Should You Become a Dentist? | What Makes Dentistry Great + Why It May Not Be for You

[@stephenraydentist]

1:09 My History with Dentistry 2:34 My Undergraduate Experiences 5:00 The Appeals of Dentistry 9:42 Reasons to Avoid Dentistry

[@jacksonwalsh4243]

I’m 22 about to get out of the military and start college. I’m really considering this. Thank you! And I see you posted this 3 years ago, I hope you’re working with your dad now bro!

[@dantegeb]

im also 22 about to start the college to study dentist

[@shaquonfashayshay269]

Same

[@mikapalitang]

Just found your channel recently and love not only the content but your honest passion for what you do. I appreciated how you included the reasons to not pursue dentistry in this video, which was super helpful. Keep it up!

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you so very much and best of luck on your dental journey! I’m glad you enjoy the content!

[@donnymantis7174]

I'm really glad I came across your channel. I am envious of the great quality. I have been deciding between medicine and dentistry for the past year. I got the MCAT out of the way and plan to take the DAT this year as well. Thanks for sharing your perspective on things. Hope to see more stuff about your experience in dental school.

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you so much for your comment!! I love to know there are younger students who are watching my videos because that means we can grow together! I hope to really document my entire dental school experience and it should be fun. Best of luck with everything moving forward! You have a bright future!

[@donnymantis7174]

@@stephenraydentist Appreciate it!

[@watemilf8390]

I’m a senior in high school and i feel like dentistry is the rigt path i want to take these videos are very informative

[@stephenraydentist]

You've got this! Plenty on the channel to browse through. Good luck with everything!

[@zachquinonez5226]

Was just accepted into my top choice dental school yesterday and cannot wait to get started!

[@stephenraydentist]

That’s so amazing my man congratulations!! Get ready for a lot of hard work! What an awesome day for you!

[@zachquinonez5226]

@@stephenraydentist yessir! The journey is just starting!

[@stephenraydentist]

@@zachquinonez5226 it is let me know if you ever have any questions!

[@zachquinonez5226]

@@stephenraydentist Will do I appreciate it!

[@harpreetrandhawa8958]

Stephan your videos keep on motivating us !!! You are so inspiring!!! You work so hard !!!

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you so much!! I appreciate the kind compliment! I’m happy to work hard if it helps some people! Thanks again! ❤️

[@SquintUnited]

Your video has been very helpful! I’ve been in a very similar situation as you as my dad is also a dentist and growing up I’ve had memories of being in the office while he works. Throughout high school and the beginning of undergrad I didn’t really know what to do, but I really liked science and want to know how the body works. Right now I’m finishing junior year in undergrad and now starting to lean toward dentistry. I’ve started shadowing and volunteering at dental offices and have enjoyed watching the dentists work and help people. I’m now thinking about going to dental school. Do you think it’s worth it to go through all those years to become a dentist? Is it rewarding? I’m scared of being drained and not having a social life during those important years in your 20s. Also, I heard owning your own practice in the future might be more difficult as dentistry is becoming more saturated and insurance companies continue to open their own practices. Because of this some dentist had to go the corporate route which is fine in my opinion, but I do want to be able to own a practice at some point. Do you know some other ways to help guide me to the decision of if dentistry really is a good path for me. Sorry for the really long comment lol!

[@stephenraydentist]

Aaron thank you so much for your comment!! I think it is amazing that you and I share so many similarities in our career paths. Unfortunately, I'm studying for a big exam that I have on Monday, so I cant give as detailed and thoughtful response as I would like to, but I would encourage you to check out my podcast (The Teeth Time Podcast). On there, I give a lot more of my long form thoughts about dentistry as a profession and why I chose it. I think it is still an amazing profession. You can also check out Joel Meyerson's KZbin channel because his videos are amazing and very informative about the process of getting out of dental school and beginning to practice. Best of luck in your decision making process and just remember that anything you truly set your mind to can become yours!

[@illvdilfs]

this video just inspired me to go to the right side and succeed be sucessulfelf and be some one on this life

[@stephenraydentist]

You've got this, Ariana!! Work hard and don't ever think that your dreams are too large or unachievable. You can do anything you'd like to do in this life it just takes work and dedication!

[@maribelnolasco2380]

This video was amazing! I’m excited for what is to come 😁

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! I enjoyed telling my dentistry story!!

[@shi20308]

I’m also a dental student This video helps a lot ! Thx!

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you for the comment!! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@malaysiadentist4637]

Very helpful. I think your video is the best in the topic of becoming a dentist 👍👍

[@stephenraydentist]

This is wonderful news!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment!!

[@saraaa___]

Love your channel !!

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you so very much!!

[@brittanygallagher1325]

This video was so helpful! What kind of things do you recommend to practice manual dexterity as a pre-dental??

[@stephenraydentist]

Thanks for the comment! Females often have makeup built into their daily routines which is great practice for manual dexterity. You can try drawing teeth and doing artwork in general. Knot tying with fishing wire is a really good way to work on your manual dexterity. Also if you want to purchase a dental explorer and a typodont, you could practice moving an instrument around teeth. That is probably more expensive than worth it though. Honestly, manual dexterity will come to you in dental school and it’s not something I would stress over too much as a predent!

[@isdeluna666]

You're so inspiring 🥺🌻

[@stephenraydentist]

Doha I am so happy to hear this!! I hope you chase your dreams and make them happen! I’m just hear to offer a little bit of help!

[@atwfk]

In the rest of the world right after you graduate high school you get into dental school for about 5 years and graduate with a degree and can actually work is that not the same in US?

[@stephenraydentist]

Thanks for the comment! Not at all unfortunately. Here students graduate from high school and attend a university for undergraduate studies. They choose a major (usually a science like biology) and then graduate from that university in 3 or 4 years. Once they have finished all of their pre-requisite courses for dental school and taken the DAT they can apply for dental school and hope to be accepted. Once they are in dental school they have four years of dental education before taking board exams and becoming licensed practitioners or choosing to specialize and going back for even more school. It’s a long process here!!

[@atwfk]

@@stephenraydentist why don’t y’all just study abroad it’s way cheaper(sometimes free) and faster and I’m pretty sure it’s more fun

[@stephenraydentist]

@@atwfk do you mean study dentistry abroad?

[@atwfk]

@@stephenraydentist go to uni in another country (Germany for example)right after high school

[@stephenraydentist]

@@atwfk some do. Most, however, want to be close in undergrad to their dental school choices so that they can sort of get into the system. I went to undergrad at the university of Tennessee in Knoxville Tennessee and we often had members from the admissions committee of UTHSC (the dental school in Tennessee) come to visit us. So when I was a junior in college, I already knew and was forming a relationship with the head of admissions at my dental school of choice. That’s not the reason why I am here at UTHSC today, but it’s one of the reasons why I’m in this position!