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How much shadowing do dental schools like to see? Thank's.
shadowing dentist
- Thread starter student02
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DesiDentist
G. S. Khurana, DMD, MBA
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I would say as much as possible. And don't shadow, assist...some dentists are so anal they just make you sit in a corner and observe. That is nothing. You want a dentist who would give you hands on experience like assisting etc.
I know schools like tufts etc want ~50 hours.
Good luck,
DesiDentist
I know schools like tufts etc want ~50 hours.
Good luck,
DesiDentist
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For this question, it confuses me for a while. I had figured out the answer from several dental school phone calls and from my pre-health advisor.
For Tufts, they prefer more than 80 hours; UCLA - 50 hours; U of Pacific - at least 20.
My advisor suggests me to have at least 100 hours in order to makeup any disadventage of either GPA or DAT; it might help a little.
Hope anyone who gets acceptances could give us more handon information.
For Tufts, they prefer more than 80 hours; UCLA - 50 hours; U of Pacific - at least 20.
My advisor suggests me to have at least 100 hours in order to makeup any disadventage of either GPA or DAT; it might help a little.
Hope anyone who gets acceptances could give us more handon information.
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Sometimes the career centers in schoolsl can be helpful. The school might be able to set you up with a dentist and give you credits/units for interning. Anyway, at my school, you had to intern 20hour/week for the whole semester.
The hours add up QUICKLY!
If you're still in undergrad, maybe it's something to check out!
The hours add up QUICKLY!
If you're still in undergrad, maybe it's something to check out!
B
babohead
when you say shadowing a dentist, doesn't volunteering at dental clinic count? ??
I haven't done any shadowing at private dentist office but I've been volunteering at 3 different dental clinics at the hospital. I basically observed and assisted the dentists there.
I haven't done any shadowing at private dentist office but I've been volunteering at 3 different dental clinics at the hospital. I basically observed and assisted the dentists there.
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Kristin Short, the Director of Admissions at UOP said she looks for a minimum of 40 hours. Just correcting the number given a couple posts above.
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generally, if you're lacking an official pre-dent or career center shadowing prgm, flip throught the phone book, and pick out a few dentists who sound interesting (using whatever criterea you choose - office location, gender, nationality, etc). Write them a short business style letter explaining that you're a pre-dentite who is interested in shadowing them, and give them your contact info. Generally they'll have their office manager call you and set up a time/date. Most dentists are SO excited that you want to be a dentist too, that they'll respond fairly quickly. Have a stock list of questions ready for them, and comfortable shoes on your feet!
Just to clarify, when most schools list shadowing requirements, they're looking for general dentistry shadowing... not specialists not that that should deter you from shadowing specialists as well. Also, some schools have special forms that need to be filled out by dentsts as you shadow them to "verify" your hours and experiance - might want to find out about those at any schools you're thinking about applying so you can get them filled out as you go.
Just to clarify, when most schools list shadowing requirements, they're looking for general dentistry shadowing... not specialists not that that should deter you from shadowing specialists as well. Also, some schools have special forms that need to be filled out by dentsts as you shadow them to "verify" your hours and experiance - might want to find out about those at any schools you're thinking about applying so you can get them filled out as you go.
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hi,
I have a question about shadowing dentists. I recently went on my first shadowing trip which lasted about 4 hours. I dont understand what else I could do though, to get my shadowing hours up. It seems like a lot of people talk about actually doing stuff while at the dentists. How is that possible? Don't you need a liscence? What does the Dr. let you do? Please let me know, I really would like to get as many shadowing hours as possible. Thanks
I have a question about shadowing dentists. I recently went on my first shadowing trip which lasted about 4 hours. I dont understand what else I could do though, to get my shadowing hours up. It seems like a lot of people talk about actually doing stuff while at the dentists. How is that possible? Don't you need a liscence? What does the Dr. let you do? Please let me know, I really would like to get as many shadowing hours as possible. Thanks
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I just got home from shadowing my local dentist (I did 10.5 hours today) -- I observe/assist him once a week and sometimes twice a week if I can find time.
The only school I'm applying to that requires an "observation form" is Ohio State. Anybody have a list of others that require a specific form to be filled out?
jrc, today I took x-rays and in general flushed/suctioned the mouth. We did four wisdom teeth extractions, extracted a couple of second molars, and built up a bonded tooth for an 8-yr old who had chipped it nearly all the way to the gum.
-G
The only school I'm applying to that requires an "observation form" is Ohio State. Anybody have a list of others that require a specific form to be filled out?
jrc, today I took x-rays and in general flushed/suctioned the mouth. We did four wisdom teeth extractions, extracted a couple of second molars, and built up a bonded tooth for an 8-yr old who had chipped it nearly all the way to the gum.
-G
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In New York state, you don't need a license to do dental assisting. You can do certain things as long as the dentist trains you. This can include passing instruments and suctioning for sure. I can't remember exactly what else, the final in the dental law class was over two weeks ago, so all that info is now gone from my brain.
If you can find a dentist who will let you assist, that would be awesome. I shadowed dentists in high school and college, they never let me do anything but stand in the corner and watch and ask questions. Now that I am in dental school, I still go to offices and do just that - shadow. Only difference is now I have a clue as to what is going on with the treatment. They still don't let me do anything, I think it's because in a private office, it's all about production and efficiency and knowing how things flow in the office.
Why do I still go as a dental student? To keep it real, b/c the dental school is all about ideal dentistry, not how it works in private practice. And it reminds me why I'm doing this again.
If you can find a dentist who will let you assist, that would be awesome. I shadowed dentists in high school and college, they never let me do anything but stand in the corner and watch and ask questions. Now that I am in dental school, I still go to offices and do just that - shadow. Only difference is now I have a clue as to what is going on with the treatment. They still don't let me do anything, I think it's because in a private office, it's all about production and efficiency and knowing how things flow in the office.
Why do I still go as a dental student? To keep it real, b/c the dental school is all about ideal dentistry, not how it works in private practice. And it reminds me why I'm doing this again.
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JRC
When I shadowed I was allowed to sort of be an assistant and hand equipment to the dentist, suction saliva, sterilize equipment, call in patients, etc..
in the first few weeks I started to shadow, the dentist only let me watch and I was bored out of my mind. However, after he felt comfortable, he let me do more. Perhaps if you continue to go to this one dentist he/she will gradually let you do more. Or even if you just talk to the dental assistant, I am sure she will be more than happy to teach you things. YOu can ask her simple things like how to sterilize, or even fun things--like ask if she has time after work and you can pretend to be the dentist and her the patient. Maybe she will let you clean her teeth or do impressions. Just ask a lot of questions and you won't be as bored
When I shadowed I was allowed to sort of be an assistant and hand equipment to the dentist, suction saliva, sterilize equipment, call in patients, etc..
in the first few weeks I started to shadow, the dentist only let me watch and I was bored out of my mind. However, after he felt comfortable, he let me do more. Perhaps if you continue to go to this one dentist he/she will gradually let you do more. Or even if you just talk to the dental assistant, I am sure she will be more than happy to teach you things. YOu can ask her simple things like how to sterilize, or even fun things--like ask if she has time after work and you can pretend to be the dentist and her the patient. Maybe she will let you clean her teeth or do impressions. Just ask a lot of questions and you won't be as bored
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Beagle - Ohio State is the only one I applied to that required a special form - but I thought I remembered seeing a required form for some east coast schools - but I could be hallucinating again 
At any rate, it should be listed on the AADSAS additional application materials spreadsheet if they need one
At any rate, it should be listed on the AADSAS additional application materials spreadsheet if they need one - Joined
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I just finished shadowing a dentist this week. I spend 4 days at his office standing in the corner and watching his working. That's all that I did. He even told me that a week of shadowing is enough. I was disappointed.I would really like to assist a dentist. So, what should I do???? How and where can I find a dentist who would let me assist? Thank's.
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student02,
Chances are that you'll need to build up a relationship with the dentist before he allows you to assist in any way (although this isn't always the case).
If you find yourself standing in a corner, then ask lots of questions. It you ask "what class of occlusion is that?" then he/she is bound to invite you over to the chair as they explain the carie, etc. to you.
Even moreso, people love to talk about themselves, so ask questions about the dentist! Find out where they went to school, what their class was like, how long they've practiced, information about their patient base, etc. Get up to speed on current events in dentistry and ask the dentist for their opinion on these topics. A simple question such as "How do you feel about the current state of orthodontics being practiced in the U.S.?" will often spark a 20-30 minute discussion.
I guess, above all, show the dentist that you are committed to the field (or want to truly find out if the field is the right one for you to be committed to!) and not just their to fulfill a requirement. I've built an awesome relationship with my dentist and he now lets me explain procedures to patients (to the best of my ability). He even tells them to ask me questions during procedures -- which I try to answer (and often times fail!). It's been a great experience for me, but your standing in the corner isn't going to cut it. It's certainly not your fault, but try to become more active when observing. Think of it as a class and ask as many questions as possible without being annoying. Good luck!
-G
Chances are that you'll need to build up a relationship with the dentist before he allows you to assist in any way (although this isn't always the case).
If you find yourself standing in a corner, then ask lots of questions. It you ask "what class of occlusion is that?" then he/she is bound to invite you over to the chair as they explain the carie, etc. to you.
Even moreso, people love to talk about themselves, so ask questions about the dentist! Find out where they went to school, what their class was like, how long they've practiced, information about their patient base, etc. Get up to speed on current events in dentistry and ask the dentist for their opinion on these topics. A simple question such as "How do you feel about the current state of orthodontics being practiced in the U.S.?" will often spark a 20-30 minute discussion.
I guess, above all, show the dentist that you are committed to the field (or want to truly find out if the field is the right one for you to be committed to!) and not just their to fulfill a requirement. I've built an awesome relationship with my dentist and he now lets me explain procedures to patients (to the best of my ability). He even tells them to ask me questions during procedures -- which I try to answer (and often times fail!). It's been a great experience for me, but your standing in the corner isn't going to cut it. It's certainly not your fault, but try to become more active when observing. Think of it as a class and ask as many questions as possible without being annoying. Good luck!
-G
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And if you can't do 40-50+ hours of shadowing/assisting, it's not the end of the world. I got into Tufts, Columbia, and NYU and only shadowed for about 20 hours total and didn't get to assist at all. I'm sure this hurt my application some, but not so much that I didn't get accepted.
