Shadowing dilemma

[LaDentista]

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I submitted my app in may, and since i hadn't completed all my shadowing hours at that time i wrote them as "future experiences" since i didn't want to delay submitting. the problem is one of the general dentists i was supposed to shadow had to delay my coming in because he had lost a few employees and said it was too stressful around the office and that i'd have to wait. i was thinking of maybe just calling another general dentist to fulfill the hours i already put down. but i'm worried that i'll run into trouble when i have to do those verification forms, bc then the # of hours i put for the original dentist will be inaccurate. should i wait and shadow that original dentist, even if it's not for another month or two, or should i just call up a different dentist so i can get the hours in asap? thanks guys!

 

[motörhead]

I submitted my app in may, and since i hadn't completed all my shadowing hours at that time i wrote them as "future experiences" since i didn't want to delay submitting. the problem is one of the general dentists i was supposed to shadow had to delay my coming in because he had lost a few employees and said it was too stressful around the office and that i'd have to wait. i was thinking of maybe just calling another general dentist to fulfill the hours i already put down. but i'm worried that i'll run into trouble when i have to do those verification forms, bc then the # of hours i put for the original dentist will be inaccurate. should i wait and shadow that original dentist, even if it's not for another month or two, or should i just call up a different dentist so i can get the hours in asap? thanks guys!

When i was applying i personally felt that the shadowing requirement of schools was stupid. I mean, really, does it matter if you've shadowed 10hours vs 200 hours? Shadowing is boooooring. I would just go ahead and shadow whoever you can and explain it at the interview; i doubt they'll ask.

 

[doc toothache]

When i was applying i personally felt that the shadowing requirement of schools was stupid. I mean, really, does it matter if you've shadowed 10hours vs 200 hours? Shadowing is boooooring. I.

Interesting perspective for someone who is interested in dentistry. The purpose of shadowing if to enable one to make a rational decision whether or not a particular field in question is what one is really interested in pursuing. For most, a few days should be sufficient to reach some sort of conclusion, albeit, at least a tentative one. Perhaps some schools believe that, at the 200 hours level, a prospective student has a better clue about the chosen profession over, lets say, one with 10 hours. Anyone who finds shadowing dentistry so boooooring, perhaps should find something else that will pique their curiosity procedure after procedure and not find them quite so boooooring.

 

[keving]

Interesting perspective for someone who is interested in dentistry. The purpose of shadowing if to enable one to make a rational decision whether or not a particular field in question is what one is really interested in pursuing. For most, a few days should be sufficient to reach some sort of conclusion, albeit, at least a tentative one. Perhaps some schools believe that, at the 200 hours level, a prospective student has a better clue about the chosen profession over, lets say, one with 10 hours. Anyone who finds shadowing dentistry so boooooring, perhaps should find something else that will pique their curiosity procedure after procedure and not find them quite so boooooring.

Actually, I fully agree. If you find shadowing extremely boring, you'll probably find being a dentist boring too. Just something to think about.

 

[reapply2007]

I found shadowing interesting in that different dentists interact differently with different patients. It seemed as if everyone I shadowed could do the work with nearly the same skill but the interaction with the patients was largely what made the patients more or less appreciative of the experience. I picked up some good people skills.

As for the hours, I would pick up a different dentist to get some hours under your belt and a LOR and then deal with the other dentist when things get less crazy at their office. I doubt the first dentist will mind at all and you'll still be able to verify your hours.

 

[xdianaax]

I agree with reapply. I think you should get the hours you had put down at a different dentist to get them done, and then you can go to the other dentist when he's ready to have you. Good luck!

 

[motörhead]

Interesting perspective for someone who is interested in dentistry. The purpose of shadowing if to enable one to make a rational decision whether or not a particular field in question is what one is really interested in pursuing. For most, a few days should be sufficient to reach some sort of conclusion, albeit, at least a tentative one. Perhaps some schools believe that, at the 200 hours level, a prospective student has a better clue about the chosen profession over, lets say, one with 10 hours. Anyone who finds shadowing dentistry so boooooring, perhaps should find something else that will pique their curiosity procedure after procedure and not find them quite so boooooring.

Yes, i am interested in dentistry, and yes, I found shadowing excruciatingly boring. I guess it all comes down to how involved the dentist wants to get you. Frankly, in my experience, the mouth is a pretty tiny place, and you can't casually show somebody your work. In fact, I did an amalgam on thursday completely blind... i literally could not have the drill taking away tooth structure with the mirror in place.