Shadowing right before dental school

[ToothBlaster]

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As a Fall 2011 accepted student, I want to prepare a little before starting dental school in the Fall 2011. I want to actually shadow a dentist and learn more about the profession, the instruments, patient interaction, and get my feet wet so I am prepared for the rigors of dental school. This is going to be my career, so I want to get a head start. I want to and need to do this. I was considering working at a hospital's dental clinic. Or perhaps shadowing residents. Where can I go to actually learn something more than just watching? Because I have shadowed actual dentists, and the experience was not informative. Which option is the best so I can prepare and actually learn actively, and so I am not just passively just watching a dentist work? Any suggestions please?

 

[youknowthedrill]

Relax and enjoy your summer. You won't get it back. You'll learn everything you need to know in dental school.

 

[Daurang]

Relax or go travel.

 

[DrReo]

As a Fall 2011 accepted student, I want to prepare a little before starting dental school in the Fall 2011. I want to actually shadow a dentist and learn more about the profession, the instruments, patient interaction, and get my feet wet so I am prepared for the rigors of dental school. This is going to be my career, so I want to get a head start. I want to and need to do this. I was considering working at a hospital's dental clinic. Or perhaps shadowing residents. Where can I go to actually learn something more than just watching? Because I have shadowed actual dentists, and the experience was not informative. Which option is the best so I can prepare and actually learn actively, and so I am not just passively just watching a dentist work? Any suggestions please?

You won't learn much because you don't understand the reasoning behind the preparation, procedure, materials, etc... Read Millionaire Next Door and Rich Dad Poor Dad- as a start!

 

[SeattleRDH]

Shadow an office manager instead of a dentist. One thing they won't teach you in school is how to run a business

 

[ToothBlaster]

I dont understand, how will the books Millionaire Next Door and Rich Dad Poor Dad help me?

 

[Doc Smile]

I dont understand, how will the books Millionaire Next Door and Rich Dad Poor Dad help me?

it will make you a better business owner.

 

[DrReo]

I dont understand, how will the books Millionaire Next Door and Rich Dad Poor Dad help me?

Exactly, that's the problem! Learn the ropes of spending and what makes people wealthy. You can watch a dentist do 3423 preps, but if you do not know the theory behind it, you're essentially wasting your time.

 

[ToothBlaster]

Perhaps if I train to become a dental assistant?
Can I learn the theory while shadowing? Pick it up along the way... ask questions... etc

 

[Doc Smile]

Perhaps if I train to become a dental assistant?
Can I learn the theory while shadowing? Pick it up along the way... ask questions... etc

No. Half the time, as an assistant, you just sit their with the suction while the Dr is working on the #18 so you can't see anything. Not meaning to belittle assistants because they do amazing work and are a tremendous help. But, in the little time before classes start, you should enjoy life because everything you learn in a real dental office is obsolete in dental school becasue you have to follow their rules.

 

[Regmata]

You will only annoy people...wait for dental school. Dental school doesn't jump right into clinics, if you want to get a head start, read a book to prepare for the didactics. As you begin to understand what you are doing in pre-clin and clinic, you develop your own style of treatment and eventually, your own way to interact with patients. Watching someone else work, before you have any idea what they are up to, will not help you. Don't try to put the cart before the horse. Enjoy your time off now and trust that the program you chose will help you become an excellent dentist.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

As a Fall 2011 accepted student, I want to prepare a little before starting dental school in the Fall 2011. I want to actually shadow a dentist and learn more about the profession, the instruments, patient interaction, and get my feet wet so I am prepared for the rigors of dental school. This is going to be my career, so I want to get a head start. I want to and need to do this. I was considering working at a hospital's dental clinic. Or perhaps shadowing residents. Where can I go to actually learn something more than just watching? Because I have shadowed actual dentists, and the experience was not informative. Which option is the best so I can prepare and actually learn actively, and so I am not just passively just watching a dentist work? Any suggestions please?

By getting accepted, you've done enough preparing, trust me.

The "rigors of dental school" have little to do with what you learn, it's how much you learn. Just chill.

This time before dental school is time you will never get back... don't force yourself to make dental school 4 years and one summer... 4 years is plenty.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Reading threads like this reminds me of how lucky I am to have a mentor 😀

 

[TJNova2011]

Perhaps if I train to become a dental assistant?
Can I learn the theory while shadowing? Pick it up along the way... ask questions... etc

You need a new hobby!

 

[kennertt]

I'm in that very same situation, and my mentality is "read. Learning is a skill, and like any skill if you don't use it, you'll lose it". There are a lot of routes you can go, depending on what you want to do as a dentist, but it's best to find something worthwhile in what you're doing so that you can learn. I'm also going to be a camp counselor so during much of summer time so I'm going to have fun, as we as spend some time around children because I'm thinking about possibly going in the area of pediatric dentistry. What I know is that you'll learn all you need to know in dental school (and residency if necessary), it's what you learn in the other areas like people skills, business skills, etc... that will set you apart from other dentists.

 

[yappy]

These books offer about as much wisdom as listening to "joe the plumber". Sorry Dr Reo, I found these books to be overhyped. Did you take anything useful from them?

... Read Millionaire Next Door and Rich Dad Poor Dad- as a start!

 

[TJNova2011]

These books offer about as much wisdom as listening to "joe the plumber". Sorry Dr Reo, I found these books to be overhyped. Did you take anything useful from them?

I feel students could greatly benefit if they understood spending habits mentioned in the text.

 

[kingcon9]

what about lab skills? carving and waxing up

 

[SeattleRDH]

what about lab skills? carving and waxing up

If anything, start working on your indirect vision.

 

[Doc Smile]

what about lab skills? carving and waxing up

If anything, start working on your indirect vision.

Yeah, unless you have all that stuff issued to you already, there is no way he is going to be able to start practicing it. You can flip your mouse around and learn to use it upside down. Some people say that helps with indirect vision.

Seriously, relax. You will spend enough time in lab learning everything anyway. Chances are if you tried doing stuff now anyway, you would do it wrong and have to relearn it.

 

[ToothBlaster]

What is indirect vision? How can you work on it?
Thanks

 

[flapaTron]

What is indirect vision? How can you work on it?
Thanks

using a mirror to work. the image you see is opposite, so it takes time to become accustomed to working indirectly.