Is dental school very hard?

Question

I am thinking of applying to dental school very soon and some of my friends said that dental school was very hard and they hardly got any sleep during the 4 years, and that the work load was ALOT, and they never finished it on time. Is this all true? Is dental school a killer? How much work do u get per ngiht and how much hours do u study outside of class?Lastly, are the tests really hard?

Answer 1

It depends on what type of student you are. In my dental class, some of my classmates could barely do it, some found it manageable but challenging. I'm in the top of my class in one of the upper tier northeastern dental schools and I found it challenging but not impossible. Also, you need to take time for yourself throughout or you'll get burned out. It is hard but do-able. You don't want to be concerned with how easy or hard it is but how prepared you'll be. You don't want to be working with a patient and not know what is going on.

If you want to specialize you need to be on top of your game. I published research in peer reviewed journals, got a 4.0 GPA and did very well on my boards, partly because I wanted to learn the material and partly because I want to specialize.

Good luck. Apply to a bunch of schools, be honest with yourself about your interst and you'll be ok.

Answer 2

Dental school treats different students differently and different schools are surely different. My experience was at least 98% positive, but some would tell you otherwise. I found that the best way to survive the rite of passage through dental school, which is still sort of a "Good Old Boy" network, is to just study and know your stuff. If you do NOT know your stuff, do not try to bluff your way through. Just say that you don't know the answer or need some help with the technique and you will find most instructors are interested in helping. Many instructors are part-time faculty with private practices in the real world. Nobody is forcing them to teach and they like to work with students who do not have a bad attitude and are ready to learn. There is more than one means to an end and students have to understand that they should not argue with an instructor who likes some different technique.

It's not as difficult as the life of a surgical resident or anything, but dental school was the hardest school I attended. The class day was scheduled from 8 to 5 with an hour for lunch. I needed to spend a few hours at home every night just to be sure that I was current. That's the secret to getting through. (As if you have not heard this, even in high school...) Be sure that you know TODAY'S work before you move on. Review every lecture and look up things that you don't understand. If you get lost in the second week, you will be hopelessly lost in the third and spinning your wheels uselessly after that.

In the clinical years, it can be difficult to match up your availability with clinic time availability, let alone your patients' time, but it can be done. In clinic, you have to do one step (or two) and wait to have it checked before you proceed. This can be frustrating for both you and your patient, as your instructor might be busy with another student who is having trouble. Some instructors like to hear their own voice and talk way too long, also. You will soon learn who they are and just avoid working with them in the clinic.

Answer 3

If you are really determined to become a dentist, then I believe you can. Just apply to a lot of schools and you'll surely get into one...particularly New York University School of Dentistry. Everyone gets in that school.

As far as dental school, only the first year is stressful. The second year you are just practicing on fake teeth. Third year is working on patients, and the fourth you are finalizing everything with board and school requirements. There is a lot of time to enjoy yourself, especially if you don't plan on specializing. Really all you have to do is stick with it and you'll be ok.

Tests can be difficult at times, but not that bad. Just give it a good effort and you'll be alright.

Good luck.

Answer 4

There are some exellent comments, great details Alan and Smart. I would pick one of them for best answer.

I used to work in a dental clinic at a university. One of the dental students was my roomate. I barely saw her, she never got home until 10:00pm every weekday. She never pulled any all nighters and never appeared to be stressed out.

I agree with the others, it is possible to succeed as long as you put in the effort. It's true, some people are smarter and don't have to try as hard as others. Generally, in many challenging programs, the ones who should not be there are weeded out and that is a good thing. My class size dropped in half after the first semester. That's because people are only looking at dollar signs and forget they will actually have to do work to be successful. I'm referring to my new career. I no longer work as a dental hygienist. Only one person failed in my dental hygiene program and that's because she wasn't strong enough to scale (clean) teeth properly.

Answer 5

Asked like a typical American teenager, wanting the easy way out. Let's hope dental school is hard because I certainly want my dentist to know what he's doing when he starts drilling into my teeth!

Answer 6

It is not that dificult at all. The word load is alot and I am sure it is similiar at each school. Having a good memory helps. I studied on average of 2-3 hours a night and the tests are easily managed if you are prepared. I think it gets easier as you spend more time working on volunteer patients and less time in the books! You get more and more familiar with procedures! Good luck!

Answer 7

I went to Dental School, but I was removed after I drilled to deep in Mr. Snooks Molar. He is missing number 15 tooth right now.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

I hope it is hard! I want my dentists to be very well prepared!

Answer 10

im sure it is any thing worth have is hard to get