Dentistry: an underestimated profession or undeniably gross?

i plan on becoming a dentist. everytime i tell someone, i get blank stares or the phrase: "you're crazy." why is dentistry underestimated? im just curious, because i think a smile is the most imporant feature a person can have and it should be taken care of as much as possible. but it seems like im the only one, aside from other dentists, who thinks this...what gives?

Dentistry: an underestimated profession or undeniably gross?
I had just an average view of dentistry before I got my braces and eventually started my orthodontic website. Since then I have learned a lot and I read several dental trade journals regularly. I have learned that there is a LOT more to dentistry than most people realize. The teeth are vital structures in our bodies. The proper function of the jaw is very important to quality of life. A nice smile is closely linked to a person's self-esteem. A good dentist is worth his weight in gold.





Unfortunately from a patient's perpective, going to the dentist often means pain and discomfort -- a task to be endured, like any "medical procedure." Maybe that's why people react so negatively to it.





A good dentist can spot early health problems. Periodontal disease often indicates that other things are going on in the body.





I think it's a vital and underappreciated profession.





I can certainly think of other, more "gross" medical professions to go into, such as those mentioned by others who answered your question.





If dentistry interests you, then investigate it as a career option. There are a lot of dental specialties, from periodontics to endodontics to orthodontics to oral surgery. There is even prostheodontics (making dentures and bridges).





Best of luck to you.
Reply:I've heard that it has the highest suicide rate of all professions. It is good pay though. Good luck
Reply:You are fine wanting to be a dentist. My niece orignally wanted to be an orthodontist but has now decided she may want to be a nurse anethesist. Most people find going to the dentist an unpleasant experience which is why they give you those kind of looks. I say go for it and good luck.
Reply:Well, here is what I have heard in relation to the career of dentistry:





**people do it for the money-- that is, dentists are perceived as being big money-grabbers, greedy, avaricious, that kinda stuff





**dentists have the highest rate of depression/suicide of any professional group-- it would appear to be because people hate going to the dentist and it can't be great for one's self-esteem to know that people hate coming to you... resent it.... are terrified of you... etc.





**dental assistants and hygienists are often unhappy in their jobs, perceiving their employers (dentists) as being under-appreciative of their services and poor-paying-- sounds like there is a lot of conflict in the office-- are you up to that on a daily basis?





**as well as improving people's smiles you will also have to see some pretty awful mouths-- cancers, unbelievably crooked teeth, rotten teeth, stained teeth, green fuzzy tongues, not to mention all those children and others who are terrified and cry for 20 minutes, or clamp down on your hand.





**you will have to use noxious chemicals in the course of your day unless you are a progressive dentist, in which case you will have to learn how to remove noxious stuff, like mercury, in which case you will still be in contact with noxious crap in the course of your day





But, given all that, it's still at least as glamorous and as well-paying as...hmm... a plumber.\





All the best!
Reply:No you should go into dentistry. Both my parents are dentists, and if you find this profession interesting,go for it. Looking into someone's mouth is no more gross than performing liposuction as a plastic surgeon, checking a patient's colon for cancer, there are plenty of weird and nasty medical procedure not related to dentistry.





I think that most people have a slight fear of the dentist, and don't understand why people would choose that field. It's not common to hear someone say "I want to be a dentist" vs. "I want to be a neurosurgeon or "I want to be a pediatrician (heard that one too many times). Dentistry is a rewarding profession that can eventually provide you with a flexible work schedule, and ease. They may think that wanting to be a dentist is strange, but they will come crawling to you after the slightest toothache, and wanting a discount too.
Reply:I am a retiered registered dental assistant.I have worked for 11 years.People react the way they do,because it is a very unpleasant experience to have anything done in their mouths.In some cases painfull and uncomfortable.Not everybody likes to taste the medicine and god help those who has a gag reflex.Not every dentist is paitent,gentle and careing.For the dentists, very stressful and demanding job.Everything has to be 100%,because people are very sensitive in their mouth.In one word,stressfull.But if you like it,go for it.Have fun and become rich.They make really good money.
Reply:WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WHATEVER OTHER PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS PROFESSION IS WRONG SPECIALLY THAT PART RELATED TO SUICIDE/DEPRESSION...I AM A DENTIST,I HAVE 2 YEARS CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AND I AM DOING MY POST-GRAD.....THERE IS NOTHING LIKE DEPRESSION IN THIS FIELD,WHY WOULD U BE DEPRESSED....IF UR DOIN UR WORK PROPERLY THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL U WILL BE HAVING DEPRESSION OR STRESS...


MY ADVICE TO U IS THAT ITS A GREATTTTTTTT FIELD,AND THE GREATNESS ABOUT THIS FIELD IS THAT UNLIKE SOMEOTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSION WHERE U PRESCRIBE MEDICINE.ETC.THIS FIELD IS A CONFLUENCE OF ONES OWN SKILLS AND MEDICAL AND DENTAL KNOWLEDGE...IF U THINK THAT UR GREAT IN SKILLS THAN THIS FIELD IS DEFINATELY FOR U.......


AND PEOPLE SAY THINGS ABOUT THIS FIELD BECAUSE UR RITE...UNLIKE MEDICINE,ITS A BIT UNDERESTIMATED or MAYBE A BIT LESS COMMON...and THE REASON BEING PEOPLE THINK THAT ITS NOT THAT QUALIFIED AS A DOCTOR...ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT TRUE,DENTISTRY IS AS MUCH QUALIFIED AS DOCS AND INFACT ITS A BIT MORE BECAUSE U HAV 2 TAKE CARE OF BOTH DENTAL ASPECT AND MEDICINE IN IT......


IF U WANT TO HELP PEOPLE/PATIENTS AND UR WILLING TO EXAMINE MOUTH.ETC. THEN ITS A GREAT PROFESSION AND I RECOMEND IT FOR U...AND IF U HAV A DOC IN UR FAMILY ASK HIM REGARDING THIS PROFESSION,HE WILL TELL U ASWELL...


AND BESIDES ITS A HIGHLY PAID PROFESSION...
Reply:i think since dentists are ALWAYS associated with pain and torment, people view dentistry as a field as bad as a kamikaze(not to that severity but I'm trying to prove a point). personally,even though i haven't had the best experiences with my dentists( over 12 yrs of cosmetic dentistry and $32,000 later) i was always thankful for having all of my teeth looking shiny,white,and straight!