Recommended hours to shadow

[blankguy]

What is the amount of hours that I should shadow to get a reasonable amount of exposure to dentistry? 30? 50? 75? 100?

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[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by blankguy
What is the amount of hours that I should shadow to get a reasonable amount of exposure to dentistry? 30? 50? 75? 100?

There aren't many dumb questions, but this one sure is borderline (and that's not a rip on you, just the thinking behind the question).

We don't know what your shadowing experience is like. If all the doc lets you do is stand in the corner, then you'll likely need more hours than if he lets you hold suction, load cartridges, etc.

It also depends on how busy the practice is. If you are doing it purely for exposure to dentistry, then a busier practice would be more beneficial.

Also, will he let you see the business side of the practice, or does that not interest you?

All these things come into play.

Finally, none of us truly know about your prior exposure to the profession, so we don't know what foundation you have to build on.

Only YOU can answer this question.

 

[blankguy]

What's so borderline about thinking how many hours I should shadow to get a good sense of what dentistry is about?
It isn't obvious to me that this question is so borderline. Anyways thanks for clearing this up.

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

Go until you stop learning.

Shadow mostly GPs, but see some specialists too.

 

[predentchick]

My hell Gavin. Since when is this a "borderline dumb question?" Nearly all schools state they prefer shadowing experience and I know of one school that wanted at least 100 hours of observation and a letter from a dentist. Dumb? Don't think so. The funny thing about "dumb questions" is that the dean of your school that you so highly pride yourself on told us they didn't exist. Quit being so arrogant! (It puts a damper on your school that you're out there speaking so highly of). Blankguy was just trying to use this forum to ANSWER QUESTIONS! I guess you are trying to deter this aspect of the forum?

 

[h213]

I don't think there is an exact amount of number that dental schools expect you to have. I would think 50 to 100 hours would be sufficient I shadowed dental students mostly and they were really helpful to me by providing me a deeper insight into the profession.

 

[blankguy]

Actually I'm getting a lot with shadowing and this forum.
The shadowing part allows me to ask the "proper" questions.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

This is not a dumb question at all. At some point every pre-dent wonders this.

Do what ever you feel comfortable with, i.e. spend enough time so you can imagine your self doing this the rest of your life. If that is 30 hours, fine..if its 400 hours, ok too.

I think gavin is now trying to increase his post number and the quality of his advice is going down hill.

 

[h213]

I totally agree with you. This fourm is awesome. I am getting addicted to this fourm... need to stop.... just kidding

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by predentchick
My hell Gavin. Since when is this a "borderline dumb question?" Nearly all schools state they prefer shadowing experience and I know of one school that wanted at least 100 hours of observation and a letter from a dentist. Dumb? Don't think so. The funny thing about "dumb questions" is that the dean of your school that you so highly pride yourself on told us they didn't exist. Quit being so arrogant! (It puts a damper on your school that you're out there speaking so highly of). Blankguy was just trying to use this forum to ANSWER QUESTIONS! I guess you are trying to deter this aspect of the forum?

Allow me to reply.

1) He wanted to know how many hours he should shadow to get "reasonable exposure to dentistry". Your reply is speaking of hours needed to APPLY to schools. That is NOT what he was asking! Had he asked "How many hours of shadowing do I need to apply to Ohio State?", or "how many hours do schools prefer?" then my response would have been VERY different.

2) I fully took the time to answer his question in a comprehensive manner. I don't rip and then leave.

3) What does my dean have to do with me? Am I him? Do I think like him? Do I hold the exact same values as him?

4) Notice that I NEVER said his question was dumb. In fact, I went out of my way to emphasize that the logic behind the question was ridiculous. I think the OP probably meant to ask something other than what he actually wrote. There's nothing wrong AT ALL with knowing how many hours other people shadow, or how many schools prefer, but that isn't what he asked. I found it blatantly obvious that the answer to his question has SO many variables that in reality only he can answer it. 1,000 hours with a dentist who makes you stand in the corner is far less beneficial than 25 with someone who lets you hold suction, take patient histories, and then explains to you what is happening in each procedure. My answer stated just that.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by Brocnizer2007

I think gavin is now trying to increase his post number and the quality of his advice is going down hill.

Poor quality? Without any bias, I think my response was the most thorough and the most logical. I addressed not only quality of shadowing hours are important, but also the importance of seeing other aspects of dentistry (such as the business side).

Where was the poor quality in my post?

 

[busupshot83]

There aren't many dumb questions, but this one sure is borderline (and that's not a rip on you, just the thinking behind the question).



When I first read what Gavin posted, I was like "hold up, did that boi just say what I thought he said?"

But upon second reading of the post, I realized what the original question asked:

What is the amount of hours that I should shadow to get a reasonable amount of exposure to dentistry? 30? 50? 75? 100?

Notice he says "I." How can an outsider tell another person how much exposure that person needs?

Gavin was just keeping it real. No sugar-coated response here: there was a question, and he responded. Gav even states that he is not ripping on blankguy, but the mentality behind the question.

If blankguy had stated something like "how many hrs. does the average applicant have," then Gav's response would be inappropriate.

I'll side with Gavin here...

 

[blankguy]

As a predent I'm at a point that I just look at the number of hours without getting a good sense of how long an average person takes to get a good idea of how long it takes to have a decent exposure to dentistry.

No need to dig at each other. Just a simple question.

 

[Serge718]

In my opinion you don't need any dental experience at all if you want to get into dental school assuming you have very good grades and DAT scores. Shadowing is entirely for your benefit. Not only do you get to see first hand what a dentist does but you also get to learn about the business aspect of running a practice. I know many people that did absolutely no research, volunteering, or shadowing and still got into dent schools of their choice. HOWEVER, if you are borderline, then you need to do those things to make yourself look stronger.

 

[blankguy]

Originally posted by Serge718
In my opinion you don't need any dental experience at all if you want to get into dental school assuming you have very good grades and DAT scores. Shadowing is entirely for your benefit. Not only do you get to see first hand what a dentist does but you also get to learn about the business aspect of running a practice. I know many people that did absolutely no research, volunteering, or shadowing and still got into dent schools of their choice. HOWEVER, if you are borderline, then you need to do those things to make yourself look stronger.

Sounds like me. Also isn't there a possibility of them(interviewer) asking questions relating to dentistry?

Certain schools require proof of shadowing/volunteering. Tufts comes to mind.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by blankguy
As a predent I'm at a point that I just look at the number of hours without getting a good sense of how long an average person takes to get a good idea of how long it takes to have a decent exposure to dentistry.

No need to dig at each other. Just a simple question.

True, a very simply question--with the exceptions that "decent exposure" is going to vary from person to person, and the type of shadowing you are doing is going to make a huge difference.

By the way, I'm glad you're here on SDN, and I appreciate your posts. Like I said before, this wasn't a personal jab at you. You certainly aren't the only person to ask this question.

The answer I think you are wanting, however, simply doesn't exist.

 

[blankguy]

Thanks for clarifying. Sometimes us predents don't know what to ask and what info we need to get at.