Working as a dentist with an introverted personality?

[UnicornDemon]

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Lately, I've considered a career in dentistry. While I believe I'd enjoy the work, I'm mainly interested in the six-figure salary and great work-life balance. My father is a very successful pediatric dentist who is always home for dinner (but of course he worked hard at first to establish his practice). We've had an incredible life that I hope to have with my own family. I wouldn't want to work as a physician or lawyer whose overwhelming work keeps him away from his family.

However, I have a few concerns about entering the dental profession. One concern is a fear of saturation in the field (which I made another thread about). A larger concern I've had, though, is the fact that I am a very quiet, introverted person. I'm very kind to others, but I lack the charisma of my outgoing father. I'm pretty bad with children, so if I took over my father's practice I'd probably lose his patient base. Still, my father told me that if I specialize in a field of dentistry (for instance, by becoming an endodontist) then I won't have to be as charismatic to develop a client base. He says he knows introverted endodontists who are successful.

What do you guys think?

*edit: Just a clarification, I'm more so shy than introverted.

 

[ProleTroll]

Introverts will be fine. I have yet to come across a 100% bulletproof/ authoritative source, but all the research I have done over the years would back this statement up:

"There's been a ton of research done on this. Myers-Briggs personality assessments put the majority of dentists as introverted, I can't remember the exact proportion but is something like 65-35 intro-extro."

see post 5

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=653290

It would be interesting to hear other's responses to this topic, especially if anyone has any authoritative evidence either way.

I've heard a few sources make the same case for introverts being matched up especially well in endodontics. Seems logical.

BTW shy does not equal introvert (or extrovert):

http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/extraversion-or-introversion.asp

 

[Silent Cool]

Lately, I've considered a career in dentistry. While I believe I'd enjoy the work, I'm mainly interested in the six-figure salary and great work-life balance. My father is a very successful pediatric dentist who is always home for dinner (but of course he worked hard at first to establish his practice). We've had an incredible life that I hope to have with my own family. I wouldn't want to work as a physician or lawyer whose overwhelming work keeps him away from his family.

However, I have a few concerns about entering the dental profession. One concern is a fear of saturation in the field (which I made another thread about). A larger concern I've had, though, is the fact that I am a very quiet, introverted person. I'm very kind to others, but I lack the charisma of my outgoing father. I'm pretty bad with children, so if I took over my father's practice I'd probably lose his patient base. Still, my father told me that if I specialize in a field of dentistry (for instance, by becoming an endodontist) then I won't have to be as charismatic to develop a client base. He says he knows introverted endodontists who are successful.

What do you guys think?

*edit: Just a clarification, I'm more so shy than introverted.

If you are introverted then Endo is a great field. Another poster on here said that he knows many successful introverted endodontists. You could also do Oral Surgery. A lot of surgery personalities are more stoic, and your patients are knocked out half the time.

good luck.

 

[Silent Cool]

Lately, I've considered a career in dentistry. While I believe I'd enjoy the work, I'm mainly interested in the six-figure salary and great work-life balance. My father is a very successful pediatric dentist who is always home for dinner (but of course he worked hard at first to establish his practice). We've had an incredible life that I hope to have with my own family. I wouldn't want to work as a physician or lawyer whose overwhelming work keeps him away from his family.

However, I have a few concerns about entering the dental profession. One concern is a fear of saturation in the field (which I made another thread about). A larger concern I've had, though, is the fact that I am a very quiet, introverted person. I'm very kind to others, but I lack the charisma of my outgoing father. I'm pretty bad with children, so if I took over my father's practice I'd probably lose his patient base. Still, my father told me that if I specialize in a field of dentistry (for instance, by becoming an endodontist) then I won't have to be as charismatic to develop a client base. He says he knows introverted endodontists who are successful.

What do you guys think?

*edit: Just a clarification, I'm more so shy than introverted.

Also, a successful Orthodontist on here, Charlestweed, said that his shy/reticent personality hasn't been a hindrance to him in Orthodontics, for what it's worth.

 

[teethrus]

Not sure of the technical difference between "shy" and "introverted" but here is my opinion. A little background on me: I just graduated dental school and my classmates had a RANGE of personalities, and I think 95% of them connect well with patients. If you are painfully shy (hate talking to strangers, never initiate conversations, you graduated high school with most people not knowing you exist) then dentistry may not be for you. But if you are just a very nice person and "not as charismatic as your dad", but still do just fine in social situations, then dentistry could be a great career for you. You do not need to be the life of the party to attract and keep patients. You do not have to be a skilled public speaker to be a dentist. But, if you break out in hives when you introduce yourself to someone, then dentistry may not be for you. I was shy in high school and then became much more social in collage. I hate public speaking, but I love to meet new people and speaking in front of small groups (like 2-4 people...) Bottom line: your dad may be "much more charismatic" than average, so maybe you feel shy/introverted in comparison. Focus on how you feel about interacting with people. If you would enjoy helping people through a potentially painfully/scary procedure then you will become a great communicator and dentist, but with your own style. Patients respond well to people who are authentic in their communication with them. You don't have to win a popularity contest to be a great/trust-worthy dentist... but you also must be comfortable interacting with all kinds of people and communicating with them. One last aspect: your dad may be charismatic and confident because he has YEARS of experience in his profession. Naturally, you don't have that confidence yet. After years of dental training you will gain a ton of confidence, and even more confidence as you practice dentistry. Hope that helps 🙂

 

[UCSFx2017]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8682996

http://www.jdentaled.org/content/69/11/1222.full.pdf+html

"...in light of the predominant personality type often attributed to dentists—the introvert, the loner, the perfectionist, the person who wants to be his or her own boss, even if it means being the only income-generating worker. However, recent evidence suggests extroversion has become a more common personality type among current dental students than introversion."

I'm guessing older dentists were generally more introverted than the graduates of today.

http://www.jdentaled.org/content/65/8/725.long

 

[Hev0406]

Lately, I've considered a career in dentistry. While I believe I'd enjoy the work, I'm mainly interested in the six-figure salary and great work-life balance. My father is a very successful pediatric dentist who is always home for dinner (but of course he worked hard at first to establish his practice). We've had an incredible life that I hope to have with my own family. I wouldn't want to work as a physician or lawyer whose overwhelming work keeps him away from his family.

However, I have a few concerns about entering the dental profession. One concern is a fear of saturation in the field (which I made another thread about). A larger concern I've had, though, is the fact that I am a very quiet, introverted person. I'm very kind to others, but I lack the charisma of my outgoing father. I'm pretty bad with children, so if I took over my father's practice I'd probably lose his patient base. Still, my father told me that if I specialize in a field of dentistry (for instance, by becoming an endodontist) then I won't have to be as charismatic to develop a client base. He says he knows introverted endodontists who are successful.

What do you guys think?

*edit: Just a clarification, I'm more so shy than introverted.

I don't think the personality would be an issue if you went into endo. The fact you are only in it for the money is the issue. What would happen if you dropped all that money on dental school just to realize you hated it? If money is that important at least make sure you go into a field where you genuinely enjoy waking up in the morning and going to work. Just my opinion though.

 

[Thaxil]

I don't think it will be a problem. There will be a transition period where you will find your voice. I was very shy in high school and many in school thought I was a teacher from the way I dressed. What I have discovered from dentistry and other activities I have done was that I took the expected role of the position. Kind of like actors playing a part. When wearing a helmet for football I was a mean SOB, but out of the helmet I was very reserved person. I was a bit uncomfortable introducing myself as Dr Hudson at first due to my age and the age of many of my patients. I have grown into the role and feel very confident in my skin at the office. It is best to make this transition short because patient like confidence.

 

[V3NOM]

If you are introverted then Endo is a great field. Another poster on here said that he knows many successful introverted endodontists. You could also do Oral Surgery. A lot of surgery personalities are more stoic, and your patients are knocked out half the time.

good luck.

🤣 🤣

 

[Lethstang]

you can def be an introvert. you will just have to build your office to offset your weakness to be successful. for example in your case, youll want your very competent staff to handle patient interaction. you will be the guy who comes in when theyre numb, perform the procedure, and then hop to another op. Many dentists who dont enjoy the patient interaction portion of dentistry do this or something similar.

 

[Some Pig]

Personality types of dentists.
Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, Creighton University, School of Dentistry, Omaha 68178.

"Abstract

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was used to determine the personality types of dental graduates, 1964-1984, from Creighton University, School of Dentistry. The MBTI reveals the strength and nature of preferences along four dimensions: extraversion-introversion, sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceptive. In sample (N = 472), four personality types: ISTJ (108), ESTJ (66), ISFJ (48), and ENTJ (37), accounted for 54.9% (N = 259) of the dentists. The remaining 45.1% (N = 213) were divided among 12 personality types without any type accounting for more than 6.1% (N = 29). Comparisons with a general population (N = 9,320) revealed that the dental sample included more introverts (58.9%), thinkers (65.9%) and judgers (75.0%)."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1814353