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I have been talking with many pre-dents recently and the issue of importance of shadowing vs hands-on experience comes up often. Here are my two cents:
Shadowing: shadowing is a great way to introduce a person to dentistry as well as provide a gateway into a mentor-type relationship with the practioner that could potentially lead to a letter of recommendation. Use shadowing as an oppurtunity to pick the practioner's brain on the profession of dentistry and use it as a baseline to see if the profession still interests you. If you are lucky, you will see them do a really cool procedure along the way.
Hands-on experience: once you have decided that dentistry still interests you, hands on experience provides you with the day-in and day-out repition dentistry offers. Bar none, my hands on experience took my spark for dentistry and turned it into an all out wild-fire (cheesy? you bet). If you are still interested in dentistry after the hands on experience, it is right for you.
Bascially if you were applying to be a cook, do you think you would be more competitive by saying "I watch the Food Network" or "I have hands-on experience in a professional kitchen"? If you want to be a dentist, SHOW them. Dentistry is unique in that every aspect of it (except oral radiology and pathology maybe) requires health knowledge and hand skills.
I hope some of you find this helpful.
Shadowing: shadowing is a great way to introduce a person to dentistry as well as provide a gateway into a mentor-type relationship with the practioner that could potentially lead to a letter of recommendation. Use shadowing as an oppurtunity to pick the practioner's brain on the profession of dentistry and use it as a baseline to see if the profession still interests you. If you are lucky, you will see them do a really cool procedure along the way.
Hands-on experience: once you have decided that dentistry still interests you, hands on experience provides you with the day-in and day-out repition dentistry offers. Bar none, my hands on experience took my spark for dentistry and turned it into an all out wild-fire (cheesy? you bet). If you are still interested in dentistry after the hands on experience, it is right for you.
Bascially if you were applying to be a cook, do you think you would be more competitive by saying "I watch the Food Network" or "I have hands-on experience in a professional kitchen"? If you want to be a dentist, SHOW them. Dentistry is unique in that every aspect of it (except oral radiology and pathology maybe) requires health knowledge and hand skills.
I hope some of you find this helpful.