The Dark Truth About Dental School

[@jk32olsen62]

im a D1 and i literally feel the exact same as the dude saying the comment. Just talk to any dentist and they say dental school sucks it is what it is. Life after is great. just get through it you got it.

[@malloryobenauf8107]

As a first year dental student, I have experienced high highs and low lows. Dental school is a battle, and some days dental school wins (like today for me) but tomorrow is always an opportunity to have a better day and learn something new. Thank you for shedding light on this topic of depression and also expectations. I look forward to checking out that book!

[@stephenraydentist]

Awesome Mallory so good to hear!! It's so cool to hear how your experiences are going in school because I remember when you were still a pre-dent! We must learn to always manage our expectations not just in dental school but in life. The grass isn't always greener but it can be if we have the right outlook on things. Thanks for the comment and I hope school is going well!

[@harpreetrandhawa8958]

Depression is a big topic for discussion Stephan you explained things so well The highs and lows in our life are normal ….for we all are human beings not machines …my advice ……Don’t try to eat this elephant all in one meal ….in other words think about an hour glass …..only one grain of sand can go through the middle at once ……You can only take one breath at a time ….so do only what lies before you each day …..one thing at a time …..get together with a good study partner often …..relax ….try 30 min of exercise or jog …believe me it helps …..don’t let depression chase you Life aint that easy We are in the same boat …..listen to some music in bw your study hours Trap positive energy from the sun Good luck to you and god bless you!!!!!

[@stephenraydentist]

This is an amazing response right here!! SO well thought out and put together, Harpreet!! Thanks for sharing, and I think plenty will benefit from reading your thoughts!

[@yoselineuceda71]

I’m a Hygiene student and I feel like this way too often. I cry so easily now but am trying to give myself some praise because it’s so challenging.

[@stephenraydentist]

Yes please continue to give yourself the praise you deserve!! These programs are not easy, but they are this way for a reason. There are only a select few in our society who are entrusted with the care of society as a whole. We are honored to be part of that select few. The path to get there is never an easy one, but our roles as health professionals and care givers in the future should be entirely worth the process!!

[@yoselineuceda71]

@@stephenraydentist I agree it is very rewarding to make such a positive impact in our community. The program has a lot of positives as well, but it is super important to stay in touch with our mental health. Thanks for this video, best of luck!

[@Km-ri8yt]

Can very much relate here, I’m half way through my D1, and honeslty the worst part so far is the little free time. The work isn’t necessarily hard, it just takes so much, and there is something to do 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It’s makes it very difficult to travel, pick up a new hobbie, or really do anything else but school. I don’t mind the work, I just wish the school could “turn off” a bit more frequently. Either way, I signed up for, I’m not quitting, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[@Km-ri8yt]

P.S. you were spot on with finding comfort in your peers. After undergrad everyone goes off on their own path, you have to accept that your classmates are now your new team. Old friends will still be there, but don’t focus so much on what they are doing

[@stephenraydentist]

Both of these comments are absolutely on point! You're completely right that is how it feels. And at times, I have had plenty of free time to enjoy myself and pursue this KZbin channel which is my hobby. Hang in there! You are right about the light at the end of the tunnel! Great career ahead 💪

[@nathaliagrant2712]

I'm a junior pre dental student, and a few of my friends and I were talking about this same topic the other day! We're all starting to prepare for the DAT and or have taken it already, and the reality is sinking in that we might've created unrealistic expectations for what dental school will be like. We've created various ideas in our heads, thinking that once we get to dental school we've made it. All the stress from undergrad will go away and we'll be happy because we're getting to do something that we're actually passionate about, but we forget to acknowledge that it's still school and some of those stressors from undergrad will still be there. Videos like these allow us to have a little bit of a reality check. It's not to say that dental school won't be fun at all, but it isn't exactly going to be that peak euphoria moment we've always dreamed of.

[@simonnesmith5525]

This video was so tasteful & intentional, as someone who is aspiring to be a dentist (taking the DAT again in early spring). I definitely appreciated this!

[@stephenraydentist]

This is so awesome to hear!! Thank you for your comment and your support! It means so much to me that this was so helpful and came across in this way!

[@darkki94]

Well said, people who are not in the field or a close one ( med students or master pharmacists ) can't really grasp the type of stress and life we have , I strongly recommend finding friends who are in your field. Also, find a hobby to take you mind of the books and wax even for a bit , it helps a lot.

[@stephenraydentist]

Yessir absolutely! That is great advice! There is so much more I could've said but the video would've taken ages. Thanks for the comment!!

[@darkki94]

@@stephenraydentist Also the feeing that you are actually helping people comes when you start working with people, giving people their smiles back . First years you are a lab rat, but it's a needed "evil" so to say to be able to learn the skill needed since with real people you can't let mistakes happen.

[@j.wilkerson1905]

Like exercise...

[@golfertex]

Stephen, Your video absolutely deals with a huge problem I endured 40 years ago. I am so sorry the dental school program has not changed for the better. The administration must pay attention to mental health as much as is paid to the excellent facilities. I wonder if dental students have ever sued their university for mental stress and physical harm?…Thanks for your videos, especially this one.

[@stephenraydentist]

I agree completely!! I will say that the experiences my father had in the late 70s in dental school sound far and away worse than ours today, but that is a matter of perspective. Generally, professors are much more understanding than they once were, but there is still more room for a discussion of how the individual students in dental classes are doing. School is tough, and dental school specifically is mentally and physically challenging. So many people online and on social media glorify dental/medical school as "the promise land". I just think it is important to maintain realistic expectations.

[@golfertex]

As I’ve posted here & in other YT videos: If college students are a national treasures, why are they abused and castigated especially in grad school?

[@golfertex]

Professors behaving badly. Besides male instructors sexually harassing female students, some were actually downright nasty. Example: At the downtown free clinic, many street people came in mainly for extractions. Many came in drunk or high. During pharmacology we had learned not to administer anesthesia to patients in these conditions. Instead, give them an appointment when they would be sober. My instructor insisted I administer Lidocaine & extract the molar. When I mentioned there might be a drug interaction, he got really angry & roughly administered 2 carpules. OMG! I successfully extracted the tooth. The patient bolted from the chair immediately after the extraction. I barely had time to tell him to put on a tea bag and not to lose the blood clot. Grade “D.” Another instructor refused permission to seat a crown; even though, the prep, the wax up and the crown’s fit on the cast & Hanau articulator had already been approved by 3 other instructors. Reason for refusal, he did not approve of the anatomy. WTF! Another student was assigned my patient. Grade “D” & Embarrassing =(

[@helengibson4652]

Thank you for taking the time to touch on this topic Stephan! You can tell you put a lot of thought in how to answer this question and it was very articulate. Can't wait to hear more about your experience with endodontics! If I were to specialize, that's the field I'm interested in for sure :)

[@stephenraydentist]

Thanks so much for the comment, Helen! And yes I'll be making an episode of the podcast that completely covers endo. I'll get into all the details! There is so much on my docket for the next couple weeks. Unfortunately, I don't really have all the time in the world to make it.

[@Hanah-do9jl]

You’re an amazing content creator, you truly have a gift. You really made me realize I should stop idealizing dental school or I will lead myself to being disappointed when in reality it really is just another stepping stone in life. I keep thinking once I get into dental school my life will be complete but this video made me reconsider that way of thought. Thanks for all you do this genuine content is very much appreciated please keep it coming ! And to whoever wrote that comment I hope you find what you’re looking for and I hope you keep your head up🤎

[@stephenraydentist]

I’m responding to old comments that I never got to and thank you so very much for this! It is truly hard for me to articulate how much this comment means to me because the #1 I have always hoped to be on this channel is authentic. Thank you for your comment and for your appreciation of the content! I wish you the very best of luck in your journey 👍

[@giannacrescenzo848]

Hey Stephen, I am going into my senior year of college at the University of Memphis and am applying to dental school next month. I have only recently discovered your channel but love hearing what you have to say and your advice. I am on the volleyball team at the University so if you ever need a study break you should come to a game this fall! Keep up the good work!

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you for the comment and I wish you the best of luck with school, your application, and volleyball! I hope you are here at UTHSC very soon!

[@hudavid3256]

Very good and wise advice. Thank you so much. I love the book too. I am currently waiting for the schools to send their offer on 12/15. Hopefully, I can get into one.

[@stephenraydentist]

You've got this my friend!! Thanks for visiting the channel and let me know what happens in a few weeks!

[@aaliyahpatel2819]

Hey Stephen, just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber here! One of your videos randomly came up on my recommended and I have to say your channel is great! I’m actually a first year dental student here in the uk ( I know you know a little more about the uk dental school system afternoon talking with raina). Your content is really inspiring and relatable and I think your channel is really unique- Know it’s gonna turn into something huge in the future. Also it’s really interesting to watch the perspective of a dental student from the US ( still crazy to me how you have to do years of another degree before you even get to start dentistry). Can’t wait to see future videos!

[@stephenraydentist]

Thank you so much for this comment, and I apologize for how long it took me to respond to it! I appreciate the UK perspective, and my discussion with Raina was an awesome opportunity for me to be reminded of how different dentistry is around the world! Thanks for watching the videos, and I hope you are able to find value in my content moving forward! I greatly look forward to discussing the transition between dental school and life as a dentist which I hope will benefit my dental colleagues like you!

[@PreDental]

Great video! Also Jordan Petersen is THE man

[@stephenraydentist]

THE man!! I can never get over how intelligent that man is. A treasure!

[@sebp9882]

I don’t like his natalist arguments, but other than that I know nothing about his writing/work. Maybe that he sounds a bit like Kermit the Frog

[@lidy0433]

Good video 😊

[@stephenraydentist]

Thanks so much for the comment!!

[@spozhmaymarouf8236]

which school are you going to?

[@stephenraydentist]

I am at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis!!

[@Voidistance]

When it comes to dental school, I am not by all means a student of. I do have a question, and you don’t have to answer it cause I believe I understand. - “is there God within dental school, or is it seen as an unspoken idea; that nobody will talk about?”

[@pikusarker1359]

Sir how much you will be making as a dentist? Nice video.

[@lali423]

That’s none of yo business sir

[@hibaalsiyabi7098]

He’s a student

[@sunriselotus]

Hi Stephen, I find that your video doesn’t really address the problem. The blatant problem is that dental school or any kind of school, if it’s all day 6 days a week. That about 60-80 hours or so, and plus you have live on top of that. This sets many people if not all up for signs and symptoms of burn out, leading to depression and anxiety. Just because you have not personly experienced that does not mean people have not. I just saw online that dentistry has the highest suicide rates amongst the health care field. What are your thoughts on that?

[@sebp9882]

do you have experience in this field or are you a medical doctor?