A word of warning to all those of you who dream of being dentists (from a dentist)

Basiccally, the person starting this thread is a failed doctorr L>

How the f*** can you genuinely be passionate for looking at people's disgustting teeth!!!!

BTW- Why are you still on the student room if you are a qualified dentist, I know you are trying to help others but seriously................... get a lifeeee :/

I can't even understand you...................

The only reason people become dentists is because they failed to become doctors. There is literally no other reason.

>I became a dentist because I prefer lower pay and prefer to clean up people's disgusting teeth than to actually do medically significant tasks.

Aww which dental school rejected you?

To OP, thanks, it was an interesting read but I do feel it's slightly biased in some areas.
Firstly, the dental school I attend does a hell of a lot more than 2 days clinics a week (although I know that is not the case for everywhere, I'm lucky in that respect). Also, I don't know of any associates who are earning less than 65K, so I feel that issue may be something location- based as I'm up North.

Most students know what they're letting themselves in for, and those who aren't there for the right reasons quickly become fed up and end up dropping out, which is quite common.
That being said, for those potential applicants who can't decide whether dentistry is for them, or whether they'd rather do medicine this is a great read. Thank you.

On my post-graduate course, there are 2 dentists from Ireland (one who studied at TCD and the other studied at UCC). They actually recommend that I go to Ireland to study Dentistry because the courses there are very intense clinically apparently. Both said when they came to the UK to work, they noticed that the clinical performance of UK graduates was very very poor. I'll probably apply to both UK and Irish dental schools, and from what I found out today, you only pay EUR 2000 each year towards tuition, the Irish government pays the rest.

That's good, had I known that I would have gone over there!

If you are able to fund a 5 year course I'd suggest you apply to Newcastle, they absolutely love graduates here and the course is very clinically intense from 3rd year onwards. Because of that, they squish all the theory into the first 2 years which makes them very hard, but it also makes your final 3 years more enjoyable because it's almost like you're working as a dentist, except you're not getting paid. The grad- entry courses are good for clinical work too, I suppose that's the point of them though as you're meant to have a grounding in the biosciences already.

I am aware not all dental schools are the same with regards to clinical intensity, a dental school in the North (won't say which one so I don't put applicants off) is similar to what the OP described; they're only on clinics 2-3 days a week, even in 4th and final year. That came as a shock to me, having seen what the 4th and 5th yrs do here at Newcastle, but it is all to do with how the course is structured; most dental schools will still be teaching you the theory stuff well into 3rd year, sometimes even 4th.

...

You say this as if £50k a year is a bad thing....

thanks for this its really made me think
I wasn't sure if in the long term I'd like dentistry, even though I enjoyed it on work experience :/
I spoke to a 30 year old Dentist who loves it, but I guess she did orthodontics afterwards, so literally just finished further study and has been out working long. She said its good, but only works part time as shes got a baby. I guess it was bias to listen to her.

Thanks again! You've made me really consider it now

Medicine isn't any better.

At least with Dentistry you can jump ship and go to Australia or go private.
Australians love stealing UK graduate dentists!

I just though dentistry would be limiting with just the teeth
no interest in Australia
Medicine you can go private :P My dermatology has a small surgery where he does appointments private ones and has two cosmetic people and they do laser treatments and other stuff. One day a week he works in the hospital to keep contact with the NHS I think its just to go on courses through the NHS for free or at a cheaper rate.

I just though dentistry would be limiting with just the teeth
no interest in Australia
Medicine you can go private :P My dermatology has a small surgery where he does appointments private ones and has two cosmetic people and they do laser treatments and other stuff. One day a week he works in the hospital to keep contact with the NHS I think its just to go on courses through the NHS for free or at a cheaper rate.

I thought dentists would be earning more than that once they settle into their job in their 30s/40s, but anyhow I'm interested to know what you think are ''much easier ways'' to make £50,000 a year, because I hear this all the time from med and dentistry students/professionals who often try to warn prospective students about the career. Not that I've ever wanted to be a doctor or a dentist, its just something I've come across from my time here in TSR and from casual conversations I've had IRL with those studying one of those two courses.

To work privately in medicine you have to maintain a consultant post and your private earnings are limited as a proportion of your NHS salary to maintain your impartiality.

It makes me laugh when medic applicants and students (mainly applicants) say dentistry is limiting yourself to the teeth. Sure it is, it's basically a specialism. If you decide to specialise in dermatology, what do you think you'll be limiting yourself to, yes that's right, skin conditions. You'll have lots and lots of skin related patients to see all day long just like dentists see lots and lots of patients for oral treatment. Just because medicine is general during MBBS, F1, F2 and Core Training, doesn't mean it's going to stay like that throughout your whole career. There'll come a day when you start specialising and will pretty much be doing the same stuff day in day out.
You can work in different specialisms in dentistry too, it's actully easier to in dentistry.

I know but I don't want to be so specialised so early on. On work experience I found elderly care and anasethics really interested so you never know may go down those routes. I always thought oncology sounded boring but after work experience in the department I've found it really interesting too!
Secondly, dentistry you work with the teeth from day 1, atleast medicine you don't choose until you're in your 20s what you want to specialise in, which I feel is better.
Plus if I can my mind, I could try going down the max fax route which is both med and dentistry (just means alot of studying, but if its enjoyable and I'm keen to do it,I may do that)