shadowing options

[Socram]

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I recently have been considering going into denistry. It's something new and I don't know much about the field. I decided that if I shadowed my dentist, that it would be a good way to get a better idea if this was the field for me. Plus, I know that some dentistry schools require a certain number of shadowing hours.

So, the other day I asked my own dentist about shadowing. He replied that due to privacy laws that he didn't think this would be possible. I shadowed my own primary care doctor for a week, so I know its possible with the current privacy laws as long as he asks his patients for permission.

My question is what should I do to shadow a dentist?

 

[tinman831]

My question is what should I do to shadow a dentist?

Just keep asking around until you find a dentist that will allow you to shadow him/her. 🙂

 

[Acceptance King]

Just keep asking around until you find a dentist that will allow you to shadow him/her. 🙂

You are going to find that a lot of dentists are isecure about their skills. The privacy law is actually an easy way out for them. I shadowed dentists and have had to deal with HIPAA often. As long as the dentist intruduces who you are, what you are doing ans asks the patients if they would feel comfortable with you observing what the dentist does, then it is perfectly acceptable. The problem is finding a dentist who feel comfortable with you observing.

If you really want to see if dentistry is something that might interest you, then go to the dental offices (don't call) and talk to the dentists. Let them know you are interested in finding out about dentistry and that you are wanting to see if it is a career that you would want to follow. Eventually, someone will allow you to observe.

 

[dental0903]

You also might want to look into shadowing at a dental clinic that is associated with dental residencies, hygiene programs, or dental assistant programs. Becuase they are considered a place of education, most of the time the patients will have to sign some sort of form to allow the students to observe them for educational purposes. So the dentists and the patients would probably both be pretty open to shadowing. I definitely recommend shadowing at a private practice as well, but maybe you could start at a clinic and then use that experience to show the dentist that you are responsible and genuinely interested in the field. Good luck! 😀

 

[nycdent]

i dont really understant what shadowing includes? and how long i have to do that? can someone explaint that please?

 

[Regmata]

Get a new dentist...he/she either sucks or is just a dick. As stated above, if the dentist obtains permission of the patient for a student to observe, it is perfectly fine. I have shadowed dentists and been asked to wait outside due to a patient not wishing to be observed by students. I have been asked to wait outside of surgeries due to patients not feeling comfortable with the situation. It happens. It comes down to what the patient is comfortable with and agrees to, not privacy laws (at least this is my understanding of it).

 

[rose786]

i dont really understant what shadowing includes? and how long i have to do that? can someone explaint that please?

Shadowing just means you follow around a dentist and see what he does. You ask questions to learn about the field and hopefully by the end of it, he'll know you well enough to write a lor. How long you do it and how many dentists you shadow is totally up to you. However, I recall Ohio State requires the dentist to fill out a form stating you've shadowed at least 20 hrs.

 

[jigabodo]

Shadowing just means you follow around a dentist and see what he does. You ask questions to learn about the field and hopefully by the end of it, he'll know you well enough to write a lor. How long you do it and how many dentists you shadow is totally up to you. However, I recall Ohio State requires the dentist to fill out a form stating you've shadowed at least 20 hrs.

Or you can just have your dentist write you a LOR, and ask him to state how many hours you have shadowed him. From what i've seen from SDN though, most applicants have around at least 50 hours of shadowing experience.

 

[sl2obel2ts]

I just started shadowing a dentist. I asked around a lot. My own dentist said no. He only had 2 years of experience. I asked a cosmetic dentist, who has 15 years of experience. She said OK. The ones who declined didnt have much expeirence and worked for a company. I found two who would let me shadow after asking dentists around in my area. both of them has tons of experience, master of science, and own private practices.