Biochemistry or Dentistry

What is it about dentistry that makes you doubt your commitment?

I’ve never studied dentistry as a subject, unlike bio/chem (apart from my work experience). I’m afraid that i might lose interest when actually learning the content since it’s completely new.

And the fact that the degree is so specific it’ll be difficult to do something else later on if i change my mind.

The theoretical content covers a large aspect of medicine, but with a greater focus on the head and neck region. There’s also aspects of dental materials science and smaller focuses on ethics, psychology and sociology (the latter making up a much smaller proportion).

Obviously there’s also the practical skills of dentistry (and to a smaller extent, medicine) to learn.

With regards to switching careers, this is possible, as it is with medicine although it won’t be easy. Both medicine and dentistry graduates have in the past decided to leave their professions. It would be more difficult if you don’t have the relevant experience for your new field of interest, but that applies to most degrees in general: these days it’s your experience, rather than the degree itself which is important.

thank you for your reply! i think the mixture of medical and so many other skills (practical, technical, social) is what drew me to dentistry in the first place. I enjoy science a lot but want to do a degree that doesn’t JUST focus on that and puts all the scientific knowledge into practice.

Maybe switching careers is equally difficult in many degrees and that’s something i can work out if it even happens.

"I enjoyed all the work experience i’ve done in it and would love to work in it in the future" This is that defining statement that dentistry is calling for you.
You need to realise most healthcare professional students don't actually have a great deal of understanding of the profession or degree they are going into, it's basically faking it till you make it, and the fact you have gotten that work experience in and have not hated it means you have that willingness to take part in clinics etc
You want prospects/jobs well... biochemistry in general tends to lead into further research/lab work so I would definitely go with dentistry and if it does not work out take biochemistry through clearing

If you have further questions about what studying dentistry is like, feel free to ask because I empathise with you that it can seem daunting at your stage. There’s also a dental student AMA and dentist AMA thread which may be of interest:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5937530
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6448312

Thank you! i think i really needed to hear this, it’s so easy to think that people applying for medicine/dentistry are 100% sure of their choice and know exactly what it involves/what they’ll be doing.

I’m thinking of going for it. I know that i want a career that applies scientific knowledge in a practical way and that dentistry is really interesting to me now and if that changes i’m sure there are other options.

If i choose a biochemistry course as my dentistry 5th option and change my mind since then, could i choose that one instead of dentistry?