Sort of Scared

[RootCanal]

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I want to be a dentist, but I am really nervous. I can't imagine drilling right now or giving someone a root canal. Practicing with local anethetics scares me too. Are we going to be eased in slow? I'm freaked out about the first person I have to do a root canal on or fill a cavity for. Eventually I'm sure things will be fine but it is the first one that scares me so bad. Am I alone?

 

[armorshell]

Remember, you're going to have 2 years of pre-clinical education before you have to worry about cutting in to an actual patient.

I don't think there's anything wrong with worrying a little bit, it shows that you understand the gravity of what you're going to be doing. Also, while a lot of people are feeling fine now, I don't think anyone sits down with their first patient without feeling at least a few butterflies.

 

[djeffreyt]

You'll be fine. Like Armor said...you practice for days on days before you ever see a patient. the docs won't even let you near one until you've proven you can handle a handpiece decently well.

As for anesthesia...I'm not going to tell you it will be easy, but you can't learn anything if you don't practice it first. I'm sure you'll do fine once you get it in your hands. You can practice on dummy heads if you want first I'm sure.

 

[sonylarkhi]

I know the first time you give anesthetic for a lot of schools is on another dental student...which means you'll be the guinea pig for another student as well.....but practice makes perfect

 

[SugarNaCl]

I don't know why this reminded me of it but when I was younger I was completely grossed out by saliva. Blood I could handle but saliva made me cringe...even a drooling baby. I'm sort of glad I overcame that.

 

[aphistis]

You'll be fine. Like Armor said...you practice for days on days before you ever see a patient. the docs won't even let you near one until you've proven you can handle a handpiece decently well.

As for anesthesia...I'm not going to tell you it will be easy, but you can't learn anything if you don't practice it first. I'm sure you'll do fine once you get it in your hands. You can practice on dummy heads if you want first I'm sure.

Personally, I think anesthesia is actually easier technically, and just as satisfying as, most of the procedures themselves. If you know what you're doing and you develop good technique to where you can numb patients efficiently and (believe it or not) comfortably, it's an almost bulletproof way to gain a patient's trust.

 

[supraman]

What did you think you were going to do as a Dentist, just clean teeth?

 

[armorshell]

What did you think you were going to do as a Dentist, just clean teeth?

Give me a break, you'll be shaking like a leaf during your first human prep, same as everyone else.

It could get bad though, my personal dentist's first patient ever was an emergency root canal, he really had no idea what he was doing. Great story.

 

[pine88]

I don't know why this reminded me of it but when I was younger I was completely grossed out by saliva. Blood I could handle but saliva made me cringe...even a drooling baby. I'm sort of glad I overcame that.

Me too! Although actually it still bothers me - but not as much. At least now if someone licks me I don't punch them on instinct. That was a bad reflex 😳

 

[INFNITE]

being nervous is a perfectly natural thing. Nobody attending dental school is born with a handpiece in their hands ready to prep away the perfect maxillary class II cavity. It takes time for everyone. Some people are naturally good at dentistry, but for others, it takes hours upon hours of practice. In the end, if you have the will and desire to succeed in dentistry, you will reach your dreams and learn all the basics you need to handle the profession within the 4 years of dental school. All it takes is patience and perseverance. Take it one step at a time and practice, practice, practice until you master the skills before you get to the clinics.

good luck!

 

[SugarNaCl]

Me too! Although actually it still bothers me - but not as much. At least now if someone licks me I don't punch them on instinct. That was a bad reflex 😳

HAHA. I thought I was the only one! Thank God for suction and good gloves eh?! (That wasn't a Canadian eh...it was... an... American eh?)

 

[djeffreyt]

It's good to know that if I lick you Pine, you won't automatically punch me...although if you do punch me...I will know it was with malice aforethought

 

[pine88]

It's good to know that if I lick you Pine, you won't automatically punch me...although if you do punch me...I will know it was with malice aforethought

Oh don't you dare. I hold back the punch only if it was an innocent mistake. But now you have been warned, I"m not responsible for the consequences

HAHA. I thought I was the only one! Thank God for suction and good gloves eh?! (That wasn't a Canadian eh...it was... an... American eh?)

Amen! Although I might go for the Naked Gun body condom. Can't be too safe.

 

[yeabuddy]

The saliva thing really never bothered me but I almost passed out the first time I saw an extraction. Ever happen to anyone else? But after seeing it again i was able to handle it although the blood still kinda bothers me.

 

[GoDucks69]

The saliva thing really never bothered me but I almost passed out the first time I saw an extraction. Ever happen to anyone else? But after seeing it again i was able to handle it although the blood still kinda bothers me.

At my OHSU interview we went to observe oral surgery and they were doing an extraction. The suction tube was clear and you could see all the blood move down the tube. This dental assisting student couldnt handle it and had to go sit down. She might have re-evaluated her dental assisting career.

 

[OceanBlue]

Nobody attending dental school is born with a handpiece in their hands

correct! but except for me. I was born ready with a [FONT=arial,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]XH-S803 Air Turbine hand Piece😀[/SIZE].