Proof of shadowing question

[blankguy]

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I've posted about this earlier but I wasn't clear on what to do if you shadowed multiple people? Do you collect the letters from multiple dentist? If so wouldn't that be hairier to deal with with all the letters? Also I have credential folder set up at my alma mater, where does the letters fo shadowing go? Should it be put in with the letters of recommendation file(credential folder)?

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

I have nine letters from six doctors. I mailed photocopies of each in with my application and brought the originals along for interview.

 

[blankguy]

But the applications get sent to the AADAS(can't recall the exact acronym), do they also process your letters too?

 

[Thaxil]

Do you even need proof of shadowing. No school has asked me to prove it. I did send a LOR from a dentist to all the schools. I think one letter from the dentist most willing and kindest to you will serve as proof. I think just know the address, name, phone number, date, and description of experience is fine for proof.

Many schools only ask for one letter from a dentist. I do not if overdoing it is possible, but 5 letters from 5 dentist is likely to over do it. Anyways, what Adcom has time enough to read 2 sci LOR, 1 non sci LOR, and 5 dentist LOR.

I did not do this, and do not know if this would help, but you could have the dentist sign a sheet of paper with the amount of time you shadowed and mail that to schools as proof.

 

[Brand]

Last year UNLV told me to prove it. I withdrew my application instead. I took their mistrust as a bad sign.

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

I consider the shadowing sheets to be separate from letters of recomendation. I only sent two letters of recomendation, one from a teacher and one from a dentist.

About the AADSAS, I don't know, I didn't use it. I applied to a special pre-dent program out of high school.

Even if shadowing letters aren't sent with the application, I'd still collect them and bring them to the interview. I know I'm keeping mine.

 

[bbpower]

Wow does UNLV really require shadowing hours proof? My shadowing/volunteer experiences are done w/ so many dentists.. many of which are in the city where I did my undergraduate studies.. It would be such a pain to have to drive over there and track them all down for signatures. I have an interview w/ them in Feb. I better be prepared.

 

[larryt]

Originally posted by MarkFitzsimmons
I consider the shadowing sheets to be separate from letters of recomendation. I only sent two letters of recomendation, one from a teacher and one from a dentist.

About the AADSAS, I don't know, I didn't use it. I applied to a special pre-dent program out of high school.

Even if shadowing letters aren't sent with the application, I'd still collect them and bring them to the interview. I know I'm keeping mine.

So you're at Case with 7 yrs BS/DDS program ? Cool... My nephew is going there. His first year for 7 yrs BS/MD-combined program. He may finish earlier than 7 yrs. He got 30 college credits hrs from AP tests when finished high school last May

 

[Mangocat]

I did not have a LOR from any dentists I shadowed (I shadowed one, then worked for another). I was asked about it at my interviews, and I just explained what I learned during my shadowing experience. No one asked me to prove it, but one school did ask me to clarify the dates (because I did it at different points throughout the school year).

But I guess if you can get a letter from the one you spent the most time with and know the best, it might be helpful.

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

larry, what is your nephew's name? There aren't too many people in that program (like 20 or so) I very well may know him. Going in with 30 credits won't get anyone out sooner than 7 years. Especially considering case's med school is moving to a five year curriculum.

What I am in is a 6 year DMD program.

 

[blankguy]

I'm going to see a dentist to shadow tomorrow. Is meeting a dentist to shadow something formal? Also what I should take to see this doctor? He hasn't mentioned anything when I tried talked to him.

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

I always brought a legal pad and pen to take notes. Often I preped a few questions to ask the dentist before hand, didn't want to forget to ask anything I came there wanting to find out.

Also try to look professional, although you don't need to wear a suit or anything, I'd either go with a polo shirt and khakis or dress pants with shirt and tie. I would have asked the doctor when I called to schedule the shadowing what is appropriate to wear. Since it's probably to late to ask this, what I suggested above ought to be appropriate.

 

[blankguy]

Would you advise not wearing ties with polo shirt and khaki pants?

Also what are some of the things that I should look for to be able to tell whether this practice is bad or good? What warning signs?

 

[Thaxil]

You want to be dress appropriately. By this I mean, to wear a tie and dress pants. Do not over do it with a suit. I did this, and the dentist seemed to appreciate it. It shows respect for the dentist and the patients. Remember that it is better to say nothing then to say something that makes an a$$ of your self. I said a few wrong things in front of patients and the dentist did not appreciate it. My big mouth made it a bit uncomfortable at times.

 

[Mangocat]

Definitely prep yourself with some questions, and find out about how the dentist became interested in the profession and where they studied, etc. I'm sure they will be happy to talk about this.

And when in front of patients, I did not speak unless spoken to because I did not want to overstep my boundaries.

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

I'd never wear a tie with a polo shirt. Thats not about shadowing dentists but rather general fashon.

Go by what I and the other posters said, it's all good advise.

One question I'd make sure to ask, assuming you're shadowing a GP, is to see if they wanted to specialize or not going into dental school and if so why they never did go to specialty school. That question has always lead to great discussion in my experience.

 

[endotom]

Hey blankguy, et al:

I'm on faculty at Pitt and I've had people shadow me for 15 years. I'm an endodontist.

1) Your application will give you room for listing your experiences in the dental field. You don't need to provide proof of these shadowing deals to anyone, but keep notes as to the days you went and who you saw where. You'll need that later. You don't need a letter from these people unless you are going to ask them to write an official letter of recommendation. You should pick those people very carefully.

2) When you go to a dentist's office, " wear something you'd wear if you were going to get your picture took". That's what I told my son, anyway. You don't have to wear a tie. You'll be the only one there with one on and you'll feel strange. Most people in the office will be in scrubs. So wear a polo shirt or anything with a collar. Khaki pants are cool too. You'll probably have a chance to go out to lunch, by the way.

3) Ask the dentist if it's OK to ask questions in front of patients. They'll know the ones it's OK to talk about stuff in front of. You got invited there, so ask anything you want, but, don't ever ask anybody about how much money they make. Not even your father. Bring a list of things you want to ask. ( Good idea Mark)

4) Go to some dental specialty practices. See if you can get to go into an OR with an oral surgeon or somebody you know on a hospital staff. Most hospitals have a coordinator that will line you up with someone who can show you some surgery in an OR. Do it. It's really cool if you haven't done it and it looks good on your list of things you did.

5) Make it a point to talk to the people that really run the practice. Like the assistant, the office manager, and techs. They are a wealth of knowledge and will give you an honest answer of how it really is around there.

 

[blankguy]

Just came back from 3 hrs of shadowing. Apparently the practice sees somewhere between 12-16 patients a day. There are 2 dentists working and there is a periodontist that drops by for 1/2 day. The owner is a very patient dentist, she takes 2 hrs blocks to schedule a composite because she wants to do things right.

I got thrown in right off the bat without being asked any questions.

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

Wow, last time I shadowed my dentist, he did 46 patients in one day. (including prophy)

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by MarkFitzsimmons
Wow, last time I shadowed my dentist, he did 46 patients in one day. (including prophy)

Either he or she works longer hours or does a rush job on the patients. Maybe a lot of them are just checkup, teeth cleaning?
After seeing extraction, amalgan, and composites done I find it hard to imagine any dentist doing over 20 patients a day.