unsure about dentistry

[pharmoo]

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Can a dentist or dental student please help me. I have been an unhappy pharmacist for several years and applied for dmd program in australia because dentistry has appealed to me for some time. The idea of providing solutions and allowing people to retain their teeth really appeals to me. I was offered a place in the dmd program and recieved a scholarship from the defence force. However, i failed to accept the offer because I wasn't sure if i had the technical ability and was put off by dentistry shifting away from oral health to cosmetic stuff. I enjoy the relationship between systemic and oral health. Can todays dentist focus on real oral health issues, or do they have to focus on cosmetic stuff? I know cosmetic dentistry has its role but I want to focus on saving teeth and gums. I am going to reapply for dentistry but would appreciate some advice.

 

[y3nd0]

Technical ability will come with practice in dental school. Trust me. Unless you have severely impaired limb function (like very shaky hands), you will be fine.

As for cosmetics... a huge part of dentistry IS cosmetics. People will come to you looking to get their teeth whitened, for chipped anterior teeth, dentures, etc. and it will be your job as a dentist to have them leaving your office feeling better about themselves. However, there is a lot more to dentistry than making a pretty smile. You can consider dentists as specialists of the mouth (like any other medical specialist in their respective fields). Dentists can diagnose and screen for diseases, relieve a patient of oral pain, fix small problems before they become big problems (e.g a small cavity that can become larger if a patient does not seem to be cognizant of their own oral health). They say the oral cavity is the window to the body, and that is still quite true. Lots of systemic diseases can manifest in the body and it is certainly part of a dentist's job to see and identify them, and consult the patient.

Some thing I found really cool from my professor: we are learning to do head and neck screenings, one part of which is checking the health of the thyroid. Some patients that come to the dental school for care have reported to my professor that they have been diagnosed for thyroid cancer, and guess who uncovered that for them? Their dentist!

I mean, this is what I have learned so far... I'm only a D1. 😛 And I have yet to take oral pathology.

And as for attending dental school in Australia - beware that if you want to practice in the US, you will not be able to do so if you graduate from a foreign school. You will have to complete some kind of international DDS/DMD program in the states (I think 2-3 years? Probably depends on the school) before you can become licensed.

 

[batman074]

I have been having a lot of dental pain. My k9/eye tooth #6 had a root canal today. It was absecced . I also need 2 surgical extractions on #2 & #10. In extreme pain, face has swelling and can't sleep. Dentist sent me home with no pain med. I asked and was told no....makes no sense. I've never asked them before and first time using them as dentist.....hurting and confused. Seems not right. And dentist didn't tell me what he was gonna do before root canal & no afterward instructions . said " your done go home"

 

[batman074]

Make sure to inform patients thoroughly and let them know the risk,what to watch for and make sure there's stable communication between you both

 

[tooth knockn]

I have been having a lot of dental pain. My k9/eye tooth #6 had a root canal today. It was absecced . I also need 2 surgical extractions on #2 & #10. In extreme pain, face has swelling and can't sleep. Dentist sent me home with no pain med. I asked and was told no....makes no sense. I've never asked them before and first time using them as dentist.....hurting and confused. Seems not right. And dentist didn't tell me what he was gonna do before root canal & no afterward instructions . said " your done go home"

1st go to emergency room, you shouldn't suffer.

Then

Get a lawyer.


Send this helpful dentist s nice letter from mr. Santa Law

 

[TourdeTeeth]

In response to your original question, dentists can focus directly on oral health but it depends where you work and what populations you work with. It sounds to me like you'd enjoy working with public health, which focuses mainly on providing oral healthcare to those who need it. Medicaire and Medicaid generally don't pay for cosmetic stuff, so you wouldn't do much of it.

 

[Screwtape]

1st go to emergency room, you shouldn't suffer.

Then

Get a lawyer.


Send this helpful dentist s nice letter from mr. Santa Law

Are you kidding me?

 

[tooth knockn]

Are you kidding me?

Poor person did not know what to do, person had pain and did not know what to do.

Sometimes common sense is not so common, not everyone thinks of hospitals due to tooth pain.

 

[Screwtape]

Poor person did not know what to do, person had pain and did not know what to do.

Sometimes common sense is not so common, not everyone thinks of hospitals due to tooth pain.

I was referring to the part when you told him to lawyer up. There are two sides to every story. You shouldn't be so quick to jump to the "sue him" card.

 

[tooth knockn]

I was referring to the part when you told him to lawyer up. There are two sides to every story. You shouldn't be so quick to jump to the "sue him" card.

That dentist and his staff are not operating appropriately based on the given, no post op instructions, no pain meds, just was swallowed into the seat and worked on, and then spit out....

Wth


How would you feel if you did not know what to do, and was treated in such a way....

Is this how you will treat the less educated or experienced ?

Screwtape don't be a screwing dentist, geez, where is your heart.

 

[Screwtape]

That dentist and his staff are not operating appropriately based on the given, no post op instructions, no pain meds, just was swallowed into the seat and worked on, and then spit out....

Wth


How would you feel if you did not know what to do, and was treated in such a way....

Is this how you will treat the less educated or experienced ?

Screwtape don't be a screwing dentist, geez, where is your heart.

You do understand that you are sourcing ALL of your information from an anonymous person who stated they had an "absecced" tooth (it was a k9 btw), was a new patient to the dentist, and asked specifically for pain meds. Please don't be so naive. I like to hear both sides before I start passing judgement. You need to have have more respect for your potential future colleagues and leave this bleeding heart stuff at the door-- it's going to get you in trouble.

 

[tooth knockn]

You do understand that you are sourcing ALL of your information from an anonymous person who stated they had an "absecced" tooth (it was a k9 btw), was a new patient to the dentist, and asked specifically for pain meds. Please don't be so naive. I like to hear both sides before I start passing judgement. You need to have have more respect for your potential future colleagues and leave this bleeding heart stuff at the door-- it's going to get you in trouble.

Yes information is from an anonymous person, who happened to describe a situation which is commonly practiced by lousy dentists who make good dentists look bad.... You are right, the doctors side of the story is missing....

This is an ethical issue....

What would you think is justifiable for not providing pre-op and post-op information for a patient, and not prescribe pain meds...

Again, how would you feel if that was you, and you did not know what to do, so you came into a dental forum for some help...

I respect. But would you allow this practice of dentistry at your office?


This is all good for thought for the readers....


Enjoy

 

[doc toothache]

Poor person did not know what to do, person had pain and did not know what to do.
Sometimes common sense is not so common, not everyone thinks of hospitals due to tooth pain.

Even in large metro area you may be hard pressed to find a hospital with a dentist on staff.

 

[deleted158872]

if you're comfy with working with teeth, go for it. dentistry is still a pretty good gig for the next few decades.

 

[Screwtape]

Yes information is from an anonymous person, who happened to describe a situation which is commonly practiced by lousy dentists who make good dentists look bad.... You are right, the doctors side of the story is missing....

This is an ethical issue....

What would you think is justifiable for not providing pre-op and post-op information for a patient, and not prescribe pain meds...

Again, how would you feel if that was you, and you did not know what to do, so you came into a dental forum for some help...

I respect. But would you allow this practice of dentistry at your office?


This is all good for thought for the readers....


Enjoy

I don't disagree with anything you're saying. My only point was that without all of the facts you shouldn't jump to the conclusion that the dentist is in the wrong and should be sued. People are not always the best historians and often skew the story to make themselves seem more reasonable. The person's actions seem on par with drug-seeking behavior (just an assumption could be very wrong). But if the patient was in pain why didn't the dentist prescribe them something? The dentist doesn't have a financial incentive either way.

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

1st go to emergency room, you shouldn't suffer.

Then

Get a lawyer.


Send this helpful dentist s nice letter from mr. Santa Law

Lol. Dude, just stop.

 

[Nieves D. Fellows]

Cosmetics will always remain a key element of the dentistry industry for years to come. There are major advancements done in this field and almost 60% of the people go to the dentist with issues such as yellow teeth, bad breath and dentures. But being a dentist is more than that. It offers one the opportunity to solve small problems before they become complicated. Dentists can also perform operations like the root canal treatment, composite filling as well as crown placement and many more complex yet life saving functionalities. So it isn't confined to cosmetic alone, the opportunity to learn and expand is enormous.

 

[ddsrph]

I went to pharmacy school and during last year applied to Dental school and a Navy Scholarship that paid for it. I worked part time in Pharmacy and had small dental practice. It worked out well for me. I also stayed in Navy Reserve after serving my obligation and with my four years prior enlisted Air Force service ended up with a great military retirement. Pharmacy and Dentistry is a good combination and don't worry about the hand skills as they will come. As for practice needs their is much more need for basic dentistry that being a "dentist for the vain".