Dongzhuo Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 There shouldn't be a feud between Dentistry and medicine. These are two of the best professions we could be doing, and both will give us a satisfying career. Dentistry almost definitely has better lifestyle (and no residency!), but has slightly less prestige (ie they can't say "I'm a doctor"). It's a hard call...but my choice was medicine and hoping I could get into a lifestyle specialty. If I don't match into a lifestyle specialty then I might come to regret not choosing Dentistry. Time will tell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starling Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 There shouldn't be a feud between Dentistry and medicine. These are two of the best professions we could be doing, and both will give us a satisfying career. +1. I have no interest in dentistry, but I'm glad that others do because the world needs dentists too! Both med and dent are hard to get into and will result in a very respectable job in the end. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and there's no point in trying to argue that one is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schalker_24 Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 This whole argument is just stupid. If you really want to be a dentist for the right reasons then you shouldn't care about what people think. If you're most concerned about titles and prestige then you're never going to be satisfied. Face it, there's always someone out there who is better than you. So don't go for a career because of what people think, but go in because you want to. When my premed friends ask why I choose dentistry, I don't think that they are trying to put me down. I use the opportunity to tell them about the excitement I get when thinking of root canals and how I'm looking forward to having every weekend off to take my kids on hockey road trips. Your life is what you make of it, so stop concerning yourself with what other people say and what they think, and focus on doing what you love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itimebomb2 Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 As far as prestige or recognition go, medical doctors will always beat dentists - there are no two ways about it - simply, as many people have stated before, because doctors must train much longer and endure much greater sacrifice, while getting reimbursed less! Also, they save lives. not teeth. Generalization, but hugely significant nonetheless. So you either care about the prestige factor, or you dont. If you don't, then stop worrying about it! If you do, then go into medicine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest success100 Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 As far as prestige or recognition go, medical doctors will always beat dentists - there are no two ways about it - simply, as many people have stated before, because doctors must train much longer and endure much greater sacrifice, while getting reimbursed less! Also, they save lives. not teeth. Generalization, but hugely significant nonetheless. So you either care about the prestige factor, or you dont. If you don't, then stop worrying about it! If you do, then go into medicine! Dentist"Save teeths" ? Uninformed person at it's finest. They don't save the teeths only,because a LOT of mouth diseases can affect all your body and can end up killing you. Dentists are more "the passive life savers",a pregnant woman should go see a dentist regularly because her mouth is more sensible to infections,also,even untreated cavities can create complications for the body... Without dentists,we would all die like mozart from Endocarditis infections at the age of 35...these are a few things that can happen if you don't "brush your teeths",which is the case of about 60% of people. I'm not a dental school fanboy,i'm personally aiming for medicine as well,but Dentists have lots of respect from people and the so called "prestige" is almost the same as Medical Doctors.Getting into both med and dentistry just for the money/respect/prestige is an EPIC FAIL idea to me.You will spend more time on your books than showing off your money or flirting hot womans in bars... It's all about what you like to do and your inspirations,from my own experience,i can tell you that Dentists tend to have better lifestyle than Medical Doctors,because they have BETTER hours,no salary limits(the more you work the more you get mentality.),able to live a stable relationship... A dentist who works 60-80 hours/week can make the same income of a Medical Doctor(Surgeons,ROAD specialties.),if not more in some cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Read about someone in dentistry at the top of his game who would never think of entering medicine: http://www.cda-adc.ca/cad/vol-72/issue-7/615.pdf NOTE: As link does not work, google Dr. Harry Rosen, scroll down to bottom of page and open that link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Read about someone in dentistry at the top of his game who would never think of entering medicine: http://www.cda-adc.ca/cad/vol-72/issue-7/615.pdf Link doesn't work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Google Dr. Harry Rosen, scroll down to bottom of page and open that link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schalker_24 Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 As far as prestige or recognition go, medical doctors will always beat dentists - there are no two ways about it - simply, as many people have stated before, because doctors must train much longer and endure much greater sacrifice, while getting reimbursed less! Also, they save lives. not teeth. Generalization, but hugely significant nonetheless. So you either care about the prestige factor, or you dont. If you don't, then stop worrying about it! If you do, then go into medicine! People like you are the reason why this thread was started. Someone was tired of hearing that they are second class because they are trying to get a DDS and not a MD. If you want to go into med because you have such a desire to achieve prestige then go for it. I'll go into dentistry and -train less, endure less sacrifice and get reimbursed more- according to you. I guess I'll never be as hard working or willing to sacrifice as my premed friends. Maybe one day you can teach me these attributes so I can be more like you. Can you teach humility while your at it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UTPEOPLE Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Dentist"Save teeths" ?Uninformed person at it's finest. They don't save the teeths only,because a LOT of mouth diseases can affect all your body and can end up killing you. Dentists are more "the passive life savers",a pregnant woman should go see a dentist regularly because her mouth is more sensible to infections,also,even untreated cavities can create complications for the body... Without dentists,we would all die like mozart from Endocarditis infections at the age of 35...these are a few things that can happen if you don't "brush your teeths",which is the case of about 60% of people. I'm not a dental school fanboy,i'm personally aiming for medicine as well,but Dentists have lots of respect from people and the so called "prestige" is almost the same as Medical Doctors.Getting into both med and dentistry just for the money/respect/prestige is an EPIC FAIL idea to me.You will spend more time on your books than showing off your money or flirting hot womans in bars... It's all about what you like to do and your inspirations,from my own experience,i can tell you that Dentists tend to have better lifestyle than Medical Doctors,because they have BETTER hours,no salary limits(the more you work the more you get mentality.),able to live a stable relationship... A dentist who works 60-80 hours/week can make the same income of a Medical Doctor(Surgeons,ROAD specialties.),if not more in some cases. also, as toothaches (especially in women) are an early sign of cardiac infarction (no joke, look it up), many cardiac emergency visits are actually referrals from dentists... lol... As for my personal choice, I picked medicine because I dont want to poke around in a person's mouth all day, and I prefer the general knowledge base associated with family med or radiology than specialization for a few specific diseases. However, as for the dentist making more than ROAD. I know that this wont happen if the ROAD doctor is smart and can manage their own business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koft Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 This is beginning to sound like a turf war, and getting pretty sad. As i posted earlier who cares what other thinks, as long as you are happy with what you do then you will be fine. I have friends who hated dentistry, and others in medicine who got matched in area that they don't like, and in meds school who hated it too!!!! As for who makes more.. "entrepreneur", if you want to talk health care, CEOs of hospital on AVERAGE make more than docs!! Meds, dents, vets, etc make a comfortable livings without ever worrying about they can't put food on the table or a roof for shelter (except if you decided to buy $10mil house).. Ultimately it is respect to each other. Peace OUT ________ HAWAII MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UTPEOPLE Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 This is beginning to sound like a turf war, and getting pretty sad. As i posted earlier who cares what other thinks, as long as you are happy with what you do then you will be fine. I have friends who hated dentistry, and others in medicine who got matched in area that they don't like, and in meds school who hated it too!!!! As for who makes more.. "entrepreneur", if you want to talk health care, CEOs of hospital on AVERAGE make more than docs!! Meds, dents, vets, etc make a comfortable livings without ever worrying about they can't put food on the table or a roof for shelter (except if you decided to buy $10mil house).. Ultimately it is respect to each other. Peace OUT its a good thing that many of these CEO's are doctors then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphacow Posted April 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 also, as toothaches (especially in women) are an early sign of cardiac infarction (no joke, look it up), many cardiac emergency visits are actually referrals from dentists... lol... As for my personal choice, I picked medicine because I dont want to poke around in a person's mouth all day, and I prefer the general knowledge base associated with family med or radiology than specialization for a few specific diseases. However, as for the dentist making more than ROAD. I know that this wont happen if the ROAD doctor is smart and can manage their own business Yea, I don't think dentists will ever make more than ROAD. The OMFS I work with is only billing 4 million a year. He doesn't have much overhead (1 secretary, 1 manager, 2 assistants) so I guess his over head should be 45-50% if not less. This is no bigshot OMFS either, very typical office. He works really hard though, prob close to 40 hours a week. The ROAD doctors all seem to be making 5 million plus, especially the optho doing lasik. So yea...really not much of a comparison there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebouque Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Dentist"Save teeths" ?Uninformed person at it's finest. They don't save the teeths only,because a LOT of mouth diseases can affect all your body and can end up killing you. Dentists are more "the passive life savers",a pregnant woman should go see a dentist regularly because her mouth is more sensible to infections,also,even untreated cavities can create complications for the body... Without dentists,we would all die like mozart from Endocarditis infections at the age of 35...these are a few things that can happen if you don't "brush your teeths",which is the case of about 60% of people. I'm not a dental school fanboy,i'm personally aiming for medicine as well,but Dentists have lots of respect from people and the so called "prestige" is almost the same as Medical Doctors.Getting into both med and dentistry just for the money/respect/prestige is an EPIC FAIL idea to me.You will spend more time on your books than showing off your money or flirting hot womans in bars... It's all about what you like to do and your inspirations,from my own experience,i can tell you that Dentists tend to have better lifestyle than Medical Doctors,because they have BETTER hours,no salary limits(the more you work the more you get mentality.),able to live a stable relationship... A dentist who works 60-80 hours/week can make the same income of a Medical Doctor(Surgeons,ROAD specialties.),if not more in some cases. WOW the mozart statement is so wrong. He supposedly died of long term complications of the rheumatic fever he got when he was a child, ie a complication of a GAS throat infection... Dentists may actually cause endocarditis with their treatments that's why they give antibiotics to some patients before certain procedures. Dentists would never have saved mozart... Also nowadays rheumatic fever is prevented by antibiotics (given by a family physician to a kid if he has a strep infection) and is extremely rare, at least in North America. Brush up on your rheumatic fever and endocarditis pathophysiology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorelan Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 its a good thing that many of these CEO's are doctors then Not just doctors - very, very skilled doctors with usually a huge amount of experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dongzhuo Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Yea, I don't think dentists will ever make more than ROAD. The OMFS I work with is only billing 4 million a year. He doesn't have much overhead (1 secretary, 1 manager, 2 assistants) so I guess his over head should be 45-50% if not less. This is no bigshot OMFS either, very typical office. He works really hard though, prob close to 40 hours a week. The ROAD doctors all seem to be making 5 million plus, especially the optho doing lasik. So yea...really not much of a comparison there. dentists making 4 million? ROAD making 5 million? What's going on?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebouque Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 dentists making 4 million? ROAD making 5 million? What's going on?? sarcasm I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest success100 Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Yea, I don't think dentists will ever make more than ROAD. The OMFS I work with is only billing 4 million a year. He doesn't have much overhead (1 secretary, 1 manager, 2 assistants) so I guess his over head should be 45-50% if not less. This is no bigshot OMFS either, very typical office. He works really hard though, prob close to 40 hours a week. The ROAD doctors all seem to be making 5 million plus, especially the optho doing lasik. So yea...really not much of a comparison there. ROAD is over rated and people tend to start stupid rumours everyday about them.70% of Ophtalmologists don't even do OR time,so no lasik. Surgical procedures is often made by the ones having ATLEAST 10 years of experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koft Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Not just doctors - very, very skilled doctors with usually a huge amount of experience You guys are kidding me, check before you type that comment, most hospital CEOs are not docs, they are actually from business and nursing background! At least for the big hospitals. They used to be run by doctors prior to the 70s but not anymore.....! But they are trying to push it back with MBA/MD program.. whether or not it will be successful, only time can tell. Not many of these programs in Canada, but more prevalence in US ________ SILVER SURFER REVIEWS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koft Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Wow, so many unrealistic numbers being thrown around here! Yes, Ophthalmologists make a lot because historically eye surgery takes a long time to do even for cataracts (the good old days take at least 2 hours, now with Ultrasound technology, only take < 10 mins). However, OHIP was unable to change the fee that reflect the change (nor the Ophthalomologist society allow them to do so without putting up a fight), Even though, their renumeration has not increased over the past 10 years. But they can do 6 - 8 cases compared to 1, even subtract inflation, they are still way ahead without OHIP adjustment ... That is why Ophthal bills a boat load. Plastics makes a decent amount especially private 3rd party paying procedure, ie breast augmentation, face lift. Not ftom skin graft procedure for burn victims or the hand and upper limb clinic. Seriously, it takes time to build up your practice, you can't expect a gastroenterologist who just passed his RCPC be able to lead a job in an urban teaching hospitals without doing a MSc or PhD. As well you need time to build up patient load. Also, it is hard for any new GI doc to get into the endo suite time, because no one is willing to share or give it up unless they are retiring. As for the family doctors, they used to be having trouble making good money compared to their specialists counterpart, but now with better funding formula, they are better off these days. (especially they can get a full patient load within days of opening!) ________ Chrysler pronto cruizer history Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorelan Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 You guys are kidding me, check before you type that comment, most hospital CEOs are not docs, they are actually from business and nursing background! At least for the big hospitals. They used to be run by doctors prior to the 70s but not anymore.....! But they are trying to push it back with MBA/MD program.. whether or not it will be successful, only time can tell. Not many of these programs in Canada, but more prevalence in US My point was the doctors that do run hospitals tend to be very skilled and experienced doctors. Pretty sure that is the case(?) As a side note several of our class actually have MBAs now, and are hoping eventually point that to use in admin positions in hospitals. Our class prez is working on getting the md/mba going here in london. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itimebomb2 Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 You guys are kidding me, check before you type that comment, most hospital CEOs are not docs, they are actually from business and nursing background! At least for the big hospitals. They used to be run by doctors prior to the 70s but not anymore.....! But they are trying to push it back with MBA/MD program.. whether or not it will be successful, only time can tell. Not many of these programs in Canada, but more prevalence in US the trend in hospital CEOs is moving more towards MDs, not away from it. furthermore, there is about one hospital CEO for several hundred doctors in a given hospital. Average out the CEO's income with all the middle management people who are not the CEO and you get a number that is far below what an MD makes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itimebomb2 Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 People like you are the reason why this thread was started. Someone was tired of hearing that they are second class because they are trying to get a DDS and not a MD. If you want to go into med because you have such a desire to achieve prestige then go for it. I'll go into dentistry and -train less, endure less sacrifice and get reimbursed more- according to you. I guess I'll never be as hard working or willing to sacrifice as my premed friends. Maybe one day you can teach me these attributes so I can be more like you. Can you teach humility while your at it? you pretty much just reiterated what I said... but somehow made it look like you disagree with me. Again, you'll get the recognition for working hard/saving lives as an MD, and you'll get money/lifestyle as a dentist. Bottom line, medicine is harder to get into in general, and much harder work when you get in (not to mention much longer). My roommate is a dental student (dentistry was his first choice), and I'm a premed. He tells me lots about dentistry and we both agree that dentistry is way easier to get into and to complete. It is also much more lucrative in the end, in general. The argument that the odd dentist might save a person from endocarditis is just plain idiotic. it is one single affliction - the most common in dentistry - and it is actually more common in people who floss a lot, meaning if dentists didnt exist, fewer people would get oral endocarditis. Any given social worker, or perhaps a school teacher, holds more power over life/death than a DDS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Pepper Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 As far as prestige or recognition go, medical doctors will always beat dentists - there are no two ways about it - simply, as many people have stated before, because doctors must train much longer and endure much greater sacrifice, while getting reimbursed less! Also, they save lives. not teeth. Generalization, but hugely significant nonetheless. So you either care about the prestige factor, or you dont. If you don't, then stop worrying about it! If you do, then go into medicine! actually I must disagree and say that it may depend on the specialty, at least for me lol. I think I have more respect toward orthodontists/OMFS than family docs...I know how difficult it is to get into ortho/OMFS and I know how easy it is to match to family medicine. Even when you go to a medical school in like Caribbeans you can definitely have a good chance at matching to family medicine. Considering that both medical school and dental school has similar caliber of students in terms of academic, I can only imagine how smart you have to be to be pretty much the top of your class in a dental school. So this is a different perspective, but still just to point out that medical doctors do not ALWAYS beat dentists in every way other than money/lifestyle. Again, lots of people may still say family docs>ortho/OMFS etc but not for me. I hope you become a family doc P.S. No, I'm not trying to put down family docs here, for those who are interested in family medicine...and I still have high opinions of them...I was just pissed off that this guy was speaking so low of dentists Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharpee Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 . 10 char 10 char Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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