available 30 years ago. I'm glad that there are other and better options. I did not want to start my own practice. I wanted to work in a clinic and be able to take time off to work at the free clinic and go on med/dent charity trips to Latin America.

I'm glad pre-dents have to shadow a dentist. Perhaps you will get a better idea of what dentistry will be like. But, dental school and the practice of dentistry are totally different. If you get a chance, talk to several post-doc students. Ask why they left their practice and went back to school. Two told me they could not “stand” doing one more amalgam. One classmate went back to medical school (he went right into the junior year) after one near fatal incident with a patient under general anesthesia.

Another class mate told me about his cascade of fears: 1) not passing the DAT, 2) not getting into school, 3) flunking out, 4) flunking the boards, 5) not getting a loan to start his practice, 6) not getting paid, 7) getting sued for malpractice. The disco dentist link is a good idea of what can happen in dental practice.

For other similar stories, look up your state's Board of Dentistry web site. Read the minutes of disciplinary inquests into alleged malpractice. The defendants have dental licenses, and they are doing all sorts of crazy things!, some of which they are not qualified to do. Some have been found guilty of practicing medicine instead of dentistry.

My recommendations are based upon what I experienced. Except for the 2 hygienists, 2 dental assistants, the 1 kid born into a family of dentists, and 1 dental lab tech, most students in my class went in “green.” We didn't know mesial from buccal, nor an MD4 from a rongeur. The undergrad anatomy class was only the beginning, that's why I suggested getting a head start and begin reviewing anatomy in greater detail. That's going to be the hardest class in year one.

Repetition is the Mother of Understanding! The academics were straight-forward, there was just so much data, it was hard to keep facts straight. My undergrad biochem, organic chem and cell biology classes were harder. The jewelry-making class was actually suggested by a 1st-year instructor.

Some of the notes I compared with my dentist:

1.Are you still having to fabricate on-lays and in-lays? Answer: Yes.
2.Is half the work / curriculum still dental laboratory work? Yes.
3.Do instructors still ignore (and deride) students, especially during clinical? Yes.
4.Does it still take 2 years to see the first patient? Yes.
5.Did you get to collaborate on patients with the dental hygiene and dental lab students: No.
6.Would you do this all over again? Question evaded.
7.Did he go on a med/dent charity trip? Yes, only once to Guatemala.
8.During a Class I restoration, 1st mandibular right molar, I asked his assistant whether she knew what nerves were going to be anesthetized? No. I told her it was Cranial nerves V and VII. The dentist then gave me an injection into the canine fossa. I asked what nerve was being anesthetized? He had forgotten! No worry, no foul, no hurt. Been there myself. OOOPS and sorry about that! (Infra-orbital nerve.)

I didn't have to ask about his financial status. He had 7 operatories. During my 4 appointments, I only saw 2 other patients in the chairs. He was operating at 50 percent capacity? It's tough to “make it” at 80 percent capacity, let alone at 50 percent capacity.

I read some very positive stats on dentistry. Starting in 2012, there will be more old dentists retiring than fresh graduates to take their place. Maybe my dentist's 7 chairs will fill-up.

You must be very bored since you are on this forum. Perhaps your time would be better spent elsewhere.....

A few things about what you've said:

For one, shame on you for quizzing the assistant about nerves. You say you are in the "Great NW" and I know that none of the states in the NW require a dental assistant to go through a dental assisting program nor take a board examination on local anesthetic injection sites. That's why assistants don't give injections!

Also, I'm sure you feel really smart for knowing about cranial nerves and all but an IO is not administered in the canine fossa. Before you go around correcting dental professionals on anesthetic you should get up to date. Techniques taught in dental school (and tested for on boards) are different than they were 30 years ago.

Do you think we are all on this forum waiting for someone like you to give us the 4-1-1? Dental school admissions is quite different than it was ten years ago and VERY different than it was thirty years ago. Why don't you leave the giving of advice to people who actually work in the field.

 

[doc toothache]

With the attitude and the creative “cooperative work” in ortho, prosthodontics it is a wonder that it took “colitis” to get you checked out. The sad part is that 30 years have apparently had no effect on the myopia. Dental school is not dentistry, but it is the price of admission into the field.

 

[HoustonDAT]

8.During a Class I restoration, 1st mandibular right molar, I asked his assistant whether she knew what nerves were going to be anesthetized? No. I told her it was Cranial nerves V and VII.

You probably weren't cut out to be a dentist, because instead of learning how to use the tools, YOU were the tool.

 

[UltimateHombre]

You probably weren't cut out to be a dentist, because instead of learning how to use the tools, YOU were the tool.

Couldn't have said it better myself!! 👍

 

[bevoMBA90]

TOUGH CROWD, I LOVE IT! LOL

I asked the assistant, because I didn't want to embarrass the dentist, but I did embarrass him anyway. SORRY ABOUT THAT! At another appointment, to seat a new night guard, he was embarrassed again. There was no central occlusion. Rather than fix it on the spot, he sent the appliance back to the lab. WTF! (Wasted my time. But he didn't care about that. I could have gotten a tee time.) Two weeks later, he delivered it. He stated that he, "Didn't want to be there with it all afternoon." Try that in dental school! I hope the instructors are more lenient now. In my day, I would have gotten a zero for that appointment.

Yes, I am an old troll, but w/a pension. I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I've been there done that in the military, in dental school and at MBA school. As a medic, I've worked ER and ICU where I've seen shredded bodies die. I flew missions aboard a C130. As a business consultant, I've helped hundreds of people start their own business, get business loans and set up their marketing campaigns and keep track of their taxes. I have raised a family and had to care for my elderly parents...Several of my critics are right, I should have gone to med school. BTW, are any of you going into the military? Afraid of that drill sergeant, huh? Before you get judgmental, get out into the real world, take a few hits (bad things do happen to good people) and get a clue!

 

[Seahawk]

Couldn't have said it better myself!! 👍

+2

Why are you on pre-dental forums trying to convince us to do weird stuff that nobody else does and talk us out of it in the first place?

 

[bevoMBA90]

I'm just trying to give you a historical perspective. Is it better now, or worse? Compare and contrast. I share some war stories. Weird stuff? You need to explore all options available prior to spending $60K for the first year. At least be prepared and get a clue. Have you checked out the "For practicing dentists" threads? DMD's and DDS's are discussing whether they should be in dentistry at all! And now they owe $250K +. Again, know all your options, get different POV's and know the risk / reward ratio.

 

[c4ss]

.

 

[peanutb123]

TOUGH CROWD, I LOVE IT! LOL

I asked the assistant, because I didn't want to embarrass the dentist, but I did embarrass him anyway. SORRY ABOUT THAT! At another appointment, to seat a new night guard, he was embarrassed again. There was no central occlusion. Rather than fix it on the spot, he sent the appliance back to the lab. WTF! (Wasted my time. But he didn't care about that. I could have gotten a tee time.) Two weeks later, he delivered it. He stated that he, "Didn't want to be there with it all afternoon." Try that in dental school! I hope the instructors are more lenient now. In my day, I would have gotten a zero for that appointment.

Yes, I am an old troll, but w/a pension. I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I've been there done that in the military, in dental school and at MBA school. As a medic, I've worked ER and ICU where I've seen shredded bodies die. I flew missions aboard a C130. As a business consultant, I've helped hundreds of people start their own business, get business loans and set up their marketing campaigns and keep track of their taxes. I have raised a family and had to care for my elderly parents...Several of my critics are right, I should have gone to med school. BTW, are any of you going into the military? Afraid of that drill sergeant, huh? Before you get judgmental, get out into the real world, take a few hits (bad things do happen to good people) and get a clue!

Ok... 1. No one cares about your military experience... Most of it is probably fake anyways.
2. Every county has a senior citizen center, where you can go share your "war" stories and play some challenging bingo. You might be surprised there might be one right across the street that you live in.
3. If we want to know how dentistry was like 50 years ago we can just do wiki. We do not want to hear it from a person who did not contribute anything to that field. Except for trying to put it down.

Ps. We dont give a shi about drill sergeant or your intimate experience with him. There is a reason why people dont want to serve in military. Just like there is a reason why you didnt want to become a dentist.

Ohh now that explains the reason why you have colits

 

[youknowthedrill]

I'm sorry you had a hard time in dental school, but I'm glad you found your place in business.

 

[dentalWorks]

I'm just trying to give you a historical perspective. Is it better now, or worse? Compare and contrast. I share some war stories. Weird stuff? You need to explore all options available prior to spending $60K for the first year. At least be prepared and get a clue. Have you checked out the "For practicing dentists" threads? DMD's and DDS's are discussing whether they should be in dentistry at all! And now they owe $250K +. Again, know all your options, get different POV's and know the risk / reward ratio.

Man, it must suck to have a career where your constantly working only 30-40 hrs/week and pretty much guaranteed a 6-figure income. Yeh that 250k in debt is going to be impossible to pay off. Im going to go back to software engineering where I get to sit in front of my PC screen for 8-9 hours a day, 40 hrs per week, almost zero interactions with other human beings and slowly have my soul ripped out of me for the next 20-30 years (till retirement or suicide, whichever comes first)........Thank you for enlightening me

Look I understand what you are saying, but here is a reality check: unless you are the prince of England or some other royalty, you WILL have to find a job and make a living. There is no job in the world that is 100% enjoyable, each job has its perks and disadvantages. Maybe some of us will become dentists and ABSOLUTELY hate it (or love it), we can't be 100% sure, none of us around here are dentists (yet).....HOWEVER, we have an instinctual feeling that dentistry is something we will enjoy (otherwise, we won't be in this forum). You can't simply tell us to make up our mind and possibly quit dentistry all together cause a few people around hate it, we should have an opportunity to experience this field first-hand. Don't try to rob us of this experience. Oh and by the way....I REALLY believe for every dentist who hates his/her job, there are 10 more who absolutely love it.

You coming here and simply telling us the "bads" of dentistry while providing zero "goods" is an indication of someone who is either jealous of this younger generation, or really has no clue wtf he is talking about.

 

[DudeLebowski]

Y'all really should ease up on the guy...I for one am glad to get a different perspective. Like with any career, there are those who love it and those who hate it. The measure of a wise man is one who can look at both sides of an issue, THEN come to a conclusion.

Keep it coming, old skool. Love the war stories.👍

 

[doc toothache]

Y'all really should ease up on the guy...I for one am glad to get a different perspective. Like with any career, there are those who love it and those who hate it. The measure of a wise man is one who can look at both sides of an issue, THEN come to a conclusion.

Attending dental school is not a career.

 

[Seahawk]

Lol @ peanutb and dentalWorks, slamming this guy into the wall...Love you guys .



But MBA, your bio says you got laid off, is this true?

 

[bevoMBA90]

Life in the fast lane. You do well, start making some real money and then you get too expensive. So, you get laid off. Worst case I ever heard was of a cracker jack salesman for Intel. No college, only high school, but he sold the heck out of chips! Made over $250,000 commissions per quarter! After 3 years of this, Intel laid him off. Only high school, so back to minimum wage. Ouch. Thanks for understanding, DudeLebowski.

 

[Dota]

An irrelevant thread for the purposes of this forum.

 

[7 Iron]

An irrelevant thread for the purposes of this forum.

What? Even if you disagree with what OP said, I think it's good to look at the field of dentistry critically. It's not going to be all roses in dental school (or beyond, for that matter).

 

[Maygyver]

What? Even if you disagree with what OP said, I think it's good to look at the field of dentistry critically. It's not going to be all roses in dental school (or beyond, for that matter).

As much as I appreciate this guys perspective, it isn't even a perspective on the career. He is giving us a perspective on dental school 30 years ago... I think most people think this is irrelevant because most people here have shadowed/worked for plenty of time to at least know what they are getting into. Someone who dropped out of dental school 30 years ago isn't really going to tell us anything we need to know. Most people here already know dental school is tough, and would probably listen to advice if it was coming from either a dentist, or someone who is currently in dental school, or dropped out recently. Things change, and although you can learn from the past, this thread doesn't really help anybody.

 

[HoustonDAT]

TOUGH CROWD, I LOVE IT! LOL

I asked the assistant, because I didn't want to embarrass the dentist, but I did embarrass him anyway. SORRY ABOUT THAT! At another appointment, to seat a new night guard, he was embarrassed again. There was no central occlusion. Rather than fix it on the spot, he sent the appliance back to the lab. WTF! (Wasted my time. But he didn't care about that. I could have gotten a tee time.) Two weeks later, he delivered it. He stated that he, "Didn't want to be there with it all afternoon." Try that in dental school! I hope the instructors are more lenient now. In my day, I would have gotten a zero for that appointment.

So let me get this right, before you start grinding on your nightguard, you would rather have the dentist grind on it with his drill instead of having the lab remake it? Why were you so upset that the dentist did not want to deliver you unacceptable lab work? So you felt bad about embarrassing the dentist, but you did not feel any shame when trying to embarrass the assistant? Why would the dentist be embarrassed if the night guard was not done correctly? The assistant took your Alginate impression and sent it off to the lab to be made. All the dentist did was check off "night guard" on the lab slip.

You worked in the simulation lab at your dental school for 2 years and quit. Yet, you speak as if you are a seasoned vet in dentistry.

 

[lululime]

Mmmmmm. Refreshing thread.

 

[Seahawk]

Life in the fast lane. You do well, start making some real money and then you get too expensive. So, you get laid off.

Cause that's such a good field to be in.

Dude you're a tool, get out of here.