Wanting to become a dentist with a past of cavities

[RonRiff]

Hello everyone,
I have sort of an unusual question. As of now I’m a junior in undergrad and have wanted to become a dentist for a long time. School is going well, but I keep having some amount of doubt that I need to switch professions because I have a few crowns and composite fillings. Growing up my dentist always said I had soft teeth which is why I got so many cavities. I think that plus the fact that my parents let me drink loads of soda and juice when I was younger ended up adding up in a number of root canals and cavities. So basically I’m just wondering if everyone who has interest in becoming a dentist has perfect teeth or am I not alone?

Thanks.

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[macsak]

Hello everyone,
I have sort of an unusual question. As of now I’m a junior in undergrad and have wanted to become a dentist for a long time. School is going well, but I keep having some amount of doubt that I need to switch professions because I have a few crowns and composite fillings. Growing up my dentist always said I had soft teeth which is why I got so many cavities. I think that plus the fact that my parents let me drink loads of soda and juice when I was younger ended up adding up in a number of root canals and cavities. So basically I’m just wondering if everyone who has interest in becoming a dentist has perfect teeth or am I not alone?

Thanks.

don't worry about it

 

[cooliyak]

Hello everyone,
I have sort of an unusual question. As of now I’m a junior in undergrad and have wanted to become a dentist for a long time. School is going well, but I keep having some amount of doubt that I need to switch professions because I have a few crowns and composite fillings. Growing up my dentist always said I had soft teeth which is why I got so many cavities. I think that plus the fact that my parents let me drink loads of soda and juice when I was younger ended up adding up in a number of root canals and cavities. So basically I’m just wondering if everyone who has interest in becoming a dentist has perfect teeth or am I not alone?

Thanks.

You don’t have soft teeth. You just didn’t take care of them.
Also, nobody cares how many cavities you’ve had.

 

[Likkriue]

Everyone who had cavities in my class failed out. So be careful.

 

[thestylishgeek]

some of the Instagram dental personalities admit having a history w/ cavities + poor oral hygiene, joycethedentist for example.
it's ironic cause her mom's a dentist too. this shouldn't be something that discourages you from the profession. I also think I'd rather be treated by a dentist who has some idea of the discomforts experienced by the patient from such procedures

 

[okiedokeartichoke]

That's silly. Don't let that stop you from pursuing dentistry. If anything, at least you share the same experiences as your future patients and have empathy for them. I've had fillings, silver pedo crowns from drinking so much juice as a child, braces for five years, four premolars removed to fix overcrowding issues. I was a mess growing up. Definitely not perfect. It's been a long journey for me to get my smile the way it is today. Embrace your smile! You're not alone.

 

[IHO]

Hello everyone,
I have sort of an unusual question. As of now I’m a junior in undergrad and have wanted to become a dentist for a long time. School is going well, but I keep having some amount of doubt that I need to switch professions because I have a few crowns and composite fillings. Growing up my dentist always said I had soft teeth which is why I got so many cavities. I think that plus the fact that my parents let me drink loads of soda and juice when I was younger ended up adding up in a number of root canals and cavities. So basically I’m just wondering if everyone who has interest in becoming a dentist has perfect teeth or am I not alone?

Thanks.

I had a bike wreck @ 12 yrs...fractured #9, killed the pulp. Today, it is yellow compared to 7-8-10....the composite build up is brown. I'm a board certified OMS killing it in private practice. You are golden....just study hard.

Iggy

 

[SuxDrugs&Rocuronium]

You don’t have soft teeth. You just didn’t take care of them.
Also, nobody cares how many cavities you’ve had.

 

[princeafrica]

I showed one of the MMI interviewers at Michigan my 4 silver fillings. I got accepted

 

[Mad Jack]

F

 

[Dentalco2020]

sorry, but did you really ask this question?
come on..you know you won't get through the initial screening if you have more than 2 crowns.

 

[Thiscrazyputa]

Royal blood flows through your veins my boi, keep those crowns safe and one day you might become King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.

 

[FanOfCostco]

Honestly... half my class went to dental school just to get discounted implants. Once they did, they dropped out.

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

Everyone who had cavities in my class failed out. So be careful.

I’m surprised they passed the oral exam at the interviews. Was the X-ray machine broken? I know Yale School of Dental Medicine has a zero tolerance policy for this sort of stuff but maybe they just let anyone into Stony nowadays.

 

[2TH MVR]

On a more focused OP note, although I do like the humerous banter ..... but of course you can still be a dentist with less than ideal teeth.

But here's my issue. I've met so many dentists with crappy anterior teeth. One dentist who referred pts to my office had attained numerous accolades for his training in cosmetic dentistry. He had a huge maxillary diastema and deep OB. I'm mean .... just terrible. Front teeth were gnarly. I can just imagine him talking to prospective patients on dental cosmetic procedures. I even offered to correct his malocclusion, but he declined.

Same with orthodontists with crooked teeth. I mean .... c'mon man. It's common sense.

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

On a more focused OP note, although I do like the humerous banter ..... but of course you can still be a dentist with less than ideal teeth.

But here's my issue. I've met so many dentists with crappy anterior teeth. One dentist who referred pts to my office had attained numerous accolades for his training in cosmetic dentistry. He had a huge maxillary diastema and deep OB. I'm mean .... just terrible. Front teeth were gnarly. I can just imagine him talking to prospective patients on dental cosmetic procedures. I even offered to correct his malocclusion, but he declined.

Same with orthodontists with crooked teeth. I mean .... c'mon man. It's common sense.

I mean this is all part of being able to sell treatment plans. Americans find attractive people more trustworthy and believable and being so helps with case adoption. Having nice teeth, taking care of your skin, being in shape, wearing clothes that aren’t wrinkled, etc all go a long way in convincing patients of your expertise and knowledge.

 

[Thiscrazyputa]

On a more focused OP note, although I do like the humerous banter ..... but of course you can still be a dentist with less than ideal teeth.

But here's my issue. I've met so many dentists with crappy anterior teeth. One dentist who referred pts to my office had attained numerous accolades for his training in cosmetic dentistry. He had a huge maxillary diastema and deep OB. I'm mean .... just terrible. Front teeth were gnarly. I can just imagine him talking to prospective patients on dental cosmetic procedures. I even offered to correct his malocclusion, but he declined.

Same with orthodontists with crooked teeth. I mean .... c'mon man. It's common sense.

Its like telling others to drink some some expensive kool-aid but you won't drink it yourself. Thats got to mess with some patients brains 😀

 

[Thiscrazyputa]

I mean this is all part of being able to sell treatment plans. Americans find attractive people more trustworthy and believable and being so helps with case adoption.

If im not purty, can I compensate by hiring "exotic entertainers" to push my treatment plans and convince patients? What are the legalities of that?