Dental Shadowing Experience

Anthony Degoian’s Experience-

I started shadowing a dentist in July and have been continuing doing so. Gaining the courage to go ask a dentist to shadow was a little daunting at first, however I managed to do it and started shadowing. The experience has been nothing but amazing; for the first few days I watched the procedures and took a few notes here and there (on a little notepad), and the dentist I shadowed kept asking me to make sure this is what I wanted to do. I think it was very important that he asked that because I really thought about it and went from being about 90% sure to 100% sure that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I think shadowing really shows you if you’ll be comfortable with it as a profession (try to shadow a few dentists if you’re thinking that dentistry is not for you, as each office will have a different environment). On my third day of shadowing, I began flipping rooms, washing and sterilizing tools, as well as assisting the dentist with basic procedures (I would hold the low and high power suction vacuums). This was a little daunting because I really had no experience, but as long as you really enjoy dentistry, it will work out. I took notes, went home and ran some imaginary trials in my head, and I watched random procedures online. As the days go on, I am getting more and more involved as an assistant and I get to see a ton of procedures up close (implants, root canals, etc…). I would recommend that anyone considering dentistry should try to find a dentist to shadow, it really opened my eyes about what dentistry really entails. If anyone has questions feel free to ask me! :)

____ Experience-