Scoliosis puts dentistry out of the question?

[trojanpride]

been a longtime lurker...just became a member. thanks for everything sdn!

so my situation is that i have mild scoliosis, nothing too serious...never had to wear a brace or have surgery or anything like that. i work out, play sports, etc. and it doesn't bother me, but i could see dentistry making my condition worse. my question is: could i still make it as a dentist or should i turn around now? if i do become a dentist, and say after x number of years i can't do it anymore, what other options would i have at that point?

thanks in advance.

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[gigawatt]

This thread might belong in the Dental forum since we pre-dents haven't practiced at all, let alone for decades, and can't really vouch for how taxing a career in dentistry would be for you.

That said, I think that with good posture, limited hours/day and days/week, regular exercise, etc. a dentist can have a long career with limited to no back pain. You just have to be cognizant of how you're doing everything and consider what 20-30 years of that motion, posture, etc. would do to you.

If you do choose dentistry and eventually it gets to a point where you can't practice, I don't necessarily know what you would do... take the disability payments, go teach, consult, buy a bunch of practices and manage them...? I don't really know.

 

[JBDent]

been a longtime lurker...just became a member. thanks for everything sdn!

so my situation is that i have mild scoliosis, nothing too serious...never had to wear a brace or have surgery or anything like that. i work out, play sports, etc. and it doesn't bother me, but i could see dentistry making my condition worse. my question is: could i still make it as a dentist or should i turn around now? if i do become a dentist, and say after x number of years i can't do it anymore, what other options would i have at that point?

thanks in advance.

I wouldn't think dentistry would make your scoliosis worse. You would probably need to take periodic breaks and be careful to stretch to keep from getting backaches during long procedures, but I think your position during those procedures wouldn't be something that would worsen your curve. I have mild scoliosis and never even considered this - my sister had severe scoliosis and had to have 12 vertebra fused when she was in middle school. She even considered being a surgeon, but decided that might be tough on her back - so she's a pharmacist now.

Talk to your doctor about your condition to be sure, but I think you'd be fine.

 

[trojanpride]

thanks giga, JB...i'll talk to my doc for sure, but i think you guys are prob right. but what are your other options with a dds if practicing gets too hard??

 

[TK2006]

thanks giga, JB...i'll talk to my doc for sure, but i think you guys are prob right. but what are your other options with a dds if practicing gets too hard??

You can get a master's in 2 years and teach in the clinics/lecture at a dental school.

You can get a PhD in 5-6 years and get in Dental Research: direct research programs and such.

You can probably get a master's in biomaterials or something work in consultation for a biotech company.

I work in a research lab at a dental school and I've seen some dds's that took the above mentioned routes.

 

[FC Omar]

I dont know if this is relevant, but the Dentist i have been going to since i was 11 has polio, but he is still a good dentist. im know polio and scoliosis are 2 completely different conditions, but im sure that if you really want to, you can do it.


also, I second the oppinion to move this to the Dental Forums. (not that i dont trust predents, we lack a certain, weiss Ich nicht, experience)


also to your second part:
if youre gonna be a dentist, that means you're a business man. use your business skills and open a few. gas stations are good, so are 7-11s, hell, buy up a few hotels and ministorages.

or do what some crazy people in california do, build up a practice only to sell it.