Why General Dentistry? Or Why Dentistry? :)

[AllSmiles66]

I know a lot of people go to Dental School hoping to specialize in Orthodontics, but if you're going to Dental School with hopes of being an overall general dentist perhaps with some other specialty, I'm just wondering what led you to decide this career path? Was it influence from parents? Was it just really wanting to become a dentist?

I'm overall very impressed with the amount of ambition I see on this board and I just wanted to understand how you all decided on general dentistry?

Or even, how did you all find the inspiration to want to go to Dental School? I mean, putting yourself through all of these intense classes, and eventual many years of schooling.

I know that Orthodontics is probably one of the hardest programs to get into in Dental School and I'm just not sure if becoming a General Dentist with some other specialities is for me just watching my dad. So I just wanted to hear some opinions from this board since you all are so helpful! Thanks once again in reading this post and I look forward to hearing all of your opinions and comments!

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[aphistis]

I know a lot of people go to Dental School hoping to specialize in Orthodontics, but if you're going to Dental School with hopes of being an overall general dentist perhaps with some other specialty, I'm just wondering what led you to decide this career path? Was it influence from parents? Was it just really wanting to become a dentist?

I'm overall very impressed with the amount of ambition I see on this board and I just wanted to understand how you all decided on general dentistry?

Or even, how did you all find the inspiration to want to go to Dental School? I mean, putting yourself through all of these intense classes, and eventual many years of schooling.

I know that Orthodontics is probably one of the hardest programs to get into in Dental School and I'm just not sure if becoming a General Dentist with some other specialities is for me just watching my dad. So I just wanted to hear some opinions from this board since you all are so helpful! Thanks once again in reading this post and I look forward to hearing all of your opinions and comments!

...I'm not sure anyone on this board actually plans on being a general dentist. Apparently ~$170,000 a year isn't enough money, and a career in primary health care isn't enough prestige.

 

[psiyung]

...I'm not sure anyone on this board actually plans on being a general dentist. Apparently ~$170,000 a year isn't enough money, and a career in primary health care isn't enough prestige.

To tell you the truth OP, my primary reason of choosing dentistry (yes, even general dentistry) over medicine, or any other field was autonomy

 

[Dr.Bear]

As of right now, I do want general dentistry. I enjoy the "range" of patient problems. I was thinking that I may want to be an Endodontist, but then I spoke to one who said that it gets incredibly boring doing the same type of procedure all of the time. Yes, specialties=money, but I think that I am leaning toward a general practice because I like the idea of doing many different types of procedues and having a "regular patient base"

 

[Profchaos]

"specialties=money", I have a doubt on that. One dentist told me that it may look like that way on the figure - I guess everyone here knows GP makes 170,000 and Specialist makes 270,000 per year, but he also states that" nobody reports the real number, and now in dentistry, cosmetic dentist makes the most money(could be over million), but they are GP..." I don't know how true this is but I've been hearing controversal on this. Please advise.

 

[LLU2004gradND]

Let me tell you why I love general dentistry.

I have no family in the dental field. It sounds dumb, but I have wanted to be a dentist since I was 5 or so. When I went to dental school, I was open-minded, but ortho sounded best to me.

What a difference 4 years can make. Right now I am in a 1-year general dentistry residency program (AEGD) where I am learning perio surgeries, impacted 3rd molar extractions, advanced endo cases, earning my IV sedation certificate. Eventually I plan on having a practice with "surgery days" where I extract 3rds / other teeth with sedation. I plan on treating children. I enjoy making dentures. I even like the idea of possibly running IV sed cases for other dentists in their offices for their patients once in a while.

As you can tell, general dentistry is as varied as you want it to be. For me personally, GP is it. But everyone is different. It's important to do what you love. Part of the beauty of dental education is that you are exposed to the specialties in school (clinically, some more than others). If you can't decide during school, do a 1 year AEGD or GPR. It may help you decide on a specialty.

Nathan Dinsbach, DDS

 

[heyitscyndi]

Before I decided on dentistry I was a mass communications major hoping to become an anchor on the evening news. After shadowing a local anchorwoman, she told me about the hours of the job (2pm-11pm most nights) and how little the pay was for the area I live in. I figured out that the hours are not the best for family life so I decided to change majors. My mom actually suggested dentistry because I was so excited to talk about what was going on when I went to the dentist or to my orthodontist (don't you hate it when your mom knows you better then you do!) so I changed my major to biology.

I want to be a dentist and possibly an orthodontist because: I love helping people, I love to see people smile, the hours are good for family life (usually no weekends, late nights), and the pay is good.

 

[ItsGavinC]

...I'm not sure anyone on this board actually plans on being a general dentist. Apparently ~$170,000 a year isn't enough money, and a career in primary health care isn't enough prestige.

GDs = Poor folks with no social status.

 

[aphistis]

GDs = Poor folks with no social status.

I know. Sucks to be us, huh?

 

[ItsGavinC]

I know. Sucks to be us, huh?

Nah, who knows what the future will hold.