Why Dentistry and not Medicine?
Why Dentistry and not Medicine? By Omar
Dentistry or Medicine?
Many applicants can be unsure of which field to go into, and rightly so; both fields have many similarities, from what is studied in university, to the heavy emphasis on physiology, patient interaction and treatment planning in both fields. However, it is crucial that you can make the right decision, since the skills required of a doctor and a dentist can vary and therefore, you will want to choose the career path closest to your preferred skillset and personality. The most basic example of this is that dentistry is an extremely practical-based career path, so if you are not someone who enjoys using their hands then it may not be a suitable career for you.
How is dentistry different from medicine?
The field of dentistry is a lot like medicine as I mentioned earlier, but here are some the key differences that set dentistry apart from medicine:
The first and perhaps most obvious of these in the focus on manual dexterity in dentistry, which is not necessarily present in medicine, unless you go on to become a surgeon later in your career. Even compared to surgeons though, dentists have a more refined manual dexterity, simply due to the sheer volume of hands-on work that they carry out on a day-to-day basis with all their patients. They work in the oral cavity and must use sharp and precise instruments to accurately cut, drill and fill teeth, among many other things. Keep in mind though, that although universities expect you to have a good understanding of what manual dexterity is before starting your degree, you by no means must be extremely talented using your hands (this is often a misconception among dental applicants); these skills are developed through the 5 years that you will spend at university being taught and supervised, until you become competent. Therefore, if you enjoy working with your hands and you are persistent when trying to complete any task even when you may struggle in the beginning, then dentistry may be for you.
Another key aspect of dentistry not usually found in medicine is the consistency of seeing patients; most people only visit their doctor when they have a certain health concern, which may mean some people do not see their doctor for many years. With the dentist however, most people visit their dentist once every year or 2, and since the dentist can see their patients more often, they must build a rapport with them, so that patients are more comfortable with them (especially given that many people are afraid of the dentist). The dentist’s ability to establish trust with their patient is arguably more important for success in their career than for a doctor.
Additionally, a career in dentistry gives you a lot more freedom in your job. What I mean by this is that you are always able to try and set up your own dental practice or work privately as a dentist, an option that is not very readily available as a doctor. Dentists and doctors can both work within the NHS of course, but it is much easier for a dentist to work in private practice, or as most dentists do, treat a variety of both NHS and private patients. This kind of flexibility in your job is not usually available in medicine. This means if you have a very entrepreneurial personality or even an interest in business then dentistry would be more suited to you than medicine. On the other hand, if the idea of running your own practice would not appeal to you then a career in medicine is ideal for you as well. Remember though, that even as a dentist, you are not obligated to work in a practice and are able to work in the hospital environment with a very similar working lifestyle to a doctor. This is especially the case if you decide to specialise.
Is dentistry easier than medicine?
Another misconception that applicants may have is that dentistry is an easier field than medicine. Firstly, in terms of getting into university for each field, they are both equally as competitive to get into. Once you enter each field, you would find that they are very different as I discussed earlier, as with medicine, it is important to be able to carry out examinations and be able to prescribe the right medication, where it is important to think holistically about all the patient’s signs and symptoms. While this is somewhat present in dentistry, as dentists do need to understand the oral manifestations of disease, there is a greater emphasis on manual dexterity. Because of this, it is not possible to compare medicine and dentistry at their core since they are fundamentally different.
However, in some aspects medics do have to have more knowledge in areas such as anatomy and physiology, as medics need a more comprehensive approach to all the body’s systems. Dentists on the other hand, learn about all the body systems and all their impacts on oral health (once you start dental school you would be surprised how many systems and conditions affect your oral health!), but they do not learn it in as much detail as medics, and instead focus on the head and neck, since this is where they specialise.
This is made up for by the dentist’s manual dexterity, as dental students spend most of their later years in dental schools refining their skills in carrying our different treatments on phantom heads and then on real patients. Throughout dental school and your dental career, true success in the field will come less from textbook knowledge but rather from competency when carrying out different treatments.
Can you apply to both medicine and dentistry?
Unfortunately, with the way that the application process works, it is not possible to apply to both medicine and dentistry, simply because you can only submit one personal statement through UCAS, and this means that you can either write a medicine or a dentistry personal statement. If you do not write one that is more specific to either course, then you may not be accepted into either one.
I was going to do this myself when applying as I was initially unsure of which to apply to, but after speaking to an admissions officer, this is what they explained to me. Although it is certainly possible to apply to both on your UCAS application, these courses are extremely competitive so having a specific personal statement is vital to you getting an offer.
If you are unsure which career path to follow between medicine or dentistry, then I highly recommend you take our Dentistry Experience Course, which will take you through the basics of the field and help you decide with career to pursue, and ensure you make the right decision. Here is the link to purchase our course: https://iwanttobeadentist.com/work-experience-dentistry
If you have any further questions related to this topic, or about the application process in general, send us an email to hello@iwanttobeadentist.com , or DM us @iwanttobeadentist on Instagram, or you can DM me personally @omar_dental_ on Instagram.