Shadowing

[Doctor Pretty]

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I shadowed a general dentist the other day for about 5 hours and I felt completely useless. Lol I was following her around and I didn't have any questions. I think I got off on the wrong foot because she didn't ask me to come back again but she did say that she would give my info to her friend who is busier.

Am I overracting? Also I liked the hygenist better. She was more approachable and talkative.

Did you guys "bomb" your first shadowing opportunity?

 

[12345a]

yeah...i 'bombed' my first observation day as well. I had a friendly conversation with a patient and the doctor got all bent out of shape. But shadowing is never exciting so be prepared to daydream for another 40+ hours

 

[smurf528]

yeah...i 'bombed' my first observation day as well. I had a friendly conversation with a patient and the doctor got all bent out of shape. But shadowing is never exciting so be prepared to daydream for another 40+ hours

not to sound discouraging but that is basically what shadowing is. You're just following the dentist around. Just try to ask him/her some questions like what they are doing or using during a surgery or something like that. I don't understand how some predents can do 100+ hours of shadowing because I have done about 30 and it's not too fun since you can't actually do anything.

 

[toothytay]

I think it's always a little awkward at first... I started of my shadowing at a hospital's residency program so I suddenly found myself in a room with 7 25-26 year old dentists, a current dental student, and super cocky pre-dent who was a year older than me. The dentists had been out of dental school about...a month, so they were definitely preoccupied with their own nerves, but they were such an amazing resource for asking questions about dental school!! On the down side, they weren't comfortable enough yet to explain to me what they were doing to a patient...in front of the patient lol. The dental student was fabulous on tips about applying...so was one of the dentists who used to be on an ADCOM. However, I've found that older dentists are more inclined to tell you what they're doing and why they're doing it as its happening...which I've really appreciated.

There are dentists out there that enjoy helping students get experience. And there are others that don't like it so much....maybe you should keep looking?

I'm sorry that the doctor got bent out of shape that you were talking to a patient...thats one of the main reasons I like dentistry...the patients!

 

[Stephie3]

shadowing sucks.

this is what shadowing is like: you want to learn how to read? ok, so before a school will teach you how to read, you have to stand around and watch a person read for 100+ hours. that will make you SURE that you want to go to school to learn how to read.

 

[doc toothache]

A guest should always act like a guest.

 

[Doctor Pretty]

Doc Toothache... What do you mean a guest is supposed to be a guest?

 

[Moo beaR]

shadowing sucks.

this is what shadowing is like: you want to learn how to read? ok, so before a school will teach you how to read, you have to stand around and watch a person read for 100+ hours. that will make you SURE that you want to go to school to learn how to read.

lol

 

[smurf528]

Doc Toothache... What do you mean a guest is supposed to be a guest?

I guess what Doc Toothache is trying to say is that you should act as a guest when you enter the dental office you're shadowing. Don't go in there and start thinking you own the place and can do whatever you want.

Follow the dentist around and ask questions if you're confused with what they're doing. Don't try to start conversations with their patients and just be courteous.

 

[Omenino]

I don't think having a friendly conversation with the patient is a bad idea. I think it is a good idea because it will relieve some stress on the patient and keep them calm. Even the dentist should be having a friendly conversation with the patient for the same reason.

I guess what Doc Toothache is trying to say is that you should act as a guest when you enter the dental office you're shadowing. Don't go in there and start thinking you own the place and can do whatever you want.

Follow the dentist around and ask questions if you're confused with what they're doing. Don't try to start conversations with their patients and just be courteous.

 

[smurf528]

I don't think having a friendly conversation with the patient is a bad idea. I think it is a good idea because it will relieve some stress on the patient and keep them calm. Even the dentist should be having a friendly conversation with the patient for the same reason.

I guess it just depends on the dentist you shadow. Some dentists, like mine, are very laid back and wouldn't care. But there are some who don't want you to.

 

[Omenino]

Yea im pretty sure there are a lot of anti-social dentist out there....which is a bad thing

I guess it just depends on the dentist you shadow. Some dentists, like mine, are very laid back and wouldn't care. But there are some who don't want you to.

 

[frenchriviera24]

shadowing sucks.

this is what shadowing is like: you want to learn how to read? ok, so before a school will teach you how to read, you have to stand around and watch a person read for 100+ hours. that will make you SURE that you want to go to school to learn how to read.

LMAO. you're so right stephie

 

[PrivateJoker]

Sometimes you get a cool dentist who will let you assist while they do extractions or fillings. That's always very cool!

To the OP-I think a lot of dentists feel as if they are not exciting enough or they are not showing you enough, as long as you reassure them that you are having a great time and learning a lot they will be much more engaging with you. This is what I have discovered. That, and every dentist is different.

 

[DDMess]

Shadowing is to get a grasp of the day to day life of the dentist. I don't think you should use it to actually try to learn anything because that is what dental school is for. I think shadowing is great for asking the dentist why they chose dentistry, etc because it will help mold your answer for apps and interviews. Think about what the adcoms will ask you and then ask the dentist the same exact questions! I know a guy with like 300+ hours of shadowing which I think is ridiculous. You should shadow to get an idea of the profession, after that if you need to improve your application then take classes or do actual volunteer work...or just get a job.

 

[DDMess]

also here is a pretty big tip. talk to the front desk people who schedule all the procedures and see if you can come in whenever they have an interesting procedure. that keeps things less boring.

 

[Doctor Pretty]

DDMess... I do ask the dentist I was shadowing why she became a dentist and its not an answer that I would feel comfortable putting on an application. Lol

She said she liked the money and the lifestyle she could have with dentrisry. She also said if she had a chance to do it over she wouldn't because there alot of other easier ways to make money. 😀😀 She even warned me that I might get burned out from doing dentistry for a long time and that I should take frequent vacations and CE courses.

That day I seen alot, so it was kinda adventous. I seen two extractions, a venure, crowning, and cleaning.

 

[GiTsticker]

I got to disinfect the chairs and push the X-ray button.

 

[a1pha]

Wow, I'm pretty shocked so many people have had such bad experiences shadowing. I felt like the relationships I established with the dentists I shadowed were a critical part of my application and my motivation to pursue a career in dentistry. Honestly, if it sucks as much as you guys have said, I would definitely find another dentist to shadow. I feel like it shouldn't be difficult to find some dentists who are enthusiastic to promote their profession and pass on their knowledge and experience. If you have repeated issues when shadowing, either your area is congested with pretty lame dentists or (it sucks to say but..) you may want to consider developing your respect/social skills.

 

[NYOD]

How about shadowing an orthodontist as opposed to an actual dentist? Has anyone had any experience with this? What are the schools opinions if someone did this?

 

[GiTsticker]

You would be labeled as an over-achiever and get an early rejection. Haha, I think shadowing an orthodontist would be fine, BUT only after/in conjunction with shadowing a general dentist. I don't think an orthodontist's job is representative of what you will be doing in dental school, or as a dentist enough to give you an idea of what you're getting yourself into.

 

[Dannelid]

Shadowing is kinda like a first date. There's usually some level of awkwardness at first because you don't know each other.

I shadowed a pedodontist who said I didn't ask enough questions and he didn't talk much to me at first. So I asked more questions and kept shadowing him anyway. I also went out of my way to shadow him when he was doing surgeries at 6am on saturdays, which I guess showed him I really cared. Eventually we built a good relationship and he even invited me to go to a continuing education conference with him. It was an awesome experience.

So some people are just reserved at first and you have to crack open that shell; it'll be the same way with patients so I guess we have to get used to it.

 

[zestypeas]

How about shadowing an orthodontist as opposed to an actual dentist? Has anyone had any experience with this? What are the schools opinions if someone did this?

I shadowed my orthodontist. I'd say it's good to see what other specialties do, just in case you decide to specialize further down the road. But I would definitely shadow an actual dentist in addition to the orthodontist, because that is more directly related to dental school and gives you a better idea of what a day in the life of a dentist is. Also, I think dent schools prefer that you shadow at least one general dentist.

 

[Dental Mom]

It depends on the personality of the dentist. I got a very high evaluation from the 2 dentists where I did an internship. They both liked how I talked to the patients and how I manage to calmed down the nervous ones including kids (well, I'm a mom all you have to do is talk about Sponge Bob).

One of them talked to death and is the King of multitasking at chatting while pulling a tooth or doing root canals.....I had no idea how he managed to talk TOO MUCH LIKE A RADIO and still do a good job! LOL!! The other was more quiet and talked very soft when it was necessary. He is very sweet.

At first, you are a total stranger and all you have to do is be confident, ask a question when you have one. Pay attention to what's put on the table with instruments, materials, etc...click with the staff and smile not matter what 😀 be early, positive, happy, content, humble, not matter how nasty of a day you are having.

Ask the dentist to explain you chair-side manners 🙂 because each dentist has their own unique way to treat their patients ethically. With dentist #1, I watched him do work on a 95 yr old lady...I LOVE seniors and was like about to jump up and down from excitement....when he showed me some gum problems I said loud: OH WOW!!!!!!! And he was like oh no! I forgot to teach you "manners"....he said never say "wow" "OMG" or anything like that because that makes people nervous! Ooooppsss.....luckily the lady couldn't hear a thing and he just laugh with the assistant....after that only when he saw MD she would allowed me to say OMG, and WOW!

I really clicked with these 2 guys, but not so much with another one who was older and extremely conservative in every imaginable way. I'd had cry if I to deal with him for over 170+ hours!

So Dr Pretty, my darling, is not you, it's her! You girls didn't click, maybe some PMS was involved from her part? Maybe she didn't like to talk and work at the same time? I hope you can find someone that *you* click with soon.

I did a formal internship, so if you want more tips on how to succeed in the dental office just send me a PM 🙂 I've seen and lived the good, the bad and the ugly of shadowing. I went from being an stranger to having lunch with the dentists every day, and getting a job offer as well 😀

 

[Dental Mom]

I got to disinfect the chairs and push the X-ray button.

Even after 170+ hrs it never got be "old" to do that! 👍

 

[Dental Mom]

How about shadowing an orthodontist as opposed to an actual dentist? Has anyone had any experience with this? What are the schools opinions if someone did this?

There's a lot more going on in a general practice. Is where one can learn more of the basics and see the most common oral problems. The orthodontist is great too, but maybe after seeing the basics since it looks more advanced to deal with aligning the teeth? The orthodontists spend less time with the patients during regular check ups days, than a general dentist who sees a more diverse group of patients....the instruments, procedures and "talking" is more of what we are going to deal with in dental school....shadow a general dentist first and then a specialist if you are interested........just my 2 cents.

 

[DDMess]

DDMess... I do ask the dentist I was shadowing why she became a dentist and its not an answer that I would feel comfortable putting on an application. Lol

She said she liked the money and the lifestyle she could have with dentrisry. She also said if she had a chance to do it over she wouldn't because there alot of other easier ways to make money. 😀😀 She even warned me that I might get burned out from doing dentistry for a long time and that I should take frequent vacations and CE courses.

That day I seen alot, so it was kinda adventous. I seen two extractions, a venure, crowning, and cleaning.

well then check out other dentists too. you don't want to listen to just one person's opinion. goodluck

 

[PreDentDJ]

also here is a pretty big tip. talk to the front desk people who schedule all the procedures and see if you can come in whenever they have an interesting procedure. that keeps things less boring.

That's actually a really good idea! Shadowing can get boring, but beyond that is the overwhelming feeling of being useless as you stand there (inevitably in somebody's way) as the staff runs around like mad people. Do you stay busy? Do you stay hidden? Do you talk to the patients? Do you leave them alone? It can get frustrating for sure. Being there for one or two procedures at a time would really help to alleviate that.

My two (or three) cents:
1) Don't wear out your welcome. Alternate between practices. Give yourself a break from endo, and your endo a break from you.

2) LEARN SOMETHING! Then build questions off of what you have learned. Hit up the assistants for help with the terminology. A lot of docs really like sharing their knowledge and experience with you, but most will get annoyed if they have to explain the difference between anterior and posterior.

3) Ask the docs about more than dental procedures. I have found that most dentists feel quite strongly about certain logistical aspects of their practice. One dentist I worked for said that the absolute hardest thing about running a practice is keeping the chairs filled. Another said the hardest thing was managing his employees. They both took the time to explain in detail what they meant. Consequently, I learned a lot.