Do You Have What It Takes To Become a Dentist?

[@nodnalneyugn8753]

with all due respect to Dr. Michele, don't let this video deter you from becoming a dentist if you REALLY WANT to become a dentist. All you need to have is the drive to succeed. You don't have to be gifted with artistic abilities, and/or have aptitude for the hard sciences. Anyone can be a great dentist, if that person put in the time and effort at learning the material presented to him, and has a good work ethic. Some of the best dentists out there did not majored under the hard sciences. Their majors were the soft sciences, and were liberal arts majors. @ aspiring dental students, remember this : Rome was not built in one day. Yes, there will be many difficult science classes, but you are going to learn them in sequence and you will revisit those concepts in dental school. So don't get scared of these hard science classes. Keep moving ahead, keep studying. You will reach your finish line. Lastly, I knew some really smart dental students, but they had the hand skills of a handicapped person and personalities of a rock. Get out there and GET SOME!

[@Godfavorsmi]

💪🏾

[@caileymckittrick6740]

I’m looking into becoming a dentist. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into this video. It was highly informative and I learned a lot!

[@smile_doc5125]

Thank you Cailey! I hope it works out for you- it's a great profession!

[@jettywetty9398]

Amazing video you became a dentist 🦷 when I just was Born

[@marianjones6514]

Hey Dr. Michele - Great presentation! You left out a very important part of being a good dentist - care about your patients. I'm the one who always jumps when you drill and you always stop and wait a minute until I am ready to start again. Many dentists won't do that. I appreciate your caring about me and my "mental health"!

[@smile_doc5125]

You are so right! Being patient centric and catering to what they may need is a huge part of it! II just assumed that was "normal" . I hope you are doing well!

[@williamfeldner9356]

Doctors and Dentists? You must mean Physicians and Dentists, both are Doctors!

[@gargoyle4]

i really want to get into usc for dentistry i am in precal right now as a junior but this showed me i really need to focus on the science😭😭

[@smile_doc5125]

Good luck Garrett! I'm glad this is helpful!

[@williamfeldner9356]

You should also mention in Dental School you must take Human Anatomy, Human Histology, Microbiology, Human Physiology, Basic Pathology, Oral Pathology, Pharmacology, Internal Medicine, Physical Examination, Principles of Surgery and Oral Surgery, along with all the other Dental Specialties basics and the endless labs to learn how to develop the hand eye skill set to treat patients successfully……. The above is just the first and second years curriculum….. Your day starts at 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in University and ends at 12 pm after a long evening study session…….

[@sallynajem3593]

Do you really need to take physics in high school for you to become a dentist? Because my dream is to become a dentist and i don't take physics ,i take just biology and chemistry

[@williamfeldner9356]

@@sallynajem3593 In order for you to do well in college or university you really need to take math, physics, biology and chemistry in high school….. You need to have a basic knowledge of these subjects…… When you get to college you will need to complete for grades….. You will be competing with people who want to get into dental, medical, veterinary and other health related professional schools… If you do not excell you will have no chance of gaining admission… It will be a 4 year contest to see who will do the best and make the grade……. There are no trophies given for participation, winning is the only thing that counts….. Unless you are brilliant you will have to work morning, noon and night to get the grades you need to gain entrance…. If you have the commitment you will most likely make it, But if you are not committed --- major into something else……. No Joke

[@sallynajem3593]

@@williamfeldner9356 okay .I'll have that in mind and thank you so much for replying!

[@zahraabdullah4154]

​@@sallynajem3593 Hi Sally You just need General physics in dental school

[@auracardona7348]

How do I bring a pre dental and hygiene major to Pinal county

[@aliabbassspartacus5949]

Dr Michelle make a video on oral and maxillofacial surgeons ,what they do ? What fellowships they can do ?

[@smile_doc5125]

Thank you for reaching out to me Ali. I have a perfect person in mind and I will interview her about oral surgery. Subscribe to my channel so you get notified when the video is uploaded.

[@aliabbassspartacus5949]

@@smile_doc5125 thank you so much Dr Michelle 😊

[@smile_doc5125]

@@aliabbassspartacus5949 I spoke with my Oral Surgeon friend tonight and we are planning the video. Thank you for the great idea!

[@smile_doc5125]

the video is being edited as we speak! Stay tuned!

[@aliabbassspartacus5949]

@@smile_doc5125 I would ask a personal advice from you I can't afford medical or dental school fee I took 2 exams to get scholarship for medical school but failed should I try for 3rd time ,this means a lot to me please reply !

[@golfertex]

I thought I had what it took to become a dentist, but…During the third year of dental school (GPA 2.05), I came down with fulminating ulcerative colitis & ended up with a permanent ileostomy. It took me 2 years to recover from the surgery. Dentistry has ruined my health forever and I really resent it. Dental school was a trial by ordeal that I could not endure. I wanted to make a difference in peoples’ dental health, but not at the expense of my own health. Undaunted by sunk costs, I changed majors & went on to happily earn an MBA (GPA 3.42). I went from making “Ds” to making “As.” Vindication! No Imposter Syndrome. I wasn’t a “D” student after all. The support for students was tremendous at UT Austin, both from the university and from Fortune 500 companies.

[@smile_doc5125]

I'm so sorry to hear you endured so much in dental school.The stress and intensity was so unbearable that I had nightmares about it for ten years following graduation.Now I know I'm not the only one who experienced nightmares! I thought it was just my school that treated students so poorly. Well, I am so glad you found a career that makes you happy and when you see your dentist, ask them how long it took them to get over their dental school nightmares.

[@golfertex]

I didn’t have nightmares nor headaches. But my wife noted my left leg spasms while I slept. Post-surgery I suffered from phantom limb, phantom BM & phantom pain. Now, I just have a hole on my abdomen & destined to forever go through the Kubler-Ross stages of grief. Thanks for your frank reply. I wish you continued success in dentistry.

[@golfertex]

@@smile_doc5125 I did ask. He had nightmares during organic chemistry. He dreamt that a final exam, he had forgotten about it and fail to study. During D1, he somehow hooked up the handpiece to the natural gas line. He turned it on and sparks & flames ignited. Fun stuff…😊

[@smile_doc5125]

@@golfertex Wow! That's very wild. I had sleepless nights instead of intense dreams.I don't know which is worse?!

[@auracardona7348]

I know Roy yantase he’s my mentor

[@auracardona7348]

Have been to the odintic seminar my mom is dr silvia cardona

[@musaad9326]

Very informative

[@smile_doc5125]

Let me know if you become a dentist!

[@arianhanify]

Thanks for the information Doc🙏 Should i pursue dentistry if i have lower back pain?(Is neck and back problems inevitable?)

[@smile_doc5125]

It would be tough to do dentistry if you already have lower back pain. Our profession is extremely demanding of our back, neck and shoulders. I hope you will find a cure to your lower back pain and you can still become a dentist.

[@arianhanify]

@@smile_doc5125 Thanks a lot

[@manubhandari5607]

I'm 16 years old and I'm from Nepal 🇳🇵 I want to become a dentist in future my grades aren't good in math as I mostly get 50 to 55 out of 100 In math and in science mostly I get 75 to 80 percent are my grades enough as per the requirement .is is really tough and should we study really hard to become a dentist?

[@whome3194]

I'm not so great at math either 😕 I'm looking for the same answer.

[@manubhandari5607]

@@whome3194 Oww hope ull become a dentist 🤞

[@Iniavveidreyaki]

Do you have to take physics?

[@leeyubin9507]

Hi thanks for the informative video. I have an personal question. I majored electrical engineering and human factors engineering. I wanted to do something human focused tech which made me research on human computing interaction. However, nowadays I feel this may not be for me in the long term. Helping patients with tech seems limited. Sure there are using AI to solve EHR but I'm not that into math.. Recently, my friend recommended dentistry for me. I like how I get to use my hands (love art, building legos), it's science, I like talking to people and helping them (though talking to patient could be very different). I have took bio, chem courses. I liked them but I fee it's too drastic change. Will my career so far seem acceptable by dental schools? And the huge debt that I have to go through makes me wonder if it's really what I want to pursue.. I wonder what's your opinion as a dentist! Thanks for reading!

[@smile_doc5125]

Good evening Lee. I have a suggestion for you to see what dentistry is all about - go "shadow" in a dental office for a full day. Watch the dentist perform procedures, listen to the front desk interact with the patients, observe the hygienists as well. If you like what you experience, go observe in another office until you are sure this is for you. Most of the prudential students that shadow in my office spend about 100 hours observing. You will need this amount of time if you plan to apply to dental school . As for dental school, there were many different majors that came to my program ie::psychology, pharmacology, business, philosophy. As an applicant, the school wants to make sure you can handle the rigor of the curriculum and it sounds like you can. Best of luck! Let me know what you decide!

[@Asherroc]

It’s fitting I’m the 420th like and this is my last week smokin 🌲

[@JothiLearning]

How to become a dentist in the UK ? @

[@auracardona7348]

I want to teach and equip dentists ----

[@ibtihalabed5220]

If I’m squeamish about working in somebody’s mouth but at the same time I love the theoretical aspect of dentistry .. Can I get used to working in someone’s mouth even it feels disgusting to me at first .?

[@smile_doc5125]

If you have reservations about working in the mouth, perhaps you should first work as a dental assistant before taking on the expense and effort of becoming a dentist. This is a great way of trying out the profession and seeing if it is something you want to pursue. Best of luck!

[@woldds]

1980 Graduate LSU School of Dentistry - retire in 30 days

[@smile_doc5125]

@woldds Congratulations! I'm at 27 years and I can't believe it- I am having too much fun. Did you celebrate at Mardi Gras this year?

[@tucky.w]

I'm 32 y.o is it too late to go to school? I don't know where to start 😕

[@smile_doc5125]

HI Tucky. If you really want to become a dentist, its not too late. We had older students in school as well. First, you need to have a college degree- there are three year accelerated programs available and preferably focus on biology, anatomy and chemistry so you have a foundation to get through the courses you cover in dental school. Find a college advisor to assist you. You will then take the Dental Aptitude Test for admission to dental school. Just know it is a difficult 3-4 years undergraduate and then 4 years of graduate school. You will not be able to work during dental school, so that is at least four years with no income earning potential and then you will have to stay focused to pay of the expense of dental school since you are getting a later start to your career. Best of luck and let me know if you decide to pursue dentistry!

[@tucky.w]

@@smile_doc5125 thank you so much for the answer it is very clear and make me see the picture.. this is such a tough decision

[@Asherroc]

I feel like dentists are the most down to earth medical people usually at least the good ones. The bad ones just like to hurt you 😂

[@tasjourney7778]

I’ve always loved teeth lol sadly I’m 36 years old probably don’t have time lol

[@smile_doc5125]

I had a 35 year old student in my class. It can be done!

[@JohnBoyJoy]

I don't have what it takes to be a dentist because it takes a lot of money.

[@smile_doc5125]

SSDave -It is a bit overwhelming, but you can pay over ten years ( sometimes more). I decided to pay back early so I wouldn't have to pay as much interest. At twenty years I had all of my business and equipment paid off. It was a great feeling to know I had accomplished financial independence after man-years of hard work.

[@laktibrada09]

Oh, yeah? What happened to that guy whose skeletal remains adorn your desk? LOL!

[@smile_doc5125]

Indeed! It is not common to see a skull on a desk. Thankfully, people donate their body to medical and dental schools for us to study Anatomy and we would dissect them. Once they are fully dissected ,the bodies would be disposed of or donated once again. My mentor had this skull and donated it to me for future referencing and I will likely donate it to one of my interns. .

[@alinap771]

No.😂

[@fred5114]

The title made me laugh , do I have what it takes ? Lol ,,, last time I was in serious tooth pain I went to the dentist and told them it needs taking out . . . 6 appointments and three months later they bothered to do what I asked , by that time I needed surgical dentistry , you Tossers don't know the meaning of the word emergency .