Working at Dental Office Prior to School

[ASUgrad]

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Hey all,
I have a question. From reading all the experiences such as Gavins and others. I am wondering if you guys/gals have worked in a dental office prior to school, and did it help or hurt? Because, after my interning at a dental office the Doctor offered me a position as chairside and I took it. Do you think that what I learn by the dentist might not be what schools will want you to learn? I mean,usually do chairsides pick up bad habits that might be hard to correct when the points count? If so, I would like to be aware of any that you might have come across.

Thanks for any input

Bill E

 

[Aaronpsr]

I would say that any experience familiarizing yourself with dental procedures will help you in dental school. I'm assuming that you have not applied yet, but working chairside I'm sure will be a positive addition to your application.

Honestly, I would not worry about picking up bad habits...any experience is good experience.

Good luck to you!

 

[The Musketeer]

Right now, because it is so competitive to get into dental school, many of the applicants have opted to enhance their application by working in the dental office. Even some of the dental schools expect that you have some dental experience before you apply so I think your decision to work in the dental office is excellent. (You can even ask the dentist to write you a letter of reference for your application).

 

[ecdoesit]

There are roughly three side to becoming a dentist.

1. Academic knowledge
2. Hands-on skills
3. Bedside manner.

Working in a clinic will definitely help #3.
I am not sure how much #2 will you get, but I am sure ur dentists will let u do something if you are into it.
#1 I would leave it to your professors.

 

[preludexl]

Originally posted by ASUgrad
Hey all,
I have a question. From reading all the experiences such as Gavins and others. I am wondering if you guys/gals have worked in a dental office prior to school, and did it help or hurt? Because, after my interning at a dental office the Doctor offered me a position as chairside and I took it. Do you think that what I learn by the dentist might not be what schools will want you to learn? I mean,usually do chairsides pick up bad habits that might be hard to correct when the points count? If so, I would like to be aware of any that you might have come across.

Thanks for any input

Bill E

You know the answer to this already. Just follow it. Don't doubt yourself too much. If everyone did the same thing, there wont be much diversity will there? I think schools only want to see some shadowing of a dentist, volunteer, etc., only to make sure you got exposed to it and will like what you might end up doing. Everything you will need to know will be taught to you. Learn what you can and have an open mind; sometimes, people do things one way only because they havent seen a better.

FYI, I worked at a hospital for 2 years not a dental office, and I wouldnt trade it for a dental office. That's what will make me different.

 

[ASUgrad]

I appreciate the responses. Prelude your right when I saw my Dentist make a witch out of some person in prepping a K9 to K9 veneer and then hand molding the resin for temps I was blown away. I thought that was the coolest thing and pretty much sodified that I want to become a dentist. So, if learning that the profession (ups and downs) is what I enjoy, that is the best experience I could of got. Also, the office I work in has 4 dentists and they do each procedure differently so your right I am learning multiple routes to the same ending, which can only help

Thanks again for the reassurances, I think I am getting nervous about getting in.

BillE

 

[hi-speed513]

I worked in a few dental offices and I found the experience very useful not only in observing the procedural aspects of dentistry while assisting chairside but also for getting a sneak peek at the business end of things. There were certain things that made me think, "wow, that seems to be a good strategy--I am definitely going to do that in my practice." Other things I noticed would make me think "no way I will NEVER do that in my office." If you work in an office, notice things like how they do insurance, billing, marketing, hiring staff, etc. One office I worked at constantly sent out mass mailings with coupons, took every insurance under the sun, and aggressively sold bleaching and other cosmetic procedures to patients. Another office I worked at took NO insurance whatsoever and did NO marketing/selling, and was not even listed in the phone book, yet was always booked solid months in advance.

 

[preludexl]

Originally posted by hi-speed513
I worked in a few dental offices and I found the experience very useful not only in observing the procedural aspects of dentistry while assisting chairside but also for getting a sneak peek at the business end of things. There were certain things that made me think, "wow, that seems to be a good strategy--I am definitely going to do that in my practice." Other things I noticed would make me think "no way I will NEVER do that in my office." If you work in an office, notice things like how they do insurance, billing, marketing, hiring staff, etc. One office I worked at constantly sent out mass mailings with coupons, took every insurance under the sun, and aggressively sold bleaching and other cosmetic procedures to patients. Another office I worked at took NO insurance whatsoever and did NO marketing/selling, and was not even listed in the phone book, yet was always booked solid months in advance.

Last one sounds like my dentist. I used to have this really beautiful lady dentist, she was a knockout. I felt embarassed just to have her working on my teeth. There she was all gorgeous and me drooling out of my mouth ( I dont know to this day if it was the anesthetic or her looks that caused it *wink*), with her scraping my plaque. Bleah. But I hated her office. Every damn cubicle had a 20in tv telling me about all these cosmetics I can do to my teeth. And it cycled over and over and over and over again. I felt like I was in a spa. (Note: she had a horrid hygenist though, that woman would give me whiplash every time she cleaned my teeth. Oh, thank God I had to find a new doctor before I had a 3rd visit with her) She must've been in her late 30s or early 40s, but she sold the practice and retired. So you make a lot of money, but I would never annoy my patients like that. Then I had another dentist, him and his dad, nice big office, but they got this rinky dink 15inch tv that is like 10-15 feet away that you cant see, but since the wait is 30+ min, you cant help but look at the tiny picture. Things not to have in an office.😀

 

[Jessicasmiles]

Dont forget that you can get a letter from the dentist that you observe and send it to the schools "on the side". It can only help I think....