Shadowing
Shadowing is a must for every future DDS/DMD. Not only is it a huge aspect of your application, it shows your dedication to learning more about the field of dentistry!
Written By: Caylen Davis, DDS
Last Updated: June 2024
So, you’ve done some soul searching and you decided that dentistry is the career for you. You’ve got all your prerequisite courses planned out, you’ve already picked out 37 schools you want to apply to, and you’ve found like 5 DAT prep courses to sign up for. While that’s all fine and great, there’s something very important that you’re forgetting: actual dental experience.
There is no greater resource to the pre-dental student than shadowing. Some things simply cannot be learned by reading a textbook or sitting in a classroom, and dentistry is no exception. This level of exposure to the professional environment is what will give you an honest feel for the field — take advantage of this! Just Flossy encourages shadowing as much as possible. This priceless experience should be embraced and will determine if dentistry is truly right for you.
Why Shadowing Is Essential
Okay. Let’s backtrack really quickly. I know we discussed prerequisites as the first stepping stone for the long journey ahead. However, if coursework is the foundation, then shadowing is the ground the foundation is built upon.
Just Flossy strongly encourages every pre-dental student to shadow a local general dentist before planning out their entire dental journey. You can imagine it like a cake tasting before a wedding. You hopefully wouldn’t commit yourself to an entire orange cream wedding cake without knowing what it tastes like. So it’s also not a good idea to commit yourself to an entire career path without knowing what it’s like. Reach out to a general dentist in your area and ask them if you can set up a time to observe them in the office setting. Take this time to put yourself in their shoes and determine whether you can genuinely see yourself in this profession.
Besides being a window for self-reflection, shadowing is an amazing networking opportunity and can open many more doors for pre-dental students. Use this time to build relationships with local dentists, as well. You never know who can potentially become an amazing mentor or who might even be willing to write you a letter of recommendation!
Also, keep in mind that shadowing is required on your dental school application. It could also come up in your interviews. Therefore, try to get as much experience as possible.
Author’s note: Reach out to as many local dentists in your area as possible until someone allows you to shadow. However, as a minority pre-dental student, Just Flossy encourages you to try to find a few underrepresented minority dentists as well. Ask them how they overcame their struggles and envision yourself in their shoes one day. That white coat is achievable; remember that!
Who You should Shadow
Now that we understand the importance of shadowing, we can now figure out who we should contact to get started.
Generally, it’s suggested to build the bulk of your shadowing hours in general dentistry before venturing into specialties. Many pre-dental students have their minds set on specializing at some point in their journey, and this is a great goal to have. Don’t lose sight of this if it is something you are truly passionate about! However, you also want to solidify your love for general dentistry as well. Not only is this the foundation for all dental specialties, but it is also what you will be focusing on in dental school.
While every school has its own set of requirements, Just Flossy encourages pre-dental students to strive for around 100 shadowing hours. While you do want to spend your fair share of time with a general dentist, make sure you take the time to explore other specialties as well. You never know what will spark your interest! The dental specialties currently listed on the American Dental Association (ADA) are as follows:
– Dental Anesthesiology
– Dental Public Health
– Endodontics
– Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
– Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
– Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
– Orthodontics
– Pediatric Dentistry
– Periodontics
– Prosthodontics
Do your research and find local specialty offices in your area! I highly recommend that pre-dental students shadow at least 1-2 specialties.
Author’s note: If you’re having trouble deciding where to start, try these methods: if you have a dentist that you visit regularly, reach out to them about shadowing; contact local general offices and specialties in your area; get in touch with the pre-health/pre-dental advisors at your college or university; research nearby dental schools to learn if the professors/doctors have practices of their own that offer shadowing.
How To Request Shadowing Experience
A lot of students oftentimes struggle trying to find a dentist to shadow. One of the best places to start is your own personal dentist. Call in and ask if it would be possible to follow them during their work day! They may be more than happy to have you shadow for a few weeks. However, if you are also looking into visiting other offices, here is how you can ask!:
Look The Part: Come into the office you’re looking to shadow for in business casual attire. You want to look professional but also flexible and comfortable. There’s no need to wear a three-piece suit or pantyhose at this point in time, but you do want to give the impression that you’re ready to get to work and are passionate about dentistry.
Bring Your Resume: Make sure to bring an up-to-date resume of your past work, leadership, and service experiences. That way, you can give it to the office manager or practicing dentist to review! Make sure your name is clearly printed on the resume along with your phone number and email address.
Bring Your Vaccination Card: With COVID-19 greatly affecting healthcare, dentistry is no exception. Many offices are being very selective about who they allow in their offices during this time to minimize risk of illness. Please be sure to bring your vaccination card with you to the office to reassure the team that you are taking the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe.
Take Notes: In case you’re given additional requirements or other important information during your visit, bring a notepad and pencil to be able to write everything down! As an alternative, you can also use your phone, but a pen and paper is sometimes seen as more professional.
Bring A Smile: You want to come in to the office with a good attitude (see below) and eager to learn! It can be a little nerve-racking to walk into an office and ask to shadow, but be confident and put your best foot forward. And even if the office says “no”, ask them if they know of any other offices that may be willing to allow you to observe. Don’t be discouraged!
How To Prepare For Shadowing Days
At this point, you’ve called a few offices and you have your shadowing sessions scheduled. Now it’s time to prepare for the big day! Just Flossy is going to break it down in the following three categories:
Your Attire
Your Questions
Your Attitude
This is a small yet important part of your session. You want to make a good impression on the dental staff and the dentist by showing that you are professional and serious about your passion. Call the office and ask what the preferred attire is for the day. Usually, they will say either scrubs or business casual. However, if they don’t specify, Just Flossy suggests going with business attire that includes pants and closed-toed shoes.
Come prepared with your questions! Of course, questions may come up during procedures, but bring a few topics you’d like to learn more about with you in a notebook. These can be things about clinical methods, patient interactions, why they chose dentistry, etc.
Get excited! You’re about to take the first step in your journey to becoming a dentist. Walk into the office eager to learn and ecstatic to be there. Stay off your phone during your session and give the doctor your undivided attention. This is definitely one of the most fun parts of the process. Make sure your attitude reflects that!
The Big Picture
Just Flossy is excited about your shadowing adventures! Make sure before you leave your sessions, please tell the doctor and the staff “thank you” for their time. You can even take it a step further and write a nice thank you note to the doctor whenever your sessions are complete.