I would say, don't go into dentistry if you "want to help people," only if you want a stable job as a highly trained manual laborer that gets paid pretty good. I really did it to help people, but you lose your passion when you realize people don't want to help themselves. And when they have a problem 5 years in the making and they want it solved in 5 minutes it's so frustrating.
Wow thats just how I feel... And the reason why I constantly think I have made a mistake choosing dentistry as a career and can't seem to see myself doing this forever. Even the good pay and comfortable lifestyle doesnt compensate. How do you cope with that frustration? Do you still enjoy what you do? Also, is litigation something that also worries you?
A lot of people are not aware or do not want your help especially when they think about the cost. Funny how their wallet is empty when we say they need the procedure because they think we are ripping them off.. Then when it comes to other things like nitrous oxide they suddenly have money... I totally agree that their problems are a result of accumulative years and then expect a few minutes of their time to erase their problems... Ugh. You can't just want to help people to make this career worth anymore. It's also the potential of a good lifestyle and job security. It is a noble career too.
@@celiaprada7228 I guess I always saw it as a job first, so without the passion is not so bad. It still takes money to help people in other ways, so that's good. And I think litigation worries everyone
I remember when I was still a child i kept trying to close my mouth while the dentist was working on my teeth. She got so frustrated that she put some thingies in my mouth to keep it open and stop me from trying to close it. Then I started grabbing her by the wrist. I was just a child at the time and i did that out of discomfort because it felt like i was chocking on my saliva, but boy, I can imagine how stressful it must have been for her. Hats off to all the dentist who try to do the best job possible and their patience!
They put a bite block in you. A lot of the time patients don't like it. But others do as it helps them keep their mouths open. The thing that many patients don't understand is that the things we do while working on them is meant to keep the patient safe. Many children or older adults (advanced age) don't understand this but you can imagine what would happen if you closed or bit down while your dentist is inside with a high powered drill inside.
As a fellow doctor, this is so spot on. Patient management is sometimes even more important than the actual dentistry and that's something DS don't prepare you for until you start working.
I am 13 and ever since I was 8, I wanted to be a dentist. I have started doing my research on the education needed to be a pediatric dentist (or a dentist in general) I want to thank you for taking your time to educate others about your job. People like you really make me excited about the future :)
You can go if you get a scholarship in science in high school they will pay for most of the expenses or you can go to the airforce for 1 year and help people's teeth there and the airforce will pay entire cost :)
as someone with EXTREME dental anxiety (to the point where I refuse to go until pain is unbearable, meaning.... even though my teeth "look" relatively okay, they are in awful condition) if any future dentist TRULY wants to make a difference, then have good bedside manner!!! I finally found an incredible dentist when I lived in Alberta that understood my anxiety. he would always schedule me last so id be the only patient in the office and didn't have to see anyone else getting work done, and his hygienist would hold my hand and talk nicely to me. that may be extreme lol but it made such a huge different to a dentist-phobic person like myself. so the point of this long comment is, to any future dentist: please have patience and be nice!!! I've had experience with some awful dentists that were so short, didn't want to explain anything, and were just so mean in general that it was traumatizing! sadly, I moved from Alberta to Ontario and haven't been to the dentist since :(
TheReal NateDogg hi there, while I can't answer for this person, I was a very nervous patient for a long time because I have special needs, including very big sensory issues. I am visually impaired, but I have some autistic traits, so for me for example, the vibration of an electric toothbrush, the vibration of a drill, we're terrible to tolerate. Not only that, but because I also have problems with my hands, brushing and flossing has always been a problem. I have a great story that came out of this though, and I run a nonprofit that also does dental programs for people with special needs now. I have put some videos of my channel of a few of the programs in Vietnam, and most recently I did an internship with the special care dentistry team in France. I have also been helping a few dentists with presentations on disability... I love foreign languages, and the great dentist I had was Greek, so I literally learned Greek while in her chair while she was getting work done. I now speak Greek fluently… I think I'm her only patient who learned Greeks are in a root canal… So sometimes, the dentist makes a huge difference
By the way, I am using dictation when I write… So if there are mistakes, I'm sorry. I have also made videos on my channel of how I can use technology, since often people don't realize that blind people are able to do pretty much everything now with their devices, whether it be Apple or Samsung. The technology accessibility is pretty good. And dentists… This might be helpful information for you to know as well. Many dentists have also asked me about how I do things, which makes me realize we need to educate each other just as much. You guys can help me with my programs and my brushing, and I can help you to help your patience with this abilities by bringing more understanding to you.
I was taught anatomy by the late great anatomist Dr. Melvin Moss who had a saying in those 2 yrs you're with medical students " 4 hrs sleep = pass, 5hrs sleep = fail. " In other words it's all about " brute memorization" - another saying of his and if you spend too much time sleeping rather than studying you'll fail. First and second year were the big bottle necks and many students dropped after those years
I graduated with a DDS in 1987. One day in year 4 during clinic I over heard 2 Professors talking. Dr. Reese said to Dr. Culpepper that the students did not know what they were getting themselves into…….. That my dear friends should tell you everything you need to know about the Profession of Dentistry…. Rewarding but very very challenging and DIFFICULT.
thank you for this video! I l really appreciate how honest and straightforward you are. If you don't mind, could you possibly do a video on how to stand out in dental school interviews? Knowing what you do now, how would that have impacted your answers as a dental school candidate interviewee?
hello :) thank you! i do have a video about how to get into dental school that touches on interviews, but i can definitely make a separate video all about interviews!
I think one of the worst parts of being a dentist is also thinking about your license at least several times a day or always thinking of how to cover your butt so that no one will file a lawsuit against you especially after having a difficult patient in terms of behavior or in terms of treatment. I want to assume dentists try their best almost 100% of the time (I at least do) but sometimes things don't go as planned whether it's an extraction or whether it's delivering the best treatment but like you said, " things can and will fail." Most of the times patients are understanding but I've heard stories of patients that purposefully go out and actively seek dentists to file lawsuits against. This is why we have liability insurance but still it's very demoralizing to have to go through any sort of issue like that.
The part about the flakey patients, my god I feel you so hard on this. I used to work the front and the back for a guy so I was responsible for the scheduling and assisting. Well, he asked me to block out three hours' worth of time to do extensive work on an older lady. I confirmed her appointment the day before, and in the morning when I came since she was our main source of income for that day. Long story short, I go through the hassle of getting the room set up, making sure everything is perfect, I double-checked her insurance, went over what she owed, only to have her come in, sit in the chair and say "You know...I'm worried I may not need this work. I'm going for a second opinion." Which is well within her right to do so, but I wished she had come to this conclusion earlier. That was three hours of time I could manage to fill and I wasted all that time for nothing.
It’s always annoying when you make special accommodations for a patient and then they cancel at the last minute. I only do it once. Next they get put in the overflow column with emergency patients
As a person with a really tiny mouth I've had many a Dentist get up, walk away, and then come back and tell me, "Your mouth is so difficult." Yeah. buddy. I know. You're just the latest in a long line. That's why there is a note by my name.
@@toothrestorer6588 Yeah, it;s. more like they need a moment to think. To get my wisdom teeth out they had to put me under and dislocate my jaw. I have to break jawbreakers up and cut up some burgers. It really is a pain for me to have dental work done.
OMG, you are so right! 26 years of practice including Public Health, Community Health, Employee Dentist , solo private practice and even practicing in a Forward Surgical Team for the US Army in Afghanistan. But, I had a freaking Temp Crown come off on the daughter in law of a tribal elder here and it cost me a full time job. But they're keeping me on as a Locum so I'll gladly take their money. I tell our staff that nobody gives a shit about what we do until we don't do it. I'm 59 and retiring in 2 years. You're awesome and please keep it up. Much love and peace from Arctic Alaska.
In my opinion, every day i'm thankful that i never went the medical route. It takes a special kind of person to go through that hell. And it doesn't end after med school but it seems to get worse with how our process in the US works with having to do a residency, getting in, and when you're in, then getting treated poorly by the attendings or by the patients all while working insane hours (some I've heard worked up to 96 hours/week) depending on the program all to earn chump change for the next 2-4 years. I witness this on the daily with people I know going through med school and residency.
I’m a dentist in Chicago. Dr Wendy hit the mark on all her points. I do want to add though, I have changed my mindset around most of these difficult patients….I look at them as a challenge that I will win. I always hope to change their neg views of dentistry to positive ones. I can and does happen sometimes. Keep up good work Dr Wendy
Dr. Wendy: Love your + Attitude, even in the face of the difficulties of clinical practice. Be prepared for the inevitable ups/downs in your love/hate relationship with your chosen profession. In the end, however, you have chosen wisely. How can I say that? I am an alumnus of U of MD School of Dentistry, Class of 1977. Still practicing and not burned out :)
One of the problems that you did not mention is the grandparents who grew up in the PRE-NOVACAINE era and are still spreading rumors about about how horrible and painful it is to go to the dentist. that is why [ sedation dentistry ] is becoming more popular
I totally agree with every word you said. Except i would add i think it is a horrible profession and i could list hundreds of reasons why that is true. These young dentists with 300-500K of loans is actually a horrific situation brewing...feel very sorry for them.
Dr. Wendy I am a dentist also and that fear of getting sued is something I think about as well, What exactly happened with your boyfriend? How did he handle it? How was it managed?
hello, thanks for your response. My boyfriend had a formal complaint to the board regarding a treatment he had done that was misunderstood by the patient, even though it was in his best interest. Consent was given so he is not in the wrong. However, the board goes through a lonnggggg agonizing process to get to your case and it was over a year before it was settled and it tarnished his name as a result :/
Dr. Wendy wow I’m so sorry to hear that :(. The tarnishing of his name is that something that can be undone or do you mean because of the patient filing the complaint other patients heard about it and it hurt his reputation? I’m so sorry that happened. Do you think there is anything that we can do as a dentist to prevent it from happening or prepare for this? Besides having very good documentation and consent forms
Dr. Wendy also was it settled in his favor? They were able to prove he didn’t do anything wrong ? I sure hope so I couldn’t imagine how frustrating that must have been
@@tnaravane I believe that if people decide to look him up it will show that there was a formal complaint filed against him (pretty much it's on his professional record) whether it was settled in his favor or not.
Oh you would love me as a patient. I'm a dental hygiene nut, I floss everyday, have not missed a day in years(yea really), use Listerine, goes quickly in my home. I've been told I have impeccable oral hygiene. Yes, I do get to those back teeth! Not always went to see a dentist each year. One time I went 8 years without seeing one, was nervous upon finally going back. I only needed 4 amalgams replaced I was so relieved! Once I was told the tiny cavity that my dentist was watching finally went into the enamel. I was a little bummed but got excited when they said that they could do it today, I was so happy. I raced back to the chair! I've been told I am an exceptional patient. Of course this comes from having two years of orthodontics from having a severe buccal crossbite even though my teeth have always been perfectly strait and having my 3rd molars removed.I always thought dentistry was very interesting. I've impressed a few my referring to a specific tooth in my mouth by the number that's on the chart. HA!
As a dentist one thing you need to remember every day, "NO GOOD DEED GO UNPUNISHED". As long as you remember it and maintain the boundaries, you should be o.k.
I'm glad I clicked on the video, because it is nice too see the perspective of the dentist - as a hater of going to the dentist myself. I understand you want to build rapport & connect your clients as it builds confidence for yourself as a dentist, but that makes me really uncomfortable. I don't want to talk to a stranger about my life, I just want to get through this painful & uncomfortable position that we're in, paying someone to clean & take care of my teeth & leave. None of this experience is relaxing & enjoyable and it's definitely not on you, so don't take it personally. If it were a hair salon, then yes I would want to talk as the entire experience isn't painful but actually theraputic. But in the dentist chair while being poked, polished & drilled, or painfully swishing fluride, it feels like torture - but necessary I guess.
Nice. I don’t even know why I’m watching these videos because I’m not a dentist or a prospective dentist. But they’re insightful and honest and legit. Ha.
What you mentioned here was really helpful. We are trying to see if this is something that our daughter wants to get into. Please make more helpful videos like this!
I regret now going to dentist way back then. I just wish i can go back where my teeth are in good shape. but now i really want to have veneers or crown but my savings cant make it. i will not stop saving money until i have a beautiful smile again.
Ioana. I hope you have worthy professional role models to emulate as you progress in your career. I mentored dozens of general practice residents the last ten years of m career. Coincidently, since I lived in the SF Bay Area, many were 1st and second generation Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese Asian-Americans. Not once did I have a resident with such a non-serious attitude towards our profession. As far as being compassionate? I have a different perspective. Terminally ill children and their parents, our soldiers maimed in useless wars, the tens of millions abused and neglected animals, and the hundreds of millions of people all over the world suffering horribly for a myriad of reasons deserve our compassion and aid. I have none left-over someone who should be nothing but grateful for their position in life.
I don't live in the united states so some of what you mentioned doesn't apply to my country, I'm graduating this year and this really makes me nervous 😅
Good day! I'm already 28 yrs.old but I really wanted to pursue having a degree in Dentistry and get a license someday..is there any hindrance with age? Thanks! More power!
My crowns were fine until I went to see a dentist near where I live to get a replacement. For 3 months I’m stressed over it. I’m not sure it’s the lab that made the crowns wrong or him. He cemented, grinded and made another one. Then keep leaving it on temporary cemented for 1, which came in different color. My crowns are in pain & I feel weird and stressed. I’m not trying to be rude, but I wish I never step into that dentist office.
Roy_Thousand I want to become a dentist but I don’t know what to major in undergraduate school. Can you tell me what major to take to become a dentist?
Beyond blood tongues saliva snot and what not, If you own a practice another sucky thing is staff issues. Insurance not paying for work .That's terrible about your man..fear of getting sued is big here in Kenya. Now you can't renew your license without indemnity ( malpractice ) insurance. I examine and suss out my patients especially psychologically before I consider implant therapy and any hypochondriacal /Munchhausen syndrome type patients-- i avoid any high risk therapies
Hello Dr Wendy, Love your presentation. Love your great dental smile. I'm sure you will be very successful. Thanks for sharing the dental cost reality and analysis for doctor and patient.
I AM 73WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER IN MY TEENS, I WANTED TO,BECOME A DENTIST, MY LIFE TOOK A DIFFERENT TURN, NOW, AFTER, WATCHING MANY OF YOUR VIDEOS, IAM GLAD I DID NOT BECOME A DENTIST.I CAN SEE WHY THE SUICIDE RATE OF DENTISTS ARE SO HIGH, LO RUSS BOYD LIVING LARGE IN KEY WEST FLORIDA...
Do yourself a favor. Specialize in sedative dentistry. People are afraid of needles and dentists! That or "conscious sedation". At age 47, I'm DONE having my face drilled and poked! Dope them up!
Heck yeah a person will sue for terrible dental work and only 10 % of the cases charged against dentist are won. So for the patient those are terrible odds.
Hi Dr. Wendy! I really enjoy your content and love how knowledgeable you are. I'm Canadian too, and was recently accepted into McGill Dentistry. I was also invited to interview for Medicine at the French Universities. Did you ever have to decide between Med and Dent? And are you happy with your choice of Dentistry? Also do you think the market for Dentists is saturated in Canada or will be in the near future? Thank you for any guidance!
I have noticed that Asian dentists especially in India are harrassers literally and dont try to connect to the client empathetically for oral health issues..on top of that so many worldwide are just money minded..its not easy to trust a dentist..I have great respect for doctors in general but dentists..I wish I could have become a dentist or a doc and made a difference this way..this profession needs more people with empathy and guide the client like the best teacher
I’m just now considering this but this would be a great opportunity to make people like myself dreams come true by putting on their gold teeth or diamond teeth
@@igglepiggle6511 Increasing regulations, increasing costs, increased turn towards corporate dentistry, etc. Ultimately there is increased work and stress for less profits. This is a Canadian perspective. It may be different in the US. I'm so relieved I got rid of my practice when I did.
I listen to dentists complain about this stuff all the time, I am married to a mental health therapist so I can empathize with these dentists, but I feel they need a little more perspective. Things could be much much worse haha.
graduated 4 years ago and now in my clinic since 2 years and also doing a specialist in oral surgery and implantology risks there are a lot that goes from that dentistry is really a hard and tired job to a lot of medical risks chemicals radiation physics infections you are completely exposed to a lot of infections also risks to your body your back and ears patients will throw their money going out or to restaurants or whatever and once they are with you oh no we are not gonna pay that much which gonna lead to a lot of discussions and problems also staying a GP is not good at all. you will never match what you ever dream about it which is being wealthy you need to be a specialist >>>>prosthodontics maybe oral and maxilofacial surgery or being an orthodontics to reach your wealthy goals not owning your office is also one of the problems cause people will get used to you and you will own a good base of patients and once you leave it to another place it is done , you will need to rebuild from the beginning
hey can I ask how much ur base salary was? As in ur first paycheck straight out of dentaI school have to decide between med school and dental school in less than 8 months. Would really appreciate it
@@alinanaeem2559 first i am not from USA i am from syria which is in middle east so system is completely different here no salary cause studying in dental school or any thing else is completely free . no debt at all you just buy your instruments and some other dental materials
Learn to do IV Sedation. That will eliminate any gagging issues. Patients absolutely won’t gag when sedated. . Also, patients with several cavities can be treated in one appointment, increasing your production. Patients,as you know, like having as few appointments as possible. When you set up a long appointment for patient, they need to pay their part ahead of time before their appointment. Then they’ll show up. Learn to do implants. They’re not that difficult, but definitely have a 3 D Cone beam machine. Make surgical guides ( or have a lab make them for u ) this increases your accuracy 500%! For the implants. Have at least three lending companies ( like Care Credit, and Lending Tree) to help patients financially. All three companies will loan money to the same patient. Hope this helps.
Hello! Do you think it’s frowned upon for applicants who previously applied to med school two years ago and after shadowing/volunteering in dentistry decided to pursue dentistry?
Hi! Could you test the bite tabs and the updated lush toothy tabs? I'm trying to find a zero waste alternative but I'm not sure which brands have fluoride. Thank you in advance!
Hello! thanks for your video about that job!!! I just wanted to know if you have advice to succeed in practice .. We usually don't have more time than practical work to improve our abilities. Any advice for that?
Gladly I click this video ❤️ Me I want to be a dmd to fix the teeth of my future patients cause I know the feeling hiding your teeth because you're insecure about it. And I don't want my patients feels that way trust me it's hard , like you want to smile but you can't cause your teeth is needed to fix ....
As a recently retired dentist with 40 years of clinical practice, and teaching at the post-grad level, my suggestion is that nobody pay any attention to this whiny millennial. The vast majority of patients are very appreciative of being provided compassionate, skilled dental care. This is especially true for patients who present in pain, may be highly anxious, and/or feel badly for having neglected their oral health. The dentist can take an enormous amount of stress off their shoulders, make an immediate impact on the patient’s life. The rest of her observations are just as wrong.
I agree with you Steven, I have been in the profession for 20 odd years and the reason I love my job is that the patients are so appreciative. The focus of the job is on them, not the dentist.
Steven Nevins well, since you are so compassionate and considerate, have you considered that not everyone is the same and maybe some dentists have different experiences? Not everyone deals with stress and hard days the same. This is HER view of the downsides of the profession. She was just sharing some struggles young dentists identify with; maybe these don’t apply to you, since you were a beginner dentist 40 years ago, not now...What you said is very good advice and it could be helpful for us to focus on the appreciation and gratefullness of patients to actually feel that we are making a difference. I feel you @wendy, I find myself contemplating quitting the job every few months or so and honestly it feels good to see I’m not the only one feeling the downsides that we encounter.
While she may have some valid points, I must agree with you. I have been an assistant for 2 years and am applying this week, and the doctor I work for has only had 2 or 3 rude patients as long as Ive worked for her. If you don't act frustrated with the patient and actually show that you care about them and any fears/issues they may have, you will get nothing but appreciative patients.
I do have a financial question, I know that FAFSA covers portion of the debt for undergraduate and the student has to be under 25 years old. Does it cover dental school as well or does it have to come out of your pocket ?
I believe it's renewable up to 4 years. So if you used FAFSA for your entire undergrad career you already wasted your lifetime eligibility for federal aid. And you will either have to take out loans, join the military, or make a deal to work with an underserved community for a number of years once you graduate to get loan forgiveness
51aguilar Do you think joining the military is worth it in order for it to cover dental school cost ? and can you be a little more in depth about working with an underserved community?
@@nancyherrera7076 Hi Nancy, some states like Oregon in my situation have initiatives where students can agree to work for about 5 years in a community clinic to get all their dental school debt waived. I would contact your local school to see if they have something similar. Here it's called "The healthy Oregon initiatives" which could be used for pharmacist, doctors, or dentist
Feel free to reach out! I'm a pre-dental student finishing up my biology degree and other pre-reqs by spring of 2020. My instagram handle is: mexicandjkhaled
yea dentist i cant trust them anymore my dentist remove a wisdom tooth ... he hit a nerve he didnt warn me or make me sign anything and i ask some question... and say that was my first time removing a wisdom tooth ...so he know the risk i didnt know shit... 2years later still not 100 close but not totatly...and that why in 2 years i cant go to a dentist...
I hate the dentist. Felt like the dentist was going to pull out my tooth and my body responded by smacking his hand out of my mouth and he kicked me out.
i wanna do pediatric dentistry and oral/ maxillofacial surgery but idk if i’m smart enough (i mean i have good grades but i cant help but doubt myself)
Could be impacted and never erupted. Sometimes they're what's called congenitally missing, which basically means your body never made any (whether it's an inherited trait or just your own genetic). The only way to truly find out is with xrays.
I need to get 3 implants in my mouth. What is some great advice you can give me from the experiences you have seen? and what are some things I should avoid?
I would say, don't go into dentistry if you "want to help people," only if you want a stable job as a highly trained manual laborer that gets paid pretty good. I really did it to help people, but you lose your passion when you realize people don't want to help themselves. And when they have a problem 5 years in the making and they want it solved in 5 minutes it's so frustrating.
Wow thats just how I feel... And the reason why I constantly think I have made a mistake choosing dentistry as a career and can't seem to see myself doing this forever. Even the good pay and comfortable lifestyle doesnt compensate. How do you cope with that frustration? Do you still enjoy what you do? Also, is litigation something that also worries you?
A lot of people are not aware or do not want your help especially when they think about the cost. Funny how their wallet is empty when we say they need the procedure because they think we are ripping them off.. Then when it comes to other things like nitrous oxide they suddenly have money... I totally agree that their problems are a result of accumulative years and then expect a few minutes of their time to erase their problems... Ugh. You can't just want to help people to make this career worth anymore. It's also the potential of a good lifestyle and job security. It is a noble career too.
@@celiaprada7228 I guess I always saw it as a job first, so without the passion is not so bad. It still takes money to help people in other ways, so that's good. And I think litigation worries everyone
Patient education
this is so true and I struggle with this as well!!
I remember when I was still a child i kept trying to close my mouth while the dentist was working on my teeth. She got so frustrated that she put some thingies in my mouth to keep it open and stop me from trying to close it. Then I started grabbing her by the wrist. I was just a child at the time and i did that out of discomfort because it felt like i was chocking on my saliva, but boy, I can imagine how stressful it must have been for her. Hats off to all the dentist who try to do the best job possible and their patience!
Lmao same ! I had to swallow my spit a lot
That's cheek retractor
They put a bite block in you. A lot of the time patients don't like it. But others do as it helps them keep their mouths open. The thing that many patients don't understand is that the things we do while working on them is meant to keep the patient safe. Many children or older adults (advanced age) don't understand this but you can imagine what would happen if you closed or bit down while your dentist is inside with a high powered drill inside.
More likely a bite block
As a fellow doctor, this is so spot on. Patient management is sometimes even more important than the actual dentistry and that's something DS don't prepare you for until you start working.
I am 13 and ever since I was 8, I wanted to be a dentist. I have started doing my research on the education needed to be a pediatric dentist (or a dentist in general) I want to thank you for taking your time to educate others about your job. People like you really make me excited about the future :)
aw thank you!!! best of luck you'll be great :)
@@prithwirajbhardwaj9295 clearly you can see it was a grammatical error and that this person is 13 yrs old...jeez you sound worse than the OC 😒
I appreciate your straight forward honesty!
thanks!! i try haha
Well I’m only 13 and i want to be a dentist hopefully I get to go to collage 🥺 plz pray for me I might can’t afford it
Me too
You can go if you get a scholarship in science in high school they will pay for most of the expenses or you can go to the airforce for 1 year and help people's teeth there and the airforce will pay entire cost :)
C dude she’s 13 lol
Meeee tooo lol I'm 13 and want to be a orthodontist.
Don't be rude 😂 she Prolly didn't see it before she posted it.
as someone with EXTREME dental anxiety (to the point where I refuse to go until pain is unbearable, meaning.... even though my teeth "look" relatively okay, they are in awful condition) if any future dentist TRULY wants to make a difference, then have good bedside manner!!! I finally found an incredible dentist when I lived in Alberta that understood my anxiety. he would always schedule me last so id be the only patient in the office and didn't have to see anyone else getting work done, and his hygienist would hold my hand and talk nicely to me. that may be extreme lol but it made such a huge different to a dentist-phobic person like myself. so the point of this long comment is, to any future dentist: please have patience and be nice!!! I've had experience with some awful dentists that were so short, didn't want to explain anything, and were just so mean in general that it was traumatizing! sadly, I moved from Alberta to Ontario and haven't been to the dentist since :(
yes we always have to have patience !
are you nervous because you know you haven’t been brushing and flossing?
TheReal NateDogg hi there, while I can't answer for this person, I was a very nervous patient for a long time because I have special needs, including very big sensory issues. I am visually impaired, but I have some autistic traits, so for me for example, the vibration of an electric toothbrush, the vibration of a drill, we're terrible to tolerate. Not only that, but because I also have problems with my hands, brushing and flossing has always been a problem. I have a great story that came out of this though, and I run a nonprofit that also does dental programs for people with special needs now. I have put some videos of my channel of a few of the programs in Vietnam, and most recently I did an internship with the special care dentistry team in France. I have also been helping a few dentists with presentations on disability... I love foreign languages, and the great dentist I had was Greek, so I literally learned Greek while in her chair while she was getting work done. I now speak Greek fluently… I think I'm her only patient who learned Greeks are in a root canal… So sometimes, the dentist makes a huge difference
By the way, I am using dictation when I write… So if there are mistakes, I'm sorry. I have also made videos on my channel of how I can use technology, since often people don't realize that blind people are able to do pretty much everything now with their devices, whether it be Apple or Samsung. The technology accessibility is pretty good. And dentists… This might be helpful information for you to know as well. Many dentists have also asked me about how I do things, which makes me realize we need to educate each other just as much. You guys can help me with my programs and my brushing, and I can help you to help your patience with this abilities by bringing more understanding to you.
Ask your dentist to prescribe an anti-anxiety med that you can take before the procedure
Can you make a video on studying strategies you used in undergrad/dental school? :D awesome vid btw !
sure I will try!! I wasn't that good at studying hahaah
I think the better way is to approach your seniors at your school
I was taught anatomy by the late great anatomist Dr. Melvin Moss who had a saying in those 2 yrs you're with medical students " 4 hrs sleep = pass, 5hrs sleep = fail. " In other words it's all about " brute memorization" - another saying of his and if you spend too much time sleeping rather than studying you'll fail. First and second year were the big bottle necks and many students dropped after those years
As a fellow dentist, everything you said is so true. Take care of your back and remember “when in doubt, refer it out.”
I graduated with a DDS in 1987. One day in year 4 during clinic I over heard 2 Professors talking. Dr. Reese said to Dr. Culpepper that the students did not know what they were getting themselves into…….. That my dear friends should tell you everything you need to know about the Profession of Dentistry…. Rewarding but very very challenging and DIFFICULT.
this video is the truth! I'm 5 years out and this video has inspired me to share my thoughts on the profession
thank you for this video! I l really appreciate how honest and straightforward you are. If you don't mind, could you possibly do a video on how to stand out in dental school interviews? Knowing what you do now, how would that have impacted your answers as a dental school candidate interviewee?
hello :) thank you! i do have a video about how to get into dental school that touches on interviews, but i can definitely make a separate video all about interviews!
I think one of the worst parts of being a dentist is also thinking about your license at least several times a day or always thinking of how to cover your butt so that no one will file a lawsuit against you especially after having a difficult patient in terms of behavior or in terms of treatment. I want to assume dentists try their best almost 100% of the time (I at least do) but sometimes things don't go as planned whether it's an extraction or whether it's delivering the best treatment but like you said, " things can and will fail." Most of the times patients are understanding but I've heard stories of patients that purposefully go out and actively seek dentists to file lawsuits against. This is why we have liability insurance but still it's very demoralizing to have to go through any sort of issue like that.
My mother always told me: "it's not the dentist you should fear, but the payment check".
The part about the flakey patients, my god I feel you so hard on this. I used to work the front and the back for a guy so I was responsible for the scheduling and assisting. Well, he asked me to block out three hours' worth of time to do extensive work on an older lady. I confirmed her appointment the day before, and in the morning when I came since she was our main source of income for that day. Long story short, I go through the hassle of getting the room set up, making sure everything is perfect, I double-checked her insurance, went over what she owed, only to have her come in, sit in the chair and say "You know...I'm worried I may not need this work. I'm going for a second opinion." Which is well within her right to do so, but I wished she had come to this conclusion earlier. That was three hours of time I could manage to fill and I wasted all that time for nothing.
It’s always annoying when you make special accommodations for a patient and then they cancel at the last minute. I only do it once. Next they get put in the overflow column with emergency patients
As a person with a really tiny mouth I've had many a Dentist get up, walk away, and then come back and tell me, "Your mouth is so difficult."
Yeah. buddy. I know. You're just the latest in a long line. That's why there is a note by my name.
Really get up and walk away? I’d love to do that but I don’t think it’s very professional. I have a job to do and I get it done. Luckily this is rare
@@toothrestorer6588 Yeah, it;s. more like they need a moment to think. To get my wisdom teeth out they had to put me under and dislocate my jaw. I have to break jawbreakers up and cut up some burgers. It really is a pain for me to have dental work done.
OMG, you are so right! 26 years of practice including Public Health, Community Health, Employee Dentist , solo private practice and even practicing in a Forward Surgical Team for the US Army in Afghanistan. But, I had a freaking Temp Crown come off on the daughter in law of a tribal elder here and it cost me a full time job. But they're keeping me on as a Locum so I'll gladly take their money. I tell our staff that nobody gives a shit about what we do until we don't do it. I'm 59 and retiring in 2 years. You're awesome and please keep it up. Much love and peace from Arctic Alaska.
How would you compare yourself career-wise to your peers that went to medical school instead?
In my opinion, every day i'm thankful that i never went the medical route. It takes a special kind of person to go through that hell. And it doesn't end after med school but it seems to get worse with how our process in the US works with having to do a residency, getting in, and when you're in, then getting treated poorly by the attendings or by the patients all while working insane hours (some I've heard worked up to 96 hours/week) depending on the program all to earn chump change for the next 2-4 years. I witness this on the daily with people I know going through med school and residency.
@@TheDeluche what about dental school si=?
I’m a dentist in Chicago. Dr Wendy hit the mark on all her points. I do want to add though, I have changed my mindset around most of these difficult patients….I look at them as a challenge that I will win. I always hope to change their neg views of dentistry to positive ones. I can and does happen sometimes. Keep up good work Dr Wendy
Dr. Wendy: Love your + Attitude, even in the face of the difficulties of clinical practice. Be prepared for the inevitable ups/downs in your love/hate relationship with your chosen profession. In the end, however, you have chosen wisely. How can I say that? I am an alumnus of U of MD School of Dentistry, Class of 1977. Still practicing and not burned out :)
One of the problems that you did not mention is the grandparents who grew up in the PRE-NOVACAINE era and are still spreading rumors about about how horrible and painful it is to go to the dentist. that is why [ sedation dentistry ] is becoming more popular
love your videos! and how transparent you are with us.
thanks ^___^
I totally agree with every word you said. Except i would add i think it is a horrible profession and i could list hundreds of reasons why that is true. These young dentists with 300-500K of loans is actually a horrific situation brewing...feel very sorry for them.
Dr. Wendy I am a dentist also and that fear of getting sued is something I think about as well, What exactly happened with your boyfriend? How did he handle it? How was it managed?
hello, thanks for your response. My boyfriend had a formal complaint to the board regarding a treatment he had done that was misunderstood by the patient, even though it was in his best interest. Consent was given so he is not in the wrong. However, the board goes through a lonnggggg agonizing process to get to your case and it was over a year before it was settled and it tarnished his name as a result :/
Dr. Wendy wow I’m so sorry to hear that :(. The tarnishing of his name is that something that can be undone or do you mean because of the patient filing the complaint other patients heard about it and it hurt his reputation? I’m so sorry that happened. Do you think there is anything that we can do as a dentist to prevent it from happening or prepare for this? Besides having very good documentation and consent forms
Dr. Wendy also was it settled in his favor? They were able to prove he didn’t do anything wrong ? I sure hope so I couldn’t imagine how frustrating that must have been
@@tnaravane I believe that if people decide to look him up it will show that there was a formal complaint filed against him (pretty much it's on his professional record) whether it was settled in his favor or not.
Oh you would love me as a patient. I'm a dental hygiene nut, I floss everyday, have not missed a day in years(yea really), use Listerine, goes quickly in my home. I've been told I have impeccable oral hygiene. Yes, I do get to those back teeth! Not always went to see a dentist each year. One time I went 8 years without seeing one, was nervous upon finally going back. I only needed 4 amalgams replaced I was so relieved! Once I was told the tiny cavity that my dentist was watching finally went into the enamel. I was a little bummed but got excited when they said that they could do it today, I was so happy. I raced back to the chair! I've been told I am an exceptional patient. Of course this comes from having two years of orthodontics from having a severe buccal crossbite even though my teeth have always been perfectly strait and having my 3rd molars removed.I always thought dentistry was very interesting. I've impressed a few my referring to a specific tooth in my mouth by the number that's on the chart. HA!
As a dentist one thing you need to remember every day, "NO GOOD DEED GO UNPUNISHED". As long as you remember it and maintain the boundaries, you should be o.k.
I'm glad I clicked on the video, because it is nice too see the perspective of the dentist - as a hater of going to the dentist myself. I understand you want to build rapport & connect your clients as it builds confidence for yourself as a dentist, but that makes me really uncomfortable. I don't want to talk to a stranger about my life, I just want to get through this painful & uncomfortable position that we're in, paying someone to clean & take care of my teeth & leave. None of this experience is relaxing & enjoyable and it's definitely not on you, so don't take it personally. If it were a hair salon, then yes I would want to talk as the entire experience isn't painful but actually theraputic. But in the dentist chair while being poked, polished & drilled, or painfully swishing fluride, it feels like torture - but necessary I guess.
Nice. I don’t even know why I’m watching these videos because I’m not a dentist or a prospective dentist. But they’re insightful and honest and legit. Ha.
YOURE SO AWESOME! thank you for this!
What you mentioned here was really helpful. We are trying to see if this is something that our daughter wants to get into. Please make more helpful videos like this!
Make a video about dental school debt and repayment plans
I regret now going to dentist way back then. I just wish i can go back where my teeth are in good shape. but now i really want to have veneers or crown but my savings cant make it. i will not stop saving money until i have a beautiful smile again.
What happened?
Did they make it worse?
Ioana. I hope you have worthy professional role models to emulate as you progress in your career.
I mentored dozens of general practice residents the last ten years of m career. Coincidently, since I lived in the SF Bay Area, many were 1st and second generation Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese Asian-Americans. Not once did I have a resident with such a non-serious attitude towards our profession.
As far as being compassionate? I have a different perspective. Terminally ill children and their parents, our soldiers maimed in useless wars, the tens of millions abused and neglected animals, and the hundreds of millions of people all over the world suffering horribly for a myriad of reasons deserve our compassion and aid. I have none left-over someone who should be nothing but grateful for their position in life.
Loved this. thank you. puts things into perspective as a current dental student.
I don't live in the united states so some of what you mentioned doesn't apply to my country, I'm graduating this year and this really makes me nervous 😅
Good day! I'm already 28 yrs.old but I really wanted to pursue having a degree in Dentistry and get a license someday..is there any hindrance with age? Thanks! More power!
I don't think so! I am 27 and will be starting dental school in the fall :)
Theres a guy in my class thats almost 40
I've had female colleagues start dental school in their mid/late 30's. Pursue your dreams!
TheDeluche I’m 32 and considering it now thanks
I became 28, and really want to start in one year
i work in health care and i totally relate to all these stresses mentioned, esp #5.
My crowns were fine until I went to see a dentist near where I live to get a replacement. For 3 months I’m stressed over it. I’m not sure it’s the lab that made the crowns wrong or him. He cemented, grinded and made another one. Then keep leaving it on temporary cemented for 1, which came in different color. My crowns are in pain & I feel weird and stressed. I’m not trying to be rude, but I wish I never step into that dentist office.
For gag reflexes maybe you should tell people not to eat before coming to their appointment. I think that will reduce gag reflex.
that sounds horrible. Im not gonna be a dentist
I’m deciding between a dentist or family med doctor, I really can’t decide :(
WHAT A CHOICE --- THIEF OR ROBBER ----- BUT THE MONEY IS GOOOOOD.
Roy_Thousand this made me more excited about teeth haha THANK YOU
Roy_Thousand I want to become a dentist but I don’t know what to major in undergraduate school. Can you tell me what major to take to become a dentist?
my uncle always told me "those molars in the back will always go first when you get old... take good care of them"
Beyond blood tongues saliva snot and what not, If you own a practice another sucky thing is staff issues. Insurance not paying for work .That's terrible about your man..fear of getting sued is big here in Kenya. Now you can't renew your license without indemnity ( malpractice ) insurance. I examine and suss out my patients especially psychologically before I consider implant therapy and any hypochondriacal /Munchhausen syndrome type patients-- i avoid any high risk therapies
My only dental sin [ that I am aware of ] is that I care more about the teeth on the front marquee than the back teeth
Hello Dr Wendy,
Love your presentation. Love your great dental smile.
I'm sure you will be very successful.
Thanks for sharing the dental cost reality and analysis for doctor and patient.
I AM 73WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER IN MY TEENS, I WANTED TO,BECOME A DENTIST, MY LIFE TOOK A DIFFERENT TURN, NOW, AFTER, WATCHING MANY OF YOUR VIDEOS, IAM GLAD I DID NOT BECOME A DENTIST.I CAN SEE WHY THE SUICIDE RATE OF DENTISTS ARE SO HIGH, LO RUSS BOYD LIVING LARGE IN KEY WEST FLORIDA...
my neck has been killing me from practicing for ADEX! What do you do about body pains?
lift weights! :)
get good disability insurance. repetitive strain injury can end your career!!! seen it happen
It makes me more excited a little stressed not gonna lie but thank you for sharing these🤗
Wow this is really interesting and informative!
Now I'm scared to pursue my career as a dentist.... :(
Don't be scared. You can do this
Do yourself a favor. Specialize in sedative dentistry. People are afraid of needles and dentists! That or "conscious sedation". At age 47, I'm DONE having my face drilled and poked! Dope them up!
Heck yeah a person will sue for terrible dental work and only 10 % of the cases charged against dentist are won. So for the patient those are terrible odds.
Hi Dr. Wendy! I really enjoy your content and love how knowledgeable you are. I'm Canadian too, and was recently accepted into McGill Dentistry. I was also invited to interview for Medicine at the French Universities. Did you ever have to decide between Med and Dent? And are you happy with your choice of Dentistry? Also do you think the market for Dentists is saturated in Canada or will be in the near future? Thank you for any guidance!
lol50899 I would like to follow this question thread too.
I went to U de M for dental school
What did you end up choosing? I was accepted to Dalhousie dental school, starting in fall, and I'm really considering going to medical school instead
I have noticed that Asian dentists especially in India are harrassers literally and dont try to connect to the client empathetically for oral health issues..on top of that so many worldwide are just money minded..its not easy to trust a dentist..I have great respect for doctors in general but dentists..I wish I could have become a dentist or a doc and made a difference this way..this profession needs more people with empathy and guide the client like the best teacher
How easy is to find a job as a new dentist? I think, just a dentist can tell.... Thanks in advance
Can You do a video on your road to becoming a dentist Please. :)
love your videos. I'm starting dental school this year and i'm just preparing haha
I’m just now considering this but this would be a great opportunity to make people like myself dreams come true by putting on their gold teeth or diamond teeth
Hey Wendy,this is Dr Tatarek from way back in your school days. Just Hi . love your videos.
hahah HI!!! So good to hear from you!!!! I miss Detroit!
Only going to dentist school for that fat check
Great info, very candid.
I just sold my dental practice. It feels so good!!!
Why?
@@igglepiggle6511 Increasing regulations, increasing costs, increased turn towards corporate dentistry, etc. Ultimately there is increased work and stress for less profits. This is a Canadian perspective. It may be different in the US. I'm so relieved I got rid of my practice when I did.
Tofflemire5 I’m Canadian too! I was interested in dentistry, is it still a viable occupation?
@@rsp1239 Are you studying in Ireland? I'm starting dental school there in fall.
I always call ahead if I'm running late. I know in Canada, sedation is a flat rate of $125. Go for it, people!
Why am I excited for this
I listen to dentists complain about this stuff all the time, I am married to a mental health therapist so I can empathize with these dentists, but I feel they need a little more perspective. Things could be much much worse haha.
graduated 4 years ago and now in my clinic since 2 years and also doing a specialist in oral surgery and implantology
risks there are a lot that goes from that dentistry is really a hard and tired job to a lot of medical risks chemicals radiation physics infections you are completely exposed to a lot of infections also risks to your body your back and ears
patients will throw their money going out or to restaurants or whatever and once they are with you oh no we are not gonna pay that much which gonna lead to a lot of discussions and problems
also staying a GP is not good at all. you will never match what you ever dream about it which is being wealthy
you need to be a specialist >>>>prosthodontics maybe oral and maxilofacial surgery or being an orthodontics to reach your wealthy goals
not owning your office is also one of the problems cause people will get used to you and you will own a good base of patients and once you leave it to another place it is done , you will need to rebuild from the beginning
hey can I ask how much ur base salary was? As in ur first paycheck straight out of dentaI school have to decide between med school and dental school in less than 8 months. Would really appreciate it
@@alinanaeem2559 first i am not from USA
i am from syria which is in middle east so system is completely different here
no salary cause studying in dental school or any thing else is completely free . no debt at all
you just buy your instruments and some other dental materials
Thank you for the amazing video.
Do you think it’s worth going into 400k+ debt for dental school?
Hell no
Dr. Wendy you are one extraordinary women
So true. It's exhausting being a dentist
Hi! What’s your opinion on coconut oil pulling?
it works to some extent but it is not miraculous :)
Superb video
Learn to do IV Sedation. That will eliminate any gagging issues. Patients absolutely won’t gag when sedated. . Also, patients with several cavities can be treated in one appointment, increasing your production. Patients,as you know, like having as few appointments as possible. When you set up a long appointment for patient, they need to pay their part ahead of time before their appointment. Then they’ll show up.
Learn to do implants. They’re not that difficult, but definitely have a 3 D Cone beam machine. Make surgical guides ( or have a lab make them for u ) this increases your accuracy 500%! For the implants. Have at least three lending companies ( like Care Credit, and Lending Tree) to help patients financially. All three companies will loan money to the same patient. Hope this helps.
As a person with Aspergers the dentist sucks
Hello! Do you think it’s frowned upon for applicants who previously applied to med school two years ago and after shadowing/volunteering in dentistry decided to pursue dentistry?
Can you update us on the finances of post grad pay/loans, etc
Hi! Could you test the bite tabs and the updated lush toothy tabs? I'm trying to find a zero waste alternative but I'm not sure which brands have fluoride. Thank you in advance!
Hello! thanks for your video about that job!!!
I just wanted to know if you have advice to succeed in practice .. We usually don't have more time than practical work to improve our abilities. Any advice for that?
I’ve been an assistant for a year and a half and idk if I still want to be in this field tbh even tho I am going for dental hygiene
Dentistry ruined my life I hate it very much I suffered alot from it
Hdjd Jdjej How come your say that? How did it ruin you’re life?
@@Ash-ng4kd it's a long story
The number of patients who come in to your office and say " I hate dentists" and think it's funny - will wear you thin.
This is in every aspect in life, shit happens
Wow what an awesome video thank you
Gladly I click this video ❤️ Me I want to be a dmd to fix the teeth of my future patients cause I know the feeling hiding your teeth because you're insecure about it. And I don't want my patients feels that way trust me it's hard , like you want to smile but you can't cause your teeth is needed to fix ....
As a recently retired dentist with 40 years of clinical practice, and teaching at the post-grad level, my suggestion is that nobody pay any attention to this whiny millennial. The vast majority of patients are very appreciative of being provided compassionate, skilled dental care. This is especially true for patients who present in pain, may be highly anxious, and/or feel badly for having neglected their oral health. The dentist can take an enormous amount of stress off their shoulders, make an immediate impact on the patient’s life.
The rest of her observations are just as wrong.
I agree with you Steven, I have been in the profession for 20 odd years and the reason I love my job is that the patients are so appreciative. The focus of the job is on them, not the dentist.
Steven Nevins well, since you are so compassionate and considerate, have you considered that not everyone is the same and maybe some dentists have different experiences? Not everyone deals with stress and hard days the same. This is HER view of the downsides of the profession.
She was just sharing some struggles young dentists identify with; maybe these don’t apply to you, since you were a beginner dentist 40 years ago, not now...What you said is very good advice and it could be helpful for us to focus on the appreciation and gratefullness of patients to actually feel that we are making a difference.
I feel you @wendy, I find myself contemplating quitting the job every few months or so and honestly it feels good to see I’m not the only one feeling the downsides that we encounter.
While she may have some valid points, I must agree with you. I have been an assistant for 2 years and am applying this week, and the doctor I work for has only had 2 or 3 rude patients as long as Ive worked for her. If you don't act frustrated with the patient and actually show that you care about them and any fears/issues they may have, you will get nothing but appreciative patients.
I do have a financial question, I know that FAFSA covers portion of the debt for undergraduate and the student has to be under 25 years old. Does it cover dental school as well or does it have to come out of your pocket ?
I believe it's renewable up to 4 years. So if you used FAFSA for your entire undergrad career you already wasted your lifetime eligibility for federal aid. And you will either have to take out loans, join the military, or make a deal to work with an underserved community for a number of years once you graduate to get loan forgiveness
yes FAFSA does cover dental school
51aguilar Do you think joining the military is worth it in order for it to cover dental school cost ? and can you be a little more in depth about working with an underserved community?
@@nancyherrera7076 Hi Nancy, some states like Oregon in my situation have initiatives where students can agree to work for about 5 years in a community clinic to get all their dental school debt waived. I would contact your local school to see if they have something similar. Here it's called "The healthy Oregon initiatives" which could be used for pharmacist, doctors, or dentist
Feel free to reach out! I'm a pre-dental student finishing up my biology degree and other pre-reqs by spring of 2020. My instagram handle is: mexicandjkhaled
Are you a general dentist or do you do surgeries?
Andrea Isabel . Doctor of detntal surgeries. Its like a mini surgery
yea dentist i cant trust them anymore my dentist remove a wisdom tooth ... he hit a nerve he didnt warn me or make me sign anything and i ask some question... and say that was my first time removing a wisdom tooth ...so he know the risk i didnt know shit... 2years later still not 100 close but not totatly...and that why in 2 years i cant go to a dentist...
I hate the dentist. Felt like the dentist was going to pull out my tooth and my body responded by smacking his hand out of my mouth and he kicked me out.
Not suprised
Instead of a dentist (no thanks), I'd choose to be an oral health educator and teach people to not need a dentist
i wanna do pediatric dentistry and oral/ maxillofacial surgery but idk if i’m smart enough (i mean i have good grades but i cant help but doubt myself)
how old are you and where are you at in school
just curious, what happened to ur bf after he get sued?
eventually it settled and nothing come of it, but it is still highly annoying
I am 29 and never got any wisdom teeth, my mum dosen't have any. Will I get them or not? And if not.. why?
Could be impacted and never erupted. Sometimes they're what's called congenitally missing, which basically means your body never made any (whether it's an inherited trait or just your own genetic). The only way to truly find out is with xrays.
@@TheDeluche agreed
I like her style. "flaky patients" charge them anyway for no show!!!
I need to get 3 implants in my mouth. What is some great advice you can give me from the experiences you have seen? and what are some things I should avoid?
go to a periodontist, not a general dentist
she's right. enough said.
NO, I do want to hear the bad stuff👀I want to know what I will face😤
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal?
His goal: transcend dental medication. :)
Do I really need to have good drawing skills to study dentistry?
No, but you do have to have fine motor skills and decent depth perception. Having some kind of artistic skills or a sense of asthetics
i would not want my dentist to be a hot woman examining my messed up teeth