Who Should Avoid a Career in Dentistry? 8 Personality Traits to Consider

2. Individuals Uncomfortable with Stress

Dentistry is an emotionally and physically heavy occupation: from standing for long hours to complicated procedures, which require a great deal of focus, dexterity, and patience, the tasks are really not easy. Also, the management of patient expectations and the complexities of a given case can be quite stressful. Those who feel overwhelmed by stress may struggle to act appropriately in high-pressure situations and might consider this profession very demanding.

3. Those Unable or Unwilling to Take Responsibility

Dentists are responsible for the patient outcomes and quality of care that take place on their watch. This means everything from the patient complaints to the questions of the staff tend to fall back on the dentist. The weight of these responsibilities is often discouraging for individuals who would want to work with more oversight or are uncomfortable with too much autonomy.

4. Judgment Sensitivity

Some dental patients can be quite demanding when it comes to esthetics and comfort, and the dentist is often under scrutiny. A disgruntled patient may judge the dentist based on an esthetic or functional failure and may make their dissatisfaction known publicly. People who are sensitive to criticism may find this a wrong career choice since one has to take criticism with aplomb and learn constructively from negative comments.

5. Those Reluctant to Invest in Ongoing Education

Dentistry is a field that is quite costly to enter, both at the initial educational level and throughout continued education in the course of a career. Dentists must embrace lifelong learning to stay abreast of current methodologies, technologies, and best practices. Anyone who finds ongoing education difficult or resists personal growth may struggle to cope with the daily pressures of the profession.

6. Those Reluctant to Make a Long-term Commitment

Dentistry is a lifelong commitment. Unlike other professions, where many people switch fields, this area requires years of training and lifelong career investment in the profession. Indecisiveness or dislike for an inflexible career path for a lifetime may deter individuals from pursuing the profession.

7. Would-Be Specialists Only

Few people enter the major of dentistry just to be an orthodontist or an oral surgeon eventually. In reality, few dental school graduates go on to become specialists. Most end up becoming general practitioners. Anyone who enters dental school just because they want to specialize should first ask themselves, “Will I like general dentistry?”

8. Those Who Enter Due to Financial Reasons Alone

Although these are great earning opportunities and provide one with a secure life, these reasons alone cannot help sustain satisfaction on the job for long. Dentistry involves interest in helping the patient or passion regarding oral health. Those who used to focus on financial and lifestyle aspects only might face some hiccups with the more demanding and patient-oriented areas of the job.

Conclusion

These traits, when considered, will provide a more precise understanding of whether dentistry will be the best fit. Shadowing a practicing dentist and having personal insight into day-to-day demands of the job provides the most informative way to understand the field’s realities.