What was your favorite shadowing experience?

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A young Endodontist I was observing took me out to lunch in his brand new Audi R8. His wife was a new general dentist who just opened her practice and he was complaining about how much they had to borrow to start the practice. Despite telling me about the new million dollar house he just bought and how his dentist friend just bought a Ferrari, he told me he wasn't sure dental school was worth the debt lol. He then went on a rant about how the older generation is to blame for the fall of dentistry. He was a nice guy though, and it opened my eyes to those who keep saying dentistry isn't worth it. Some people will always find a reason to complain.
 
One time I shadowed, my dentist grabbed an old model and did a class i prep on a second molar. It looked perfect to me. Then he says "your turn!" I couldn't even get the handpiece to stay at a consistent rpm let alone do a filling prep. By the time i was done there was a just a deep round crater in the tooth. He took a look at it, smiled, and said "let's get lunch!"
 
I had been shadowing for some time and had just started dental assisting school and on one random day of shadowing I was shadowing a dental assistant and she absolutely could not get the vestibule on an alginate impression. She took 4 impressions and the dentist said they were all not good enough and I was like "man I wish I could step in and try since I just learned how to do one in class." The dentist looks at me and goes "sure why not, you don't have to be licensed for the first year to practice dental assisting."

Needless to say I was nervous beyond measure as I mixed the alginate, placed it on the tray carefully, and stuck it into the patients mouth using a technique I had been practicing in class. Two agonizing minutes later I pulled it out and it was BEAUTIFUL. The dentist was shocked and impressed that I had all of the vestibule including all of the anterior.

He would later hire me and is now my boss.
 
I worked as a dental assistant, but the dentist I worked for referred all endo out. So, I really liked watching the endodontist do his thing. My other favorite procedures were from my OMFS shadowing. That was also largely because he was trying to teach me the entire time. Being constantly engaged made shadowing a pretty awesome learning experience.

As far as memorable dentists go, ortho takes the cake. Wide range of eccentric people at the practice, took me out to dinner, went golfing.. it was an experience!


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A mother and her bratty son came in for an invisalign consult for the son. The son was so disrespectful to his mom saying "Mom stop talking!", "Mom when can we leave", "Mom just listen to the dentist", etc.

Anyways, I was standing next to the mom on one side, while the dentist performed the consult on the other side. After he finished, he started consulting with the mother about the best options, etc. etc. and all of a sudden the mother goes "Excuse me, sorry, I just feel a little ----" at that point I turned towards and noticed she was starting to fall, without thinking I caught her under the armpits and slowly let her down, and ended resting her head on my lap as I knelt on both my legs. When she came to, I smiled down at her and said "Hello there". I assume she was day dreaming and thought of me as some knight in shining armor, that had whisked her off her feet, or maybe she saw me as her Fabio, because once she realized where she was she got very flustered and embarrassed. LOL atleast thats what I like to think. But going on, fire dept. and paramedics showed up. She turned out to be 'ok'. Just fainted from standing too long. Once they were done checking her out the first thing the son says is, "OMG MOM!! I can't believe you did that, I'm SO embarassed". I just wanted to shove a drill down his throat at that point. After they left, Dr. goes to me, 'Sure glad you were here. Probably going to have more students come and shadow now 😉".

By far most memorable. And then there are those dental abscess . . .
 
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I've shadowed two specialists and now a general dentist who is my favorite out of the three. She is as honest as they come. We have a lot of female patients who ask about whitening, only to get a recommendation for red lipstick instead lol.

She also recently went out of her way to offer me a LOR (before I had the chance to ask) and talk to a few of the programs I'm interested in. Not to mention, she has disclosed how much she had in student loans, her income and how much she hopes to sell her practice for in a few years. Amazing dentist, but above all, amazing human being. Really hope to be someone like this for my pre-dents later 🙂
 
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socal6 said:
I've shadowed two specialists and now a general dentist who is my favorite out of the three. She is as honest as they come. Whenever we have female patients come in and ask about whitening, she will straight up suggest trying a darker shade of lipstick first lol.

She went out of her way to offer me a LOR (before I had the chance to ask) and even name dropped me to a few of her buddies at the schools I'm applying to. Not to mention, she recently disclosed how much she had in student loans, her income and how much she hopes to sell her practice for in a few years. I couldn't have asked for a better mentor/friend in all of this.
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I had a very similar experience with the general dentist I shadowed. He keeps insisting I become an associate or partner after I finish school. I have only had great experiences shadowing, but he has really gone above and beyond for me.
 
Saw a general dentist extract 6 of the front teeth in the upper jaw of a lady (gum problems I think). He was just yanking and yanking on the pliers and you could see the holes where the teeth used to be. Blood was just gushing out of her mouth. I'm really into horror/scary movies so you can imagine this gave me quite the thrill.
 
I shadowed an Ortho. He is like the best! Very respectful and nice. Plus he was the first person to accept me as a shadow, it was only for one day, but it meant a lot to me.

His team was very nice and friendly!

I was impressed of a number of patients they received. A very successful and happy place, I wish him the best!
 
You guys watched some fancy stuff. Very impressive.

Highlight of my shadowing was when a dental student put a suction in my hand. She told me to assist her on an amalgam and that instantly made her my favorite person in the entire clinic.


Faefly said:
I shadowed an Ortho. He is like the best! Very respectful and nice. Plus he was the first person to accept me as a shadow, it was only for one day, but it meant a lot to me.

His team was very nice and friendly!

I was impressed of a number of patients they received. A very successful and happy place, I wish him the best!
Click to expand...

You thinking of going Ortho?

MickeyMouse45 said:
while watching the procedure on youtube, i was about to faint. 😱
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Join the club.


DentalNucleicAcid said:
Saw a general dentist extract 6 of the front teeth in the upper jaw of a lady (gum problems I think). He was just yanking and yanking on the pliers and you could see the holes where the teeth used to be. Blood was just gushing out of her mouth. I'm really into horror/scary movies so you can imagine this gave me quite the thrill.
Click to expand...

Found the future OMFS.
 
Incis0r said:
You guys watched some fancy stuff. Very impressive.

Highlight of my shadowing was when a dental student put a suction in my hand. She told me to assist her on an amalgam and that instantly made her my favorite person in the entire clinic.




You thinking of going Ortho?



Join the club.




Found the future OMFS.
Click to expand...

@ the suction part... I remember when I suctioned for the first time and my hand was shaking like I was on the brink of caffeine overdose. I was so damn nervous I almost had to hold the thing with two hands. Nerves settled down when I realized I was suctioning spit and not retracting for a craniotomy.


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I think my most memorable shadowing moment was watching a perio procedure where things took a turn for the worse (mid-bone graft) and the doc had to remove an extra tooth due to unforeseen decay. The patient was devastated and started crying in the chair when the dentist informed her... This moment was memorable because the dentist had the most beautiful way of educating and consoling her patient. It was inspiring.
 
spressomfs said:
@ the suction part... I remember when I suctioned for the first time and my hand was shaking like I was on the brink of caffeine overdose. I was so damn nervous I almost had to hold the thing with two hands. Nerves settled down when I realized I was suctioning spit and not retracting for a craniotomy.


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Click to expand...

LOL at "not retracting for a craniotomy"
 
spressomfs said:
@ the suction part... I remember when I suctioned for the first time and my hand was shaking like I was on the brink of caffeine overdose. I was so damn nervous I almost had to hold the thing with two hands. Nerves settled down when I realized I was suctioning spit and not retracting for a craniotomy.


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Click to expand...

Omg, i remember the first time i assisted, it was so nerve wracking. Especially because it seemed to me like i was literally ripping out their gum tissue, and i couldn't suction out all the blood no matter how i tried. I had a new respect for assistants who get the job done and stay out of the dentists way!
 
socal6 said:
I've shadowed two specialists and now a general dentist who is my favorite out of the three. She is as honest as they come. We have a lot of female patients who ask about whitening, only to get a recommendation for red lipstick instead lol.

She also recently went out of her way to offer me a LOR (before I had the chance to ask) and talk to a few of the programs I'm interested in. Not to mention, she has disclosed how much she had in student loans, her income and how much she hopes to sell her practice for in a few years. Amazing dentist, but above all, amazing human being. Really hope to be someone like this for my pre-dents later 🙂
Click to expand...

This is what i love about dentistry, they're always such nice folks and always willing to give advice 🙂

so.... How much was she pulling in 😉
 
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