Shadowing

[robert landon]

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How important is shadowing? How many hours is sufficient? I searched this topic before posting it and I didn't find a thread that explained how many hours you need to have a good chance of being accepted into Dental School. I know 50 hours is usually the minimum on the school websites, but I want to know what everyone else is doing. I have 3.5 GPA and I've been to Tijuana for a week of charity dental work. Please give me your advice on how much shadowing is enough to get me in. Thanks!🙂

 

[doc3232]

good question...
I heard UoP will not accept anything anyone with less than 200 hours (immediate rejection) but thats all I know.
So responses would be great for me too...
😀😀😀😀

 

[sloken]

direct from UofP's site:

"Q: What other experiences will help prepare me for a career in dentistry? A: We strongly encourage you to spend a minimum of 40 hours working, volunteering, or observing in a dental office. Join the predental club at your University or College and the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) at (312)-440-2826or online at www.asdanet.org

"

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[CMistry]

Most people here think 100 hours is sufficient (per what I've seen on Predents).

-Cyrus

 

[alanan84]

I'm shooting for 50.

 

[doc3232]

OK...so what I said was false...what I meant was that 200 is average for getting in... sorry for the confusion.
😳😳😳😳😳😳

 

[tamkhan]

Apart from completing the minimum hours, you should try to shadow a specialist as well, if you have time.
Usually, 50 is considered to be enough.

 

[doctor tooth]

it doesn't matter how much you do as long as the dentist you shadow works at the university. hint hint...

 

[robert landon]

it doesn't matter how much you do as long as the dentist you shadow works at the university. hint hint...

That would be ideal of curse but I'm not near any of the schools I'll be applying to. I'm in southern Idaho, no where near a dental school 🙁

 

[blankguy]

Enjoy the experience. Don't get engaged too much in hour counting because 50 hours really is not that much time.

 

[ummjoey]

try to do a little assisting. you will get to see more if you assist?

 

[Neuro178]

I'm up to 70 hours between two dentists that I have shadowed, and I still have more dentists that I want to shadow. The best way to get a large amount of hours is to shadow one dentist for a few weeks. That way you up your number of observation hours and build a strong relationship with a dentist at the same time. Plus they'll suggest more dentists for you to shadow.

Do you think working as an assistant looks even better? I get the feeling that that would be hard to do...

 

[ummjoey]

I'm up to 70 hours between two dentists that I have shadowed, and I still have more dentists that I want to shadow. The best way to get a large amount of hours is to shadow one dentist for a few weeks. That way you up your number of observation hours and build a strong relationship with a dentist at the same time. Plus they'll suggest more dentists for you to shadow.

Do you think working as an assistant looks even better? I get the feeling that that would be hard to do...

ask the dentist if you can help out as an assistant for free? who can resist free help?

start out with the simple stuff like cleaning, sterlization, wiping down chairs...........then start with stuff like suction, getting instruments for the dentist, doing impressions..........