dentistry is fun!

[Guest bcdentalgirl]

The above is a statement that always illicits snickering and rolling of eyes from anyone curious to know why I want to be a dentist.

I was just wondering if anyone else out there experiences anything similar. Why is dentistry regarded as the nerdy step-child of medicine (the glamorous one)?

I'm taking a stand! Dentistry is cool dammit!

over and out...

[Guest Plug Dis]

Hey bcdental girl,

Its true....but do you think everyone else has to think that way, that is that dentistry is fun. Just because it is not considered the "Mecca" of health care professions doesn't make it a horrible career. Do you need convincing that its cool? If you do, maybe you really want to be a physican. C'mon folks we don't need to be told that it's a great profession and that we are "doctors", we should already know that. We can laugh at all those people who think we are "nerdy step childs" while sharing a cold one at the cottage with someone we love, or just after we buy that car we've always wanted, or better yet after we get that thank you from a patient who says you have changed my life. All I'm saying is don't be flustered by the reactions you get from people that have no idea what dentistry is about. Ask anyone if they would like to make a six figure salary, on a four day work week, enjoy a nice house, time for family, a career that makes a difference. Not many would reject the offer. "But you have to put your hands in somebody's mouth" - I love this one, you're right numb nuts, I'd rather be a proctologist - Enough said. I'm out.

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[Guest cheech10]

The only "real doctors" are PhD's anyway. MD, DDS/DMD, DC, and OD holders (all undergraduate degrees, IIRC) are only called "doctors" because they are allowed to "diagnose", not because they hold a doctorate (at least in Ontario under the Regulated Health Professions Act). (OT's, PT's, etc. are allowed to "assess") And you're right, not performing any DRE's would be another plus.

[Guest toothy]

well, with stuff like "ER", the media certainly plays a part in glamorizing the medical profession. Even though most doctors don't resuscitate people on a daily basis they are important in maintaining the general overall health of the public and dentists are one piece of the puzzle. Perhaps not very applicable, I would think that all med students have participated in or witnessed some life-saving procedure during their electives, while it's unlikely that a dental student would have the same opportunity. And saving lives=glamour, as seen in "Baywatch" and the plethora of cop dramas

[Guest bcdentalgirl]

Maybe what I said didn't come out right. It was just a playful remark. The people I'm referring to are my parents friends and the like. They look perplexed if I talk about the creative aspect of dentistry for instance. I totally have a sense of humor about it. It's funny. Haha.

[Guest Plug Dis]

I know you were kidding, but it happens nonetheless. I am just referring to those who feel dentistry doesn't measure up......like all you punks at the interview who would rather be doctors......you're just kidding yourself guys......Later

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[Guest macdaddyeh]

Hi guys:

 

I'm bustin in here as an aspiring physician, who usually posts on the "med" section of this site. I actually never really thought about entering dentistry before until I found out that a good friend of mine just told me she got an interview with UBC dentistry (She lives in Ontario, and studied Physiology for those aching to know her stats).

 

She explained to me as well many of the reasons expressed above for her decision to pursue dentistry. The pay supercedes that of doctors, the hours are flexible and not as demanding, little if no on-call time and the lifestyle it permits is fabulous. What more could anyone ask for...I must admit that dentistry did originally turn me off, just because I guess the mouth is like a sacred (or profane) place.

 

In fact, just a little piece of history here....My grandmother graduated from the pioneer Dental Nurse's program at U of T in the 1920's. She always told me to floss. Perhaps I should take up grandma's advice and turn it into a career...

[Guest UWOMED2005]

Yep, I'm also an impostor among the dentists.

 

If my main criteria for choosing a career was lifestyle, Dentistry would beat Meds handsdown. General Practice Dentists don't have to do a residency, and as they can set their own rates they can work a 4 day week with no call, not run patients through a mill and STILL take home more than most family practitioners.

 

I'm just not that fascinated with teeth.

 

I couldn't see myself spending 30 odd years taking care of just teeth, gums, and associated problems. I've got friends in Dentistry, I respect what they do, but I'm happy where I am.

 

And I'll acknowledge that's not that much different than what many specialists do - now many specialists in medicine have a final subject area that's not much wider than dentistry, maybe even narrower depending on what organ system or disease they've studied. And there's plenty of doctors who don't deal with life and death situations ever. They still make an impact on quality of life, as dentists do.

 

As for the public's perceptions of dentists vs. doctors I think any bias that exists is due to the aforementioned life and death issue, but also simply due to the fact people simply don't like going to dentist. Sure, DREs aren't that fun, but we don't do them to everyone and the bulk of your standard physical exam isn't that bad. I think most people (other than middle managers and other doctors ) would rather go to the doctor than the dentist.

 

If you do love teeth that much, then yeah, I could see why you'd prefer dentistry over medicine. But it's just not for me.

[Guest peachy]

I'd way rather go to the dentist, personally....

[Guest toothy]

well, let's discuss why people are afraid of going to the dentist... are they scared of needles and pain? I thought blood tests were often done in a routine physical exam? And if we all brush and floss maybe there would be no need for fillings/local anesthesia or painful hygiene appointments.

 

I just got another viewpoint about doctors vs. dentists... maybe dental procedures are seen as "less important" because they are not covered under the government plan? You gotta pay for a visit to the dentist cuz it's not "critically important" for your well-being perhaps? dunno, just something our dept director tossed around earlier this year...

[Guest OU812]

Its interesting that the first reason your friend gave for pursuing dentistry was because the pay supercedes that of doctors. I think that is largely the public's view and the medical community's view of dentists, as a MD friend of mine once said "we call them Dr. Dollars". The cheesy dental commercials don't help the cash seeking image that dentists have.

 

While I don't agree with that image for all dentists, it had come up in med school interviews for people I have gone to school with. the old "Why not go to dental school, its much easier and much more cash?"

 

PS. Dentists do rake it in but start up costs are huge and there is getting to be a saturation of dentists in majour city centres. So while a shortage exists, it is primarily in rural communities.

 

Take care and good luck (PS. these were just some comments that I have experienced, please don't get mad at me , personally I like dentists and I thought every dime my parents once shelled out to fix a crooked tooth was worth it. My smile went from 8o to

 

Good luck

[Guest Biochem10]

I just had a root canal yesterday, so yeah, I'd much rather go to the doctor than the dentist. Toothaches hurt and sitting in that chair for 1 1/2 hrs with a plastic dam over my mouth was definetly not fun. (although my dentist looked like he was having fun, especially when I forked over $475 at the end :eek ) But seriously I can imagine that doing root canals and complicated procedures is really challenging & fun, but definetly not my kind of thing.