This is an unofficial guide to every prospective dental student. Do read this before you decide to take the plunge! Dentistry involves a great deal of art and even more science. You see, it is a great combination of both. The science keeps evolving but the art is still the same.
I studied in a boarding school until class 12. I had no access to career counseling or any means of knowing what career would be the best fit for me. My parents were of no help either. They lived in a different country and I could speak with them for a few minutes every month. Also, they probably thought I will figure things out on my own, or what, I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is they had faith in the choices I made (and didn’t need to intervene). In retrospect, I wish they had taken a little more interest and helped me (guide me) find what was right for me. Personally, I find that the socratic method is a great way to help unravel. It works like removing layers over something that you already know about yourself. If you are a parent reading this, then ask your child to write a statement of purpose about why they want to pursue a particular career. Now the writing may seem like a simple task (or an impossible one!) but it serves many purposes.
Why do this?
First of all, you/ your child starts to take the decision seriously. Second, she/he will start looking within themselves to determine what their calling is or what is their motivation/ driving force behind a career choice. Third, they will start looking up schools that offer the chosen course and this will also give them an idea of the “cost” of education. Fourth, they will also look for career opportunities and what it takes to make it! If you are a prospective student reading this, I recommend that you do this exercise for yourself. Trust me this a worthwhile task. Writing is a great way to express ideas and opinions that one may otherwise find difficulty in voicing.
In all my years in teaching I found that majority of students who enroll into dentistry do it as a second choice; after they failed to secure a seat in medicine. That is not the real problem. The real problem is they do not know what they signed up for. See, medicine involves a lot of years of study and you can practice soon after you graduate. You will not require expensive or sophisticated equipment to make a decent living. Dentistry however is a whole different game. Moreover the common folk seem to think dentistry is a good career choice because “there are no emergencies;, is good for girls because “there are no emergencies!”; is also good for girls because an Uncle feels “it is easy to open a clinic and practice”. That is gender biased and misleading.
What they didn’t tell you is..
You may have written the NEET but that is hardly adequate to determine your readiness for a lifetime commitment to dentistry.
That dentistry is a skill based profession. You need to be dexterous. Your fingers need to have that magic touch (when you’re drilling and filling and performing other procedures). If you have artistic inclinations it will work to your advantage.
Dentistry is a five year course. Residency (post graduation) is a three year course.
There are nine specialities in dentistry. Yes, that’s right! Nine departments in that tiny mouth!
You will also have to study medical subjects because they are extremely important for clinical practice. I cannot emphasize that enough! Your seniors might ask you to ignore it but don’t listen to them.
The way you studied until your class 12 is not enough. You need to up your ante.
If you want to be practice ready at the end of internship, take your studying and clinical quotas seriously during your 3rd and 4th years and internship. Practice makes you perfect. That is definetly true with dentistry.
What they also didn’t tell you is that empathy and communication skills are as important as procedural skills. If you are shy, low on empathy, do not like talking to people, you might want to repurpose or go for a shadowing experience.
If you have a shadowing experience with a dentist it will give you a solid grasp about the practice of dentistry. So go talk to your local dentist and ask him/her if you can spend a few hours for a few weeks there to understand how the dental set up operates. Ask questions that would help you move forward with a decision.
Once you have passed BDS you can either pursue Masters (MDS); open your clinic; get into clinical research (at a center of higher research); work as an associate with another dentist (for a pittance usually), apply for a government job as a dentist, join civil servies, pursue Masters in Health administration (MHA) or MBA- healthcare; enrol in Masters in Public Health; or join the army.
If you are planning on starting a clinic you must know that it comes at a tidy sum. Not what your uncles and aunties told you, huh!
If you want to practice with an Indian degree anywhere else in the world, you have to pass the licensing exams and/or complete their local international dentist qualifying programs. If that’s your plan start preparing from the first year.
How is studying in health professions different from studying in school?
Each of us has a learning style. Find out what yours is and tailor your learning and studying habits to fulfil your learning needs. I find that the VARK learning style inventory is quite simple to use and gives you a clear indication of your preferred learning styles. Once you have understood what your learning style is you have to use this information to learn and study. Your teachers cannot cater to individual student needs. Why? Because you are an adult capable of figuring it out on your own and your teachers do not have the time to indulge every students’ learning style. Until class 12 you were mostly dependant on your teacher to tell you what to study and you only had one text book to study for each subject. Things are about to change! For each subject you will need to refer more than one book. If you are interested in just passing without a deeper understanding of concepts, then you can choose from local handbooks written by local authors which are mostly copied from the more distinguished western counterparts. If you aim to land higher then ditch those handbooks and choose the real deal. Do not take short cuts to a good score. Remember, You are in for the long haul.
This write-up is meant to inform you and challenge you. Make informed choices, be prepared.
Begin with the end in mind!
Franklin Covey
The Oral Physician and Radiologist 
Such a wonderful article. .. much needed in the current scenario….
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