Shadowing

[Futuredentist001]

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Hello, I have a question regarding dental shadowing and experiences. I had shadowed a general dentist for ~20 hours and have been working as a dental assistant for about 190 hours. I know 100 hours of shadowing is the requirement in many dental schools, but can hours of working as an assistant replace the requirement of shadowing? I was seeking for shadowing opportunities, but many dentists turned my request down due to the COVID. I'd appreciate any input!

 

[Linzza]

Hello, I have a question regarding dental shadowing and experiences. I had shadowed my family dentist for ~20 hours this past May and have been working as a dental assistant since this past June (~ 190 hours). I know 100 hours of shadowing is the requirement in many dental schools, but can hours of working as an assistant replace the requirement of shadowing? I was seeking for shadowing opportunities, but many dentists turned my request down due to the COVID. I'd appreciate any input!

I don't think it can be replaced, but there is this virtual dental shadowing opportunity on Instagram @smileshadowers and @dentalshadowers. You can check out the IG accounts. Hope that this could help!

 

[2thDoc11]

Hello, I have a question regarding dental shadowing and experiences. I had shadowed my family dentist for ~20 hours this past May and have been working as a dental assistant since this past June (~ 190 hours). I know 100 hours of shadowing is the requirement in many dental schools, but can hours of working as an assistant replace the requirement of shadowing? I was seeking for shadowing opportunities, but many dentists turned my request down due to the COVID. I'd appreciate any input!

100 hours isn’t the requirement, more so an unspoken rule of thumb as far as what will make you most competitive.. you know what’s better then standing in the corner and watching a dentist do something in a mouth that you can’t really see??? Participating! shadowing is more important for those who haven’t had much insight into the field of dentistry and that shadowing experience will be all they get prior to applying. You are a dental assistant who is getting consistent exposure and working with the dentist. As far as dental schools go, I’m sure they’d rather see someone who is working in the field and learning rather then someone who watches from the corner a couple hours a week.

although some schools do require like 20 hours of shadowing so just make sure you hit the minimum.

 

[MLC45]

The point of shadowing is for someone to have an idea of what dentistry is all about before applying. Most schools will count assisting experience as shadowing. I was a dental assistant for several years, and I only had one school send me an email saying I didn’t meet the required shadowing hours (that school 100 was required). I did get an email a few days later saying to ignore previous email, but I was kind of shocked at their initial response.