I’m currently a high school sophomore. I really the dental field and what it has to offer, but on the other hand I also like what PA school has to offer. I just want to make a decision before, I go into college, so i can apply to one of those dual degree programs (BS/PA) or (BS/DMD)
I made a set of pros and cons for each.
Pros of PA:
-Flexible lifestyle
-Cheaper schools
-only requires to get 2-3 max schooling after a bachelor’s degree
-Pay is around $90-100K
-Job makes people feel better
Cons:
-Because PA’s usually work in rural needed areas, most of those areas require speaking an additional language (Spanish is the most required). (Which I do not have)
-I may sound cheesy, but I really want the (Dr.) to my credentials as a part of my name. (but I don’t get that as a PA)
-PA schools are competitive!!! And I really am not trying to apply at least 3 times, as i’ve read other peoples story into becoming a PA.
Pros of Dentist:
Flexible Lifestyle
Dentists are mainly happy, can be fun with their office and enjoy their job
I can create short term and long term changes in a persons life, that can make them very happy with their appearance.
-To become a general dentist it just requires 4 year of a dental school (no additional residency)
Get the (doctor) part added to my name
-Pay is great! $150-200k
Dental school is not as competitive as PA school.
can choose to be self-employed or join a practice.
-If you join a practice, great benefits!
Cons:
-Dental school is sooooo expensive (but with a job, I’d be able to pay off student debt)
Kind of required to have my own practice ?
Help!!!
In my opinion i’m actually leaning more toward dentistry. but my friends and family don’t support that decision. Like, ¨Ẅhy would you want to look in a person’s mouth all day?¨ but i find it very interesting.
There are scads of PAs where I live in the Washington, DC suburbs, and plenty of them only speak English (although having a bit of another language can be useful). So don’t feel that you can’t be a PA.
You are in 10th grade. You have lots of time to change your mind about what you want to study. And nowhere is it written that you can’t apply to both direct admit PA programs and direct admit pre-dent.
PA’s are every where in Boston.To see my orthopedic surgeon I have to meet with her PA first. My 19yo D has a PA as her primary care doc. Whenever we go to urgent care, we see a PA.
You are wrong about the rural areas and needing to speak Spanish for PA’s. Getting into programs to become a PA is extremely competitive. Dentists can be solo, group or employees.
Ditto the above 10th grade comment. It does not matter at all what other people are happy doing, choosing a profession that makes YOU happy is what counts. I know happy and miserable people in all sorts of jobs, regardless of hours or income.
Your junior year of HS will be very important for you- that is the last year college admissions will see grades. Count on getting mainly As and taking many AP/rigorous classes to be competitive for the programs you are considering. Now is the time to shadow people in professions to see what they do all day.
Salary, amount earned will depend on many factors. In a location with many dentists it may be difficult to build your practice. That salary could vary greatly.
Do something because you like it, not because you think it will be easy money. Other occupations can earn you more money, btw.
I get the being called “Dr.”- I’m a physician. But, you only use your title in the workplace. I probably used it more than most male doctors because too many patients presumed a woman was a nurse (and the night nurse, despite telling his patient he was his nurse, once told me the doctor was there all night). We have so many friends who are MDs or PhDs we don’t bother with titles on envelopes. A PhD friend said they didn’t bother with titles in her big league pharmacy company place. You know what you are and don’t need the reinforcement of others telling you.
As a dentist, don’t underestimate the difficulty in getting into a program. Also, name schools don’t matter - nobody ever asks - so minimize your costs.
The pros you listed are accurate - I work 3.5 days a week but your income numbers are very dependent on your business acumen. There are many of us that make twice what you referenced and others that make less. My idea has always been work smarter not harder…
The irony is I have many friends who are physicians and they often jokingly say “I wish I had gone to Dental School.” It’s usually when I’m done with my work week by 3pm on Thursday…
@Cavitee I want that type of lifestyle as you mentioned. Working not a lot of hours a week, and still live a good life.
If I do end up becoming a dentist, I don’t think I’d want to open my own business. My plan has always been to join a practice with benefits. I know I shouldn’t worry about name schools, but I loveeee NYU, but in the end I’d guess, I would end up broke.
-Can you give me what a day in your life is like?
-Any downfalls about working in dentistry?
@knightcub I mean by flexible, having a stable and good job, but also living your life. (Not having on call hours, and having to go back to work called in)
I’m a solo practitioner who owns his own practice and office. As for the future of dentistry, I think you’ll see more corporate entities that employ dentists. This is due to the primary challenge facing dentistry which is insurance companies and dental PPOs.
Now keep in mind I graduated over 20 years ago so my hours aren’t reflective of a new practitioner. I work 8-5 M-W and 8-3 on Th and take 4-5 weeks off/yr.
I’m a general dentist so I do crown and bridge, Invisalign, restorative, root canals, extractions, dentures, partials and implants. I like the variety of procedures but if you don’t mind the repetition some of the specialties (I.e. oral surgeons and endodontist) can be extremely lucrative with less overhead and staffing issues.
NYU is a great school but unless someone else is footing the bill, that cost plus 4 years of dental school will take a long time to pay back. I minimized my cost without compromising the quality of my education (undergrad UVa/dental school UNC). I actually took 2 years after graduating from UVa doing research at Bowman Gray (Wake Forest Med school) to get instate status at UNC before dental school.
As enjoyable a profession as it is I steered both of my children into other fields…
I live in the crowded suburbs of Washington, DC, and there are PAs everywhere. Some speak other languages (not necessarily Spanish), but this is a very multicultural area, and lots of people speak other languages.
Pitt or Temple undergrad and Pitt dental school are fine schools. No need to go into more debt.
Most health professions have similar prerequisites (chem, bio, ochem, physics, math), so you can start out and see what you want to do after your first or second year.
Go to an instate school where you can get scholarships, to keep loans to a minimum.
@Marian I understand that. But I don’t speak any other language clearly, other than english. If I was apply for a PA job against someone with more language experience, they’d get it.
@mommdc I really like temple, if I get good aid from there I might attend it. But I’m looking at schools in my state, like the Rutgers 3+4 program (bs/dmd)
