<p>check out the dentistry and opthamology boards on this site:
forums.studentdoctor.net they're pretty active, and will probably be able to help you answer most of your questions</p>
<p>You need to choose the field that interests you most, not just look at career pros and cons. There will always be people happy and unhappy with every career. Your best chances of success/no regrets will be in something you actively like. Never choose a field because you think you will make more money- you might, but be miserable. Enjoy what you do, and remember every field has its boring parts, especially after the first few thousand times you do something. This from a physician who still needs her eyes and teeth routine exams. The social aspect of the visits is the fun part- both as doctor and patient.</p>
<p>When D1 chose to move to another state and had to change all her health care providers, our dentist was the one she said she’d miss most. And believe me, she’s had her share of dental issues. He’s been our dentist for over 20 years now.</p>
<p>I know that he’s financially very well off due to the amount of traveling that he does (well, and where he lives), but he does take our insurance. He has ‘moved up’ in offices twice now, just moving into his third office since we’ve known him and it’s high tech as well as very classy. I have a good friend who is a dental hygienist in the area and pretty much knows and/or is aware of all the dentists around us. She has impeccably high standards and she says we hit pay dirt when we found this dentist, long before we ever met her and heard her opinion of him. </p>
<p>What amazes me so much about the dental profession is that I’ve heard it’s harder to get into dental school than medical school. Might have something to do with the limited number of dental schools, but still, you really can’t be a slacker.</p>
<p>Well darn… just noticed how old this thread is. Am sure the OP is far into whatever program she decided on.</p>
<p>The dentist we knew as a friend was very frustrated by the Insurance aspects. That may be true though in any medical field.</p>
<p>The OPs in this thread should have graduated by now.</p>
<p>My H is a general dentist and I work full time in his office. While many of the Op’s concerns may have been valid MANY years ago, dentistry has come a very long way. The profession can be very rewarding both financially and psycologically.</p>
<p>isacc, please tell me more about optometry. How do you become an optometrist? How is the job market? It that a career a person could enter later in life?</p>
<p>isacc’s last post was over a year ago.</p>
<p>pinkearmufs, Being a dentist today isn’t easy. I suppose it never was, but these days, I would steer you away from this profession simply because there is less need for dentist. With fluoride so available, dentists don’t need to fill cavities as much. Our dentist’s office actually calls us to make appointments (who ever heard of a doctor that did that?)</p>
<p>However, you might want to consider too specialities: orthodontry or periodontry. The first one is the doctor who sets braces, and even if there are fewer teenagers, adults are getting braces again too.</p>
<p>Periodontroy is another speciality. They’re a medical doctor who went to medical school and can write prescriptions. These specialists have patients who have under-the-gum issues. Older people are a large group who frequent their periodontist. These doctors make oodles of money, and they have regular office hours. My peridontist drives a BMW.</p>
<p>An opthalmologist is an admirable profession; there’s all sorts of new ways to test for eye problems (I think my mom sat in 10 separate chairs while at her opthalmologist this past Monday.) It was a very busy office, but I wondered what kind of overhead these guys have and how many patients they need to process to make a profit.</p>
<p>This thread is almost 5 years old.</p>
<p>So is the cavity on my left molar…</p>
<p>Limabeans: To correct some of your misinformation…Periodontists are dentists, not medical doctors. They did an additional program after dental school, as do all dental specialists. Any dentist can write prescriptions, not only periodontists. You are correct about what periodontists do which is treat gum disease.</p>
<p>Also, don’t forget that patients usually only see those dental specialists when referred by their general dentist.</p>
<p>Yes, dentistry can be stressful…many of us run a business in addition to our clinical duties. However, after close to 30 years of practice, I stand by my post #15 above. And I don’t only do prophies and bleaching, my hygienists and assistants do those, while I keep busy doing restorative dentistry, esthetics, TMJ, laser perio surgery, minor ortho and dental sleep medicine. It doesn’t affect my self esteem if someone tells me “nothing personal Doc, but I hate dentists”. If they make a snide remark of their fees paying for my kids’ college, I reply “thank you!” I will say that the satisfaction, material rewards and appreciation far outweighs any of those negatives for me. Certainly there are others like you, but I also know many like myself (birds of a feather…). Dentistry isn’t a career for everyone, but it has been very, very good for me. And I’m not lyin’!</p>
<p>^ Wow, that’s depressing. However, the office staff seem to have it pretty good. ;)</p>
<p>Anyone who goes to a dentist has to expect some sort of pain and anyone who says they’ve never experienced pain at the dentist is lying. But we go anyway, because it’s an important aspect of our taking care of our health. Frankly I think some gynecological exams are extremely painful, and mammograms can make me want to jump out of my skin, but I go because it’s part of taking care of myself. If I happen to make a comment along the lines that something hurts, I don’t want to believe that the health care professional is takes even the things that are out of control, personally. </p>
<p>I’ve probably had more dental work than most people on CC due to a cleft palate, and have had my share of pain during it, but I go back because I know if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have the healthy mouth that I do (in fact, in the last couple of years, I’ve been praised for how good my oral care has been due to using new products). And as good as it is, I know it’s still going to hurt when routine stuff comes up (old fillings need replacing, probing for periodontal disease, etc.). I’m sure glad my dentist doesn’t take it personally every time I cringe or twitch.</p>
<p>Seriously, though, I think dentists have better job prospects and potential for career growth and a good salary than optometrists. Also, pharmacy may not be a growth field in the future as it becomes more computerized.</p>
<p>Do whatever you enjoy the most. And trust me, there’s always gonna be room for optometry.</p>
<p>I know dentists who have been successful with a staff of one and others with massive group practices. Dentistry is more a people business than a technical one. If your patients trust you, like you and know you care about them, they will not leave you when everything doesn’t go perfectly. I live about ten miles from my office, but several of my immediate neighbors are patients. I have also committed what some consider a cardinal sin when I first started my practice…treated my MIL. She lives across the state and was told she needed all of her teeth extracted and dentures placed. Twenty five years later, she is 90 and still has her remaining teeth due to my care.</p>
<p>I have had the occasion to unexpectedly bump into patients when I’m out and about and my only concern is that I have trouble remembering names. I have even had them come up to my table in restaurants and almost embarrass me with praise to my family. My wife has gotten over seeing me hug “strange” women we meet when we’re at concerts and shows, knowing that they must be patients.</p>
<p>Bottom line is that it’s a matter of perspective. To use an analogy: </p>
<p>Carly Simon is a great singer/songwriter. Do you know she has played less than 100 concerts? In interviews, she has said she has stage fright. She said when she’s backstage and she hears the roar of the crowd, she gets a feeling in the pit in her stomach that makes her sick and afraid to perform.</p>
<p>Bruce Springsteen, arguably one of the best performers of our generation, has said that when he’s backstage, he hears the roar of the crowd, and when he gets that feeling in the pit of his stomach, he knows he’s ready to go out and rock.</p>
<p>Sure, I realize that most people would rather spend their time and money at places other than my office, but what other expenditures will affect their every smile, every meal, every conversation and every kiss?</p>
<p>Honestly, reading half of the posts on all four pages was both entertaining and appalling. </p>
<p>^To say the least, reading these comment made me rethink my choice in career. I was initially leaning towards being a pharmacist, but I recently became interested in dentistry, and even orthodontics. Now, I’m not so sure. If there are any willing to give me input -not about the pros and cons, but about the courses needed in dentist school/pharmacy school, experiences, info about admissions and tests, things that would help prepare- it would be really appreciated. (And it would be assuring to recieve input from actual students going through or recently graduated from dental/pharmacy school, and dentists who are happy with their choice in career).</p>
<p>^^I have a relative in pharmacy. The good part is that there is high demand and relatively high salary (due to demand.) The bad part is that this demand is decreasing due to increased automization in pharmacies. Also, the job can get boring if you are working in a Walgreens-type environment. However, you can continue on and do fellowships to have more career flexibility and upward mobility. For instance, working in a hospital is a more interesting environment that probably requires more training. Pharmacy also sets you up to be a toxicologist as well. </p>
<p>Another good thing about pharmacy is that you don’t have to deal with body parts (inside of mouths, etc,) that you might in most other medical-related careers.</p>