Dentistry at Uni

I am unsure of what degree to specialise in and therefore unsure of the specific a levels that are required. I wanted to know some pros + cons of dentistry and whether it is a successful career choice? Thanks

Reply 1

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

Specific A Levels for Dentistry? Chemistry and Biology. They’re not both compulsory in all uni’s but compulsory in most. As a degree, it is successful due to its guarantee of a job after graduating.

Reply 2

sammy_045

I’ve heard from multiple people that biology and chemistry is hard and if i dont want to do dentistry then its not worth it. The uni’s near to me require both bio and chem. Can that not be said about most healthcare jobs as most are guaranteed after the degree?

Reply 3

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

It’s a matter of whether you really want to do dentistry. It’s very competitive to get in and only when you reaallly want to do it, you’ll get past the difficulties. If you are having problems with Biology A Level, Dentistry May not be the one for you.
I don’t study Dentistry, but I’m an offer holder and after the application process, I can tell you it is difficult and the only thing that got me through was the possibility of actually being able to study Dentistry. Ask yourself why you’re considering Dentistry and then you’ll get an answer. Good luck and if you have any questions about the application process, I’ll try to help ☺️

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 4

sammy_045

Thanks

. May i ask why you wanted to do dentistry/ what motivated you?

Reply 5

sammy_045

Did you also do any work experience and how did that impact your decision?

Reply 6

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

Thanks

. May i ask why you wanted to do dentistry/ what motivated you?

I wanted to do Dentistry due to the surgical aspects of the course and work itself. And yes, I did do work experience. (It’s compulsory for when applying) and that did influence my decision as I was able to see the work ethic and the type of things expected when working as a dentist which appealed to me for a number of reasons :smile:

Reply 7

sammy_045

Thank youu. Do you see/find negatives in any aspect? I’ve read another thread and it said that the pay wasn’t as expected and that the job is repetitive..

Reply 8

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

Thank youu. Do you see/find negatives in any aspect? I’ve read another thread and it said that the pay wasn’t as expected and that the job is repetitive..

Repetitiveness is definitely one. Pay to me, isn’t much of a negative factor as long as I receive a comfortable wage. I’m not expecting to be paid 100 grand + a year or something crazy like that.
Some parts of what the course entails can be seen as a negative as its quite a difficult course, but other than that, there aren’t many that genuinely comes to mind.

Reply 9

sammy_045

Would you say there are specific personality traits needed for this job? And are you thinking to specialise in any area?

Reply 10

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

Would you say there are specific personality traits needed for this job? And are you thinking to specialise in any area?

Yes definitely. Empathy, Manual Dexterity, Communication skills, Leadership and Time Management to name a few :smile:

And nope, I’m not looking to specialise tbh

Reply 11

sammy_045

Aah i see. Before dentistry, did you think you wanted to do anything else in healthcare?
I’m still unsure as to why i’m considering dentistry but i know that is likely to be the only healthcare option i am contemplating

Reply 12

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

Optometry, however after completing work experience in a dental environment and the opticians, I definitely leaned towards dentistry and dismissed optometry as I found the environment and work very boring and not what I was expecting tbh

Reply 13

sammy_045

Right. Last question lol bc i dont know what else to ask but what advice would you give to someone like me?

Reply 14

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

Right. Last question lol bc i dont know what else to ask but what advice would you give to someone like me?

Go into it for the right reasons, If you go in for the wrong reasons, possibilities are that you won’t even be able to study the course. And if you do, you’ll be pretty miserable. Make sure you 100% want to do it as it is a commitment. Ensure you gather work experience and some type of volunteering (this can be quite hard now giving the circumstances and I recommend volunteering as many universities require you to do so as it portrays empathy) and good luck with everything ☺️

Reply 15

sammy_045

I was hoping to have work experience before choosing my A Levels so i know what to take but i’m not sure i’ll get the chance to now. Thanks a lot, you have been really helpful :smile:

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Reply 16

Oluwadamilooolaa

Original post by sammy_045

I was hoping to have work experience before choosing my A Levels so i know what to take but i’m not sure i’ll get the chance to now. Thanks a lot, you have been really helpful :smile:

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You’re welcome. If you ever have anymore questions, pls ask.