What is the main reason you are choosing dentistry

[flong]

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Since init4damoney has shown his reasons for applying, I wanna know yours. VOTE!

 

[blankguy]

Is there really a need for such a poll? I think there is a thread about this.
Flong stop duplicating threads😀

 

[init4damoney]

Well, would you look at that. So far money seems to be the most popular reason among SDNers. I guess I'm not alone. 😀

 

[init4damoney]

Oh, and thank you for giving me my own personal thread. I feel like I've joined the ranks of such greats as itsgavinc and others.

 

[speter33]

If the income of podiatrists and dentists were reversed I bet most of us would be in podiatry. People who think they do it because they love teeth are dilusional

 

[Supernumerary]

No, those who think money will make them happy even though they hate the job are the delusional ones. Those of us who choose dentistry because we are truly interested in the field are the lucky ones. 🙂

I won't deny that money and lifestyle are big draws to the profession for me, but the poll asks the main reason for choosing dentistry. I am selfish and a pleasure seeker; I would NOT be doing this if the day to day job didn't appeal to me.

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

I am in it for the money, but also it would be a good job for other reasons as well.

 

[Zurich5]

Thanks for the honesty David, I'm sure some people here appreciate that. I for one am also in it for the money... Like I said a few months ago, I only want to be a dentist so I can be rich and have a trophy wife.

 

[speter33]

Supernumerary are you telling me a career in dentistry is the only one in the world that can make your happy?
I could be happy in many occupations, teaching probably most of all, but I want to do something that pays. Sure I could love dentistry, I can love anything I'm good at. I would most of all love to sit home and do nothing but bills gotz to be paid

 

[aphistis]

Originally posted by Zurich5
Thanks for the honesty David, I'm sure some people here appreciate that. I for one am also in it for the money... Like I said a few months ago, I only want to be a dentist so I can be rich and have a trophy wife.

Your girlfriend would be so pleased to know 😉

 

[Zurich5]

Originally posted by aphistis
Your girlfriend would be so pleased to know 😉

Haha, she fits that category 😉 I gotta slow down on the posts around here though, I've been post crazy. Senioritis is rough.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Like I said a few months ago, I only want to be a dentist so I can be rich and have a trophy wife.

But Zurich, a trophy wife only sees dollar signs in you, and that would be a horrible life to live....its one thing to have a trophy girlfriend temporary (just for a good time 😉 ), but to actually committ to a trophy wife is sad. Fortunately, I actually have a trophy girlfriend (no joke), and she is with me even though Im DIRT POOR......so I know she aint no gold digger.

Whereas my brother who is very rich only goes for gold diggers and he aint happy at all!

I just dont understand the logic of guys going for gold diggers! Sure they are super hot, but (a) they will be probably very demanding and bitchy and (b) they will age and the looks will go away 😀

Sorry to sound corny, but get someone that actually wants to be with you and not your wallet!

Just my 2 cents (sorry Dentaldream 😀 )

 

[Zurich5]

Thanks avingupta for the heartfelt reply 😉 I was just kidding though. I strongly agree with everything you said. Cheers.

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by Supernumerary
No, those who think money will make them happy even though they hate the job are the delusional ones. Those of us who choose dentistry because we are truly interested in the field are the lucky ones. 🙂

Excellent point. Put me in this category.

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by avingupta

Just my 2 cents (sorry Dentaldream 😀 )

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Well, even though I did quote you Zurich, it was more directed to many other people who think that they are gonna make lots of money in dentistry that will enable them to land a trophy wife......why would anyone want a trophy wife? As you all know, Im always up for a lively discussion! 😀

 

[shizzleDDS]

There aren't enough choices here. Its interesting to see that at least people are honest enough to say they're in it for the money though. Just don't tell that to your interviewers.

 

[UBTom]

Frankly, most these viewpoints I've seen posted here so far are one-dimensional and shallow.

The dental profession is MUCH more than just making money or merely just "teeth and gums."


- It's about artistic skills. It takes a mere technician to do the minimal required work; it takes an artist to make a patient look good at the same time restoring function.

- It's about technology. Look at all the neat equipment and materials coming out all the time. Lasers, crown milling machines, implants, growing teeth in a petri dish.

- It's about managing patient relationships.

- It's about multidisciplinary approaches to successfully diagnosing and treating conditions.

- It's about personal satisfaction in doing something not many other people are allowed to do.

- It's about personal challenges to continuously improve one's skills.

- It's about being an educator-- To patients, staff, and dental students.

- It's about fellow professionals-- Colleagues with whom you work/consult with and share information/knowledge/social activities (like a few rounds of golf).

- It's about living life on your terms-- emotionally, intellectually and occupationally, not just financially.

These are the reasons I choose dentistry.

 

[Thaxil]

I am in agreement with tom, I cannot vote with the choice of teeth and gums or money. For me, the whole experience of being a dentist that is my motivation. I would rank money as a third or fourth in my reasons.

 

[init4damoney]

I agree, there should have been more choices on this poll. But why not bring up WHY people are choosing money as one of the reasons? Here's a few of mine.

1. I'm married with one child and another on the way. My family is only getting bigger, and being the husband/father I have the responsibility to support them financially. Dentistry allows me to do that.

2. I can save for the future. When all is said and done, aka when I hang up the drill and gloves for retirement, I want some cash in savings. I need to live somehow! This is apart from any type of stocks/bonds or other types of savings I might have.

3. I want to be able to go down once a year to an underprivileged country and lend my services for one or two weeks. If I don't have the money to do something like that, how else will I be able to do it? Not too many people who own their own business can afford to take a couple of weeks off and do stuff for free. Dentistry allows me to do this also.

4. I can save up money for my children. I want to be able to give them a better start than I've had being young and married. I want to be able to pay for their college so they aren't in debt as much as I will be when I'm done.

And the list goes on. Saying that money as a motivator for choosing dentistry is shallow is shallow in itself. Maybe you need to figure out why they want to do it for the money. If you want to do it solely for the opportunity to help people and not for the money, work in Central America. More cash for the rest of us. 😀

 

[Thaxil]

Money, just is not a good reason. I came from a low-income family of seven children, almost any amount of money would satisfy my needs. I am impressed with the amount of money that dentist make, but if one?s focus of money, they will soon be dissatisfied with their income. People always seem to get accustom to what they have and always look for more.
Also, I expecting to not have a significant amount of money for decades. There will be no money for the four years in dental school. After graduating, I need to pay my enormous debt (est. 250000), a home (est. 100000) and business (est. 100000). These figure are just for illustration, but I am not expecting to have money for maybe 10 to 15 years. I do not know if money alone would be a strong enough motivating force to push me through four years of school.
My friend who never when to college has been making 18 dollars an hour for the last 5 years working an 9 to 5 job.

 

[aphistis]

Originally posted by init4damoney
3. I want to be able to go down once a year to an underprivileged country and lend my services for one or two weeks. If I don't have the money to do something like that, how else will I be able to do it? Not too many people who own their own business can afford to take a couple of weeks off and do stuff for free. Dentistry allows me to do this also.

Outstanding, init4. I hope to do the exact same thing.

 

[Thaxil]

I want to be able to go down once a year to an underprivileged country and lend my services for one or two weeks. If I don't have the money to do something like that, how else will I be able to do it? Not too many people who own their own business can afford to take a couple of weeks off and do stuff for free. Dentistry allows me to do this also.

I do not think you need to have money to do such a service. Is there not a lot of organization that will help you in your desire to help the third world. It will require a lot of money to do it solo. In addition, you need to be able to have people show up to your service. You just can go down to Brazil and expect people to know you are there. There are organization that help people with this desire. I am unsure of the exact process, but at my school our predental club is trying to organize our own clinical mission to a Mexican rural community. We are find out that there are a lot of regulations other factors that are inhibiting our desires and the volunteer dentists desire to organize this event.

 

[init4damoney]

aphistis, does your dental school take trips to central/south america?? That's one thing that I'm debating about with Loma Linda. The cost kinda sucks, but I know they do trips all the time. Speaking spanish I think is a big plus for me. I want to be able to use it. I just don't know of other schools do the same as Loma Linda.

 

[UBTom]

Originally posted by init4damoney

And the list goes on. Saying that money as a motivator for choosing dentistry is shallow is shallow in itself.

Sorry, but to earn lots of money so one can take time off to help the underpriviledged is NOT "a reason to go into dentistry." Wanting to take time off to help the underpriviledged is the reason. You are not helping the underpriviledged for the money after all!

Financial security for your family and retirement is a side effect of a successful practice of dentistry. To use this as the sole justification for being in dentistry DOES sound hollow-- You can be financially secure in many other professions.

I listed NINE other aspects, each with their own underlying factors as well. Money is only ONE. The financial motivation and its side benefits do play a part, but to focus solely on it as if it is the most important aspect IS rather shallow.

I stand by my assertions.

 

[init4damoney]

Money is not my sole factor for choosing dentistry. Flong decided to make that my only reason. There are many reasons apart from money that were significant in me choosing to become a dentist. Can't a guy have a little fun with his screen name!?!?!

 

[LestatZinnie]

it's true that money can't be the main focus. patient care should come first, and if you're doing a good job at it the money will follow in most cases.

 

[aphistis]

Originally posted by init4damoney
aphistis, does your dental school take trips to central/south america?? That's one thing that I'm debating about with Loma Linda. The cost kinda sucks, but I know they do trips all the time. Speaking spanish I think is a big plus for me. I want to be able to use it. I just don't know of other schools do the same as Loma Linda.

We sure do. IUSD does plenty of outreach stuff. Off the top of my head, there's the yearly spring break trip to Haiti, and more locally there are weekend outreach trips to underserved areas here in the state. Also, we started up the Seal Indiana program a few years ago, whose intent is getting basic preventative dental care to underprivileged kids. They basically bought an RV, remodeled the inside into operatories, and painted it an ugly pastel purple 😉 It's a good program though. Call the school if you want to find out what else goes on; I'm sure I'm leaving things out.

 

[init4damoney]

I would just like to say thank you for this thread. A while back I got into an argument with a few of my fellow SDN'ers about this. I said the main (although sometimes underlying) reason for us to go into dental for the financial rewards. I was repeatedly thrashed for saying this and now...well look at that, when people are anonymous about it they tell thr truth...they are all in it 4 da money!!!

 

[NewNameForGoogleBot]

Or they are severely hampered by the lack of choices for this poll. It's interesting to see what people put down, but not reflective of the complex decision people make to pursure a certain career.

 

[init4damoney]

I agree jaap. Choosing to go to dental school, or choosing a profession in general, is a difficult choice with many factors playing into the decision. This pole really didn't have much to it. And to have a pole on why you chose dentistry is, in my opinion, impossible to do. You'd need an essay from everyone.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Yah...where are all these "poles" on SDN coming from? The only poles I like are flag, firehouse, and perhaps, stripper poles.....

 

[init4damoney]

That's why I'm proud to be half canuck. God save the queen!!

 

[FMLizard]

Not only will you make more money in dentistry than anywhere else, you will make a lot more and nobody can take it from you. That means a lot in a world of downsizing, offshoring, pay cuts, hiring freezes, etc.

If you are in D-School right now, you are making the same amount of money that one of your peers who just graduated business school (me) is making: $0.

 

[Comet208]

Originally posted by speter33
People who think they do it because they love teeth are dilusional

Sorry to break it to you, but Money is THE illusion, and teeth are not!
I know i will be a happy dentist regardless of my income b/c i am in it for something that i like to do. I have also heard the ones who drop out of med/dent schools are mostly the ones who were fooled into the profession when they saw a Dr.'s lifestyle. Sorry, but there is a lot into dentistry than making $$$$.

Comet

 

[hopefulgirl]

I agree with comet!

 

[speter33]

job = money
it's a job people the reason u do it is to have some income. Trust me if we'd all be equal in this world I wouldn't stress so much about getting into dental school

 

[besqaurewithme]

exactly....If all jobs paid equally, i probably would have become a teacher. Unfortuntely, they have a tiny income. BTW, I love $$$$

 

[init4damoney]

What exactly is the Dr.'s lifestyle? It all depends on your preference. There are doctors out there who barely get by, and those are the same ones driving the BMW, with an $800k house, plus lots of toys. If you live within your means you would never have a problem. The problem with people is that when they see that their income is larger than the average, they begin to live that way. That's when problems occur. I don't want the money so I can flaunt it. I want it for the future.

 

[besqaurewithme]

Originally posted by init4damoney
What exactly is the Dr.'s lifestyle? It all depends on your preference. There are doctors out there who barely get by, and those are the same ones driving the BMW, with an $800k house, plus lots of toys. If you live within your means you would never have a problem. The problem with people is that when they see that their income is larger than the average, they begin to live that way. That's when problems occur. I don't want the money so I can flaunt it. I want it for the future.

Well said