Shadowing a dentist?

[paymaant]

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So I shadowed a general dentist for 4 hours today. I am planning to go again later this week for an additional 4 hours. While I enjoy learning some of the procedures, it could get boring simply standing over his shoulder staring deep into the patient's mouth. I don't feel like I have any value in the office. The doctor has 3 other hygienists along with other dental assistants working around the office. So I do not know how to help out in the office besides standing around asking questions. Why would dental schools even require us to shadow for X hours when in reality we are standing around doing nothing (unless you become a dental assistant). I would like to be a dental assistant but not in an office that is already fully staffed. Any thoughts?

 

[doc toothache]

So I shadowed a general dentist for 4 hours today. I am planning to go again later this week for an additional 4 hours. While I enjoy learning some of the procedures, it could get boring simply standing over his shoulder staring deep into the patient's mouth. I don't feel like I have any value in the office. The doctor has 3 other hygienists along with other dental assistants working around the office. So I do not know how to help out in the office besides standing around asking questions. Why would dental schools even require us to shadow for X hours when in reality we are standing around doing nothing (unless you become a dental assistant). I would like to be a dental assistant but not in an office that is already fully staffed. Any thoughts?

If after 4 hours in an office, you find dental procedures boring, maybe there are other more exciting fields available.

 

[wizi]

So I shadowed a general dentist for 4 hours today. I am planning to go again later this week for an additional 4 hours. While I enjoy learning some of the procedures, it could get boring simply standing over his shoulder staring deep into the patient's mouth. I don't feel like I have any value in the office. The doctor has 3 other hygienists along with other dental assistants working around the office. So I do not know how to help out in the office besides standing around asking questions. Why would dental schools even require us to shadow for X hours when in reality we are standing around doing nothing (unless you become a dental assistant). I would like to be a dental assistant but not in an office that is already fully staffed. Any thoughts?

Dental schools want you to answer this question:

Do I really want to be a dentist?

Actually, get around 30 hours and ask yourself the same question. If the answer is big NO, you should look the other way instead of dentistry. Adcoms know that dentistry is a rough road: DAT, GPA, Volunteering, 8 year totals, debt, Board Exams etc. If you are not happy while you are shadowing, you wont have enough courage to go through 4 years of dental school. They have had people drop out of dental schools because these people dont think dentistry is the right career for them.

If you want to help, ask your dentist if you can help with sterilization 😀

 

[paymaant]

If after 4 hours in an office, you find dental procedures boring, maybe there are other more exciting fields available.

sorry doc toothache. I shouldn't have said "boring". Observing the dentist is great but after a while I want to contribute something instead of simply watching him at work.

 

[doc toothache]

sorry doc toothache. I shouldn't have said "boring". Observing the dentist is great but after a while I want to contribute something instead of simply watching him at work.

It sounds like you have a hard time understanding the concept of "shadowing".
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=792000

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

That's the downside of shadowing is that many dentists don't let you do much. The fact that not doing anything is boring is completely fine. It took me 3 different shadowing experiences before I found a dentist that would let me use the suction while he drilled - This changed everything. If you find a dentist that lets you contribute in that small way you will get an actual feel for the job and even better will see all of the procedures in much more detail.
So to answer your question, being bored while shadowing is normal..being bored while helping the dentist may = find a new career. This was at least true in my case.

 

[doc toothache]

That's the downside of shadowing is that many dentists don't let you do much. The fact that not doing anything is boring is completely fine. It took me 3 different shadowing experiences before I found a dentist that would let me use the suction while he drilled - This changed everything. If you find a dentist that lets you contribute in that small way you will get an actual feel for the job and even better will see all of the procedures in much more detail.
So to answer your question, being bored while shadowing is normal..being bored while helping the dentist may = find a new career. This was at least true in my case.

Consider yourself lucky to have been allowed to shadow in the first place.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=792000

 

[paymaant]

so i guess the only way to get more involved is to ask the dentist if they are in need of an assistant?

 

[UltimateHombre]

so i guess the only way to get more involved is to ask the dentist if they are in need of an assistant?

Haha. The purpose of shadowing is to shadow, not assist. This is what DocToothache was telling you. You can learn a lot by simply being in the dental office.

Do you know the names of all the instruments and how they are used? Do you know the names of the different materials and how they are used: etch, flowable, composite, etc? Can you recite the necessary procedural steps in a crown prep, how bout a simple restoration? Have you helped the assistants sterilize rooms afterward? How bout helping the assistants sterilize the instruments and wrap the cassettes? Have you asked how insurance billing works? Have you spent a couple hours at the front reception desk? Do you know how to add notes and pull up patient files in the computer software?

All these things (and much more) one of their dental assistants could do. Before you try to get more hands on, maybe try learning the above first.