veryconfusedperson Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I'm just a bit curious, people seem to tolerate the idea of going into dentistry for money more than medicine. I used quotation marks because maybe it is not, but I'm having a false impression? What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hexonu Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Because dentistry is seen as something elective, well in this country anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrewmrew Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Kind of a flawed question if you think about it, dentists don't make nearly as much as doctors on average. General dentists are not in demand (there's a surplus in basically every city, and every rural city is already adequately serviced as of this year), unlike family doctors, who can still as of now work pretty much anywhere they want for a very handsome salary (the average family doctor grosses 385k in Ontario, source: http://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2012/05/a-real-wage-freeze-for-doctors-the-facts.html) Despite my username, if given the choice between general dentist and family doctor, I'd choose family doctor for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellorie Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Maybe the perception is that dentists' relationships with their patients are not as intimate? I wouldn't know if that's true, having never been a dentist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpp Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Wait, why can't you go into medicine for the money? I find it very annoying when people use the ''you can't go into medicine for the money'' line. Sure, I'm not SOLELY going into medicine for the money, there are a plethora of other reasons I'm going into it for. However, would you really be a physician if you only got paid $80,000? At some point, you do have to realize, that you will have a mortgage to pay off, loans, and a family to feed. Money is, and always will be a factor in career choice. oh, this can of worms again. there's a big difference between being compensated for sacrificing a lot of time and earning power for training, and going in for the money. If you started earning 80k in first year med school and worked 40 hour weeks, then yes, most people would still go for it. as has been discussed countless times before, money is a factor because of the huge amount of time physicians invest in training. Just because you factor money in, doesn't mean it should be one of the reasons you choose medicine. As an analogy, if it suddenly became likely that if I worked as a doctor, I would be maimed, I wouldn't want to be a doctor anymore. That doesn't mean that I chose to pursue medicine because there is a low risk of injury. to answer OP's question, I think it is because dentistry is seen as more cosmetic. I think it is seen as more vain (not saying this is true, healthy teeth are very important) and therefore more acceptable to pursue it because of money. However, I'm pretty sure if you interviewed at dental school and said you were just interested in making money, they wouldn't take you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdy Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 It is probably a bit more acceptable because, in Canada at least, the relationship between dentist and patient is seen as more of a business relationship, a financial transaction, than the relationship between a physician and patient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpp Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 It is probably a bit more acceptable because, in Canada at least, the relationship between dentist and patient is seen as more of a business relationship, a financial transaction, than the relationship between a physician and patient. yup, well put. More like the relationship between you and your barber/hairdresser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDS2017 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Kind of a flawed question if you think about it, dentists don't make nearly as much as doctors on average. General dentists are not in demand (there's a surplus in basically every city, and every rural city is already adequately serviced as of this year), unlike family doctors, who can still as of now work pretty much anywhere they want for a very handsome salary (the average family doctor grosses 385k in Ontario, source: http://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2012/05/a-real-wage-freeze-for-doctors-the-facts.html) Despite my username, if given the choice between general dentist and family doctor, I'd choose family doctor for sure. Good to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorelan Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 yup, well put. More like the relationship between you and your barber/hairdresser. well both are sticky sharp instruments in or around my head so I can see that connection The medical field has done a lot to promote that image of the tireless selfless doctor (not that it isn't often true). The field rewards it in effect and there is a lot of reinforcement as a result I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannny Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I don't find that it's okay in both cases if your sole/deciding reason is money. However, money is a very important factor that no one can neglect, especially when it comes to choosing your career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDS2017 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 yup, well put. More like the relationship between you and your barber/hairdresser. Barbers used to do dentistry work long time ago (tooth extractions). Dental procedures are a bit more complex than hairdressing Watch the videos below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekdT-igxJDY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjiw46H-Egs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkittens Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Dentists are more like mechanics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Molar Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I'm just a bit curious, people seem to tolerate the idea of going into dentistry for money more than medicine. I used quotation marks because maybe it is not, but I'm having a false impression? What do you think? who are those "people" anyway? what if they don't "okay" you, will you stop pursuing your path? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDS2017 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Dentists are more like mechanics? Doctor of Dental Surgery More like surgeons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkittens Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Doctor of Dental Surgery More like surgeons http://www.centreauto.ca/body-work/body-repair That looks a LOT like surgical procedure ahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDS2017 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 http://www.centreauto.ca/body-work/body-repairThat looks a LOT like surgical procedure ahah hahahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tacrolimus Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 LOLOLOLOLOLOOOLOLO wow I nearly died from that. Discuss. Why Brock hasn't been banned yet... is beyond me. Can a mod offer a reasonable explanation as to why he is allowed to troll/spam this forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldie Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 LOLOLOLOLOLOOOLOLO wow I nearly died from that. Discuss. We will discuss things that will contribute meaningfully to this forum, not any of the stuff that you throw out of your mouth for no reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldie Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Wait, are dentists doctors? I thought they were technicians with a BSc. Wow, I've been calling my Dentist Mrs. instead of Dr this whole time. My bad. Please stop being disrespectful towards other healthcare professionals. Frankly, you wouldn't even be able to get your foot in the door of a dental school even if your life depended on it. Dental students are bright and exceptional individuals with more class and respect towards others than you will ever have. End of the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighopes100 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 imo do whatever the you want to do, just do it right. As long as you treat your patients with respect/care, I couldn't care less what your motivations are. Personally, if I was financially motivated, I wouldn't pursue either career. But I'm not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veryconfusedperson Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Kind of a flawed question if you think about it, dentists don't make nearly as much as doctors on average. General dentists are not in demand (there's a surplus in basically every city, and every rural city is already adequately serviced as of this year), unlike family doctors, who can still as of now work pretty much anywhere they want for a very handsome salary (the average family doctor grosses 385k in Ontario, source: http://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2012/05/a-real-wage-freeze-for-doctors-the-facts.html) Despite my username, if given the choice between general dentist and family doctor, I'd choose family doctor for sure. WTH really? Do family docs earn that much??? Wait that's before tax right? and overheads and such? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veryconfusedperson Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Maybe the perception is that dentists' relationships with their patients are not as intimate? I wouldn't know if that's true, having never been a dentist. General dentists maybe, but I think my relationship with my orthodontist is closer to my family doctor xD. Like I used to see him at least once per month! Family doctor not nearly as many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veryconfusedperson Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Wait, why can't you go into medicine for the money? I find it very annoying when people use the ''you can't go into medicine for the money'' line. Sure, I'm not SOLELY going into medicine for the money, there are a plethora of other reasons I'm going into it for. However, would you really be a physician if you only got paid $80,000? At some point, you do have to realize, that you will have a mortgage to pay off, loans, and a family to feed. Money is, and always will be a factor in career choice. Right on Matti! This is the source of all my confusion lol. I can't decide whether I should pursue medicine because I certainly don't have the best/"right" intentions. But just because my intentions are not as pure, I can't be a good doctor? Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't I still be satisfied and happy because I'm improving people's health (doing meaningful things) with job security and good pay cheques? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veryconfusedperson Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 It is probably a bit more acceptable because, in Canada at least, the relationship between dentist and patient is seen as more of a business relationship, a financial transaction, than the relationship between a physician and patient. I can certainly see that... But. hum. But it's a fact that we compensate doctors well, and they sure deserve it. Why is it not acceptable for students to want to get into this profession, partially or entirely, because it pays well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veryconfusedperson Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I don't find that it's okay in both cases if your sole/deciding reason is money. However, money is a very important factor that no one can neglect, especially when it comes to choosing your career. No of course not the sole reason. If it was the sole reason I think it's better to consider i-banking and such. But what if you start with money, like a list of well paid jobs - including dentists and docs. And then you look at job description - both doing meaningful stuff and helping patients with their lives or health. You think "not bad I would be fine doing that". I find that people don't like the idea that you started to consider medicine because of money. They want you to go into medicine because all you wanted for your whole life is to save lives, kind of thing - I'm exaggerating... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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