Would you do it over again?

[UnicornDemon]

Knowing what you know now, if given the option to all the way back to undergrad, would you choose again to pursue dental school?

If no, what would you have done differently?

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[tingting]

Knowing what you know now, if given the option to all the way back to undergrad, would you choose again to pursue dental school?

If no, what would you have done differently?

This is a great topic. I think ultimately at this point my answer would probably be no. For all the hoopla and sacrifice I made to become a dentist the reality is a bit anti-climatic. I think we get into this mindset in undergrad of having to be a doctor, lawyer, dentist or businessman type, and the reality is there's a lot more out there than I realized. I also think the financial rewards of private practice general dentistry are vastly over-rated.

I should have taken a harder look at medicine. Medicine just has a lot more avenues to find your perfect niche. When you go to dental school, it's pretty limited what your end reality will be. In medicine you can do rotations in medical school and theres a lot of latitude with choice of residency, they are all so different. Also medicine does not face this "saturation" problem we have, with the high competition and corporate chains. If you are not interested in living in somewhere rural, this is the reality of dentistry. I will say that primary care medicine would undoubtedly suck.

For someone who does not demand much out of a career, I think dentistry is a decent choice. You can go to work and do your 9-5 and make a decent salary. Also if you want to live somewhere rural, dentistry is still pretty good.

 

[ortho lurker]

I should have taken a harder look at medicine. Medicine just has a lot more avenues to find your perfect niche. When you go to dental school, it's pretty limited what your end reality will be. In medicine you can do rotations in medical school and theres a lot of latitude with choice of residency, they are all so different. Also medicine does not face this "saturation" problem we have, with the high competition and corporate chains. If you are not interested in living in somewhere rural, this is the reality of dentistry. I will say that primary care medicine would undoubtedly suck.

Don't worry, corporate medicine is right around the corner. Independent medical doctors (even medical specialists) are selling their private practices and are asking to be employees at their own office because the insurance reimbursement rates are too low due to Obamacare. There have been articles written about rural primary care offices closing because Medicaid pays too low to support a business. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the recent increase in "Urgent Care" clinics opening in shopping centers just like dentistry? If someone was really, really smart, they would start opening the nationwide Walmart of all the health disciplines under one roof where traveling medical and dental specialists would float while the primary care physicians & dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, podiatrists, etc. would be present (might as well strap the patient to a chair on a conveyor belt and move them to a different room for each health discipline).

 

[tjung789]

Don't worry, corporate medicine is right around the corner. Independent medical doctors (even medical specialists) are selling their private practices and are asking to be employees at their own office because the insurance reimbursement rates are too low due to Obamacare. There have been articles written about rural primary care offices closing because Medicaid pays too low to support a business. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the recent increase in "Urgent Care" clinics opening in shopping centers just like dentistry? If someone was really, really smart, they would start opening the nationwide Walmart of all the health disciplines under one roof where traveling medical and dental specialists would float while the primary care physicians & dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, podiatrists, etc. would be present (might as well strap the patient to a chair on a conveyor belt and move them to a different room for each health discipline).

Exactly. Private practice has almost vanished in medicine. I have noticed the Urgent Care Clinics and even in rural areas, the rural hospitals open up huge urgent care clinics which can outcompete the private practice MDs. I think dentistry is still better than medicine, because in medicine there is much more legal liability and you waste more years of your life. There is still much room for business endeavors in dentistry (I'm not talking about private solo practice).

 

[tingting]

Don't worry, corporate medicine is right around the corner. Independent medical doctors (even medical specialists) are selling their private practices and are asking to be employees at their own office because the insurance reimbursement rates are too low due to Obamacare. There have been articles written about rural primary care offices closing because Medicaid pays too low to support a business. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the recent increase in "Urgent Care" clinics opening in shopping centers just like dentistry? If someone was really, really smart, they would start opening the nationwide Walmart of all the health disciplines under one roof where traveling medical and dental specialists would float while the primary care physicians & dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, podiatrists, etc. would be present (might as well strap the patient to a chair on a conveyor belt and move them to a different room for each health discipline).

I think you misunderstood me, notice in my original thread I said primary care medicine would suck. These problems are not such an issue when you get away from primary care. Your not gonna see OR suites at Walmart.

 

[suarez 7]

This is a great topic. I think ultimately at this point my answer would probably be no. For all the hoopla and sacrifice I made to become a dentist the reality is a bit anti-climatic. I think we get into this mindset in undergrad of having to be a doctor, lawyer, dentist or businessman type, and the reality is there's a lot more out there than I realized. I also think the financial rewards of private practice general dentistry are vastly over-rated.

I should have taken a harder look at medicine. Medicine just has a lot more avenues to find your perfect niche. When you go to dental school, it's pretty limited what your end reality will be. In medicine you can do rotations in medical school and theres a lot of latitude with choice of residency, they are all so different. Also medicine does not face this "saturation" problem we have, with the high competition and corporate chains. If you are not interested in living in somewhere rural, this is the reality of dentistry. I will say that primary care medicine would undoubtedly suck.

For someone who does not demand much out of a career, I think dentistry is a decent choice. You can go to work and do your 9-5 and make a decent salary. Also if you want to live somewhere rural, dentistry is still pretty good.

Actually saturation does exist in medicine. Like dentists, medical doctors want to live in urban areas as well. Specialists flock to these desirable areas and you find them competing with each other. And again like in dentistry, the real demand for doctors are in rural areas. The exception is primary care, but that field does indeed suck. You are also forgetting that MDs are getting a huge hit from obamacare and even more reduced fees. Doctors have to work harder now and earn less money.

There's a thread over at the allopathic forums with the same exact question as the OP, and interestingly the majority of responders say that they would not pursue medical school all over again.

 

[UnicornDemon]

There's a thread over at the allopathic forums with the same exact question as the OP, and interestingly the majority of responders say that they would not pursue medical school all over again.

Yeah, I posted this question in the anesthesiology forums because I was considering that path as well:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1021713

Turns out the grass is much greener over here.

 

[onelove4uk]

I would absolutely do dentistry again. Just make sure you go to a cheap dental school because in the end, they're all the same and there is NO point being $400,000 in debt when you can be $200,000 in debt. To me, that's the biggest downside of dentistry - the debt from school. But unlike medicine and law, you don't need excellent grades to be a successful dentist (unless you specialize)....so there is a lot less stress about being in the top 10 of your class. No one in private practice cares about your class rank or GPA. I personally enjoy dentistry but other benefits include good pay, great hours, and the limits are endless!! There is SO much to learn....things don't have to be boring or routine. Several of my friends are starting there medical residency and I'm thankful every day for being a dentist because the thought of a 6-7 year residency with tons of on-call and long hours makes me shudder. I have a couple lawyer friends too, they work 60-80 hours a week and that field is extremely saturated. Yes every single one of them will make more money than me....but why does everything have to be about money? Do what you enjoy doing....you'll still be wealthy. I haven't been practicing long but one thing I am concerned about is the strain on your body. Long-term back, neck, and wrist problems.

 

[Newgoalsdentdoc]

Wow, we were just talking about this at work last week. We were discussing school loans and so much more. Yes, I would still choose dentistry. I love what I do. There are times that I have bad days, but I love the flexibility of dentistry and I love the difference I make in the lives of others. I also love the fact that I'm teaching residents as well. If I had to attend dental school again, I'd choose a route to go into dental school earlier than completing four years of underdgrad, I'd never pull all nighters to study for exams and I'd just not be so stressed over things I used to worry about. But as the saying goes hind sight is always 20/20. As far as the financial side of school and all that dentistry involves, that's quite another discussion in itself. That's an area that scares a lot of people. Debt...I don't know.

 

[Newgoalsdentdoc]

I would absolutely do dentistry again. Just make sure you go to a cheap dental school because in the end, they're all the same and there is NO point being $400,000 in debt when you can be $200,000 in debt. To me, that's the biggest downside of dentistry - the debt from school. But unlike medicine and law, you don't need excellent grades to be a successful dentist (unless you specialize)....so there is a lot less stress about being in the top 10 of your class. No one in private practice cares about your class rank or GPA. I personally enjoy dentistry but other benefits include good pay, great hours, and the limits are endless!! There is SO much to learn....things don't have to be boring or routine. Several of my friends are starting there medical residency and I'm thankful every day for being a dentist because the thought of a 6-7 year residency with tons of on-call and long hours makes me shudder. I have a couple lawyer friends too, they work 60-80 hours a week and that field is extremely saturated. Yes every single one of them will make more money than me....but why does everything have to be about money? Do what you enjoy doing....you'll still be wealthy. I haven't been practicing long but one thing I am concerned about is the strain on your body. Long-term back, neck, and wrist problems.

Excellent comment. Right on target.

 

[145bluz]

No I would not do it again. However, it is a great profession and I have been very successful at it-both financial and clinically. After 26 years my body is beat and the mental/scientific challenges are minimal at this point. There are still many clinical challenges, however, most patients always opt for the less expensive options. Therefore, the types of treatments I could provide for my patients is limited by their attitudes and finances. Sadly, the more I learn, the more I feel a disconnect between being a clinician in 2013 vs a tooth mechanic. A lot of the public expects us to just drill and fill etc.. A few years ago, I got an MS in research which was enjoyable. I suspect I would have enjoyed medicine better (MD/PhD)-some clinical, some research. Perhaps less stress on the body and more academically challenging.

 

[yunowu]

I would do it again. however

For future dentists:

1) Understand the macroeconomics of the US economy
2) Understand the general trend of the US economy
3) Save more and spend less...goes with wealth creation during good times and wealth preservation during bad times..

I am running back and forth between four chairs as we speak..Very difficult to input coherent thoughts on keyboards..

 

[Ferneezy]

I haven't been practicing long but one thing I am concerned about is the strain on your body. Long-term back, neck, and wrist problems.

After 26 years my body is beat...stress on the body

here we have two practitioners on different ends of their careers. i'd like to hear more about how to mitigate the physical effects of practicing dentistry.

do loupes allow you to assume a posture friendlier to your back while maintaining visual acuity? how does physical exercise and/or stretching play into protecting the longevity of your career?

 

[onelove4uk]

145bluz makes a good point about treatment limitations and financials. As you learn in school, there's an ideal way to do things (usually), but that changes in private practice. Patient often cannot afford ideal treatment. Insurance is also a huge pain, in terms of collecting and how much they reduce your fees. Sometimes you're doing restorations at the price dental schools charge!

Regarding loupes and posture, YES buy loupes! Without loupes you're bending forward and in all kinds of directions to see. Plus you see a lot more, especially with a light. 2.5x is weak, I would recommend 3.5x. Never once heard of someone not liking 3.5x. Sit straight and look down, have the patient turn left and right instead of you moving. Going to a physical therapist or chiropractor to learn about back + core stretches is a good idea. 10 minutes of stretching at home daily is more than enough...

 

[Lethstang]

i would do it again, as i want to help peoples smiles.

if youre asking whether people would do it again for financial reasons, I highly recommend researching other careers. There are easier ways to make the same money.

 

[UnicornDemon]

if youre asking whether people would do it again for financial reasons, I highly recommend researching other careers. There are easier ways to make the same money.

Enlighten me.

 

[johnho771]

Enlighten me.

Please enlighten me as well. I have often heard this comment, but I wonder how true it is. Not many careers are a cake walk to a couple hundred thousand dollars a year. Sure many different paths may get you there; law, business, medicine, entertainer sure, but I would not call these paths easier than dentistry. Maybe from an outsider these paths may seem easier at times, but I would disagree.

 

[onelove4uk]

The hours put in to be a successful/wealthy lawyer, medical doctor, or businessman is way more than a dentist's. Many dentists work less than 40 hours a week....not bad for $200,000 (what the average private practitioner makes according to the ADA)

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Yeah, I've heard the same thing on the medical side and it always sort of bugs me. There are certainly ways to make more money than a physician/dentist, but I wouldn't exactly call them easier. Honestly though, the older I get, the more I realize that picking something because it's "easier" or "makes more money" would probably leave me incredibly unhappy.

 

[bikedoc]

Knowing what you know now, if given the option to all the way back to undergrad, would you choose again to pursue dental school?

If no, what would you have done differently?

Yes, I would do it all over again. My path has not been a direct path, rather a career change with many turns. There are some things I would have done differently along the way such as financially living a little more lean during dental school.

 

[justsusan]

I would have gone to vet school instead. insurance companies don't have their profession by the goodies. oh, well..

 

[suarez 7]

I would have gone to vet school instead. insurance companies don't have their profession by the goodies. oh, well..

Yep, the grass is always greener...

 

[bdsmph]

I would absolutely do dentistry again. Just make sure you go to a cheap dental school because in the end, they're all the same and there is NO point being $400,000 in debt when you can be $200,000 in debt. To me, that's the biggest downside of dentistry - the debt from school. But unlike medicine and law, you don't need excellent grades to be a successful dentist (unless you specialize)....so there is a lot less stress about being in the top 10 of your class. No one in private practice cares about your class rank or GPA. I personally enjoy dentistry but other benefits include good pay, great hours, and the limits are endless!! There is SO much to learn....things don't have to be boring or routine. Several of my friends are starting there medical residency and I'm thankful every day for being a dentist because the thought of a 6-7 year residency with tons of on-call and long hours makes me shudder. I have a couple lawyer friends too, they work 60-80 hours a week and that field is extremely saturated. Yes every single one of them will make more money than me....but why does everything have to be about money? Do what you enjoy doing....you'll still be wealthy. I haven't been practicing long but one thing I am concerned about is the strain on your body. Long-term back, neck, and wrist problems.

Very well said!!! We should all look at it this way!!